“Done is better than perfect” is not a phrase students typically hear in a university classroom, but Introduction to Engineering Entrepreneurship is anything but a traditional course.
Offered this past spring in The University of Tulsa’s College of Engineering & Computer Science, the new course challenged students to step outside their comfort zones, sharpen their business acumen and develop the entrepreneurial mindset increasingly valued by employers.
The course is taught by Professor Jim Donnell, executive director of the Meloy Program for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M University and former CEO of Duke Energy North America, Synenco Energy, RSH Energy and Poseidon Water. Drawing on decades of executive leadership and entrepreneurial experience, Donnell helps students bridge the gap between technical expertise and business success.
Students met on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings to learn how innovation moves from idea to marketplace. Through customer discovery, market analysis, product development and business strategy, they explored what it takes to transform technical ideas into commercially viable ventures.
“Obviously, he doesn’t just serve as a professor. He has a lot of life stories to tell about his ventures, opportunities and companies,” said Harish Vaithianathan, a rising junior from Tulsa majoring in chemical engineering and economics. “He’s been awesome, especially with his expertise in the energy field.”
Donnell believes today’s engineering graduates must bring more than technical knowledge to the workplace.
“Today’s hiring community is looking for a different student than they were when I graduated,” he said. “They are looking for students who are not only technically strong and confident because of their engineering education but who also have business acumen.”
According to Donnell, successful engineers increasingly need an innovative spirit and entrepreneurial mindset. His course is designed for students eager to combine technical innovation with business strategy, learning how to identify market opportunities, understand customer needs and develop solutions that address real-world problems.
“One of the big messages I try to drive home is that it is outside our comfort zone that we truly learn,” Donnell said. For many students, that meant developing new communication, marketing and leadership skills while presenting ideas, interviewing potential customers and validating business concepts.
Vaithianathan experienced this firsthand after enrolling in the course following his success in UTulsa’s Hurricane Pitch Competition.
One assignment required students to conduct customer discovery interviews with strangers about potential products and solutions. “That really took a lot of strength and courage to actually go out there and put yourself out there,” Vaithianathan said.
Through case studies, team projects and hands-on problem-solving exercises, students developed entrepreneurial thinking and the leadership skills required to launch and sustain engineering-focused ventures.
For Jula Sherene Mervin, a computer engineering master’s student from India, the lessons had an immediate impact.
“Jim shared how to create an idea, which I had no prior experience at all,” she said. “I always thought about building products, but I never understood how ideas are created and refined. That was one of the most valuable lessons I learned from this class.”
Mervin said the entrepreneurial mindset she developed also strengthened her approach to engineering challenges.
“To elevate my career and elevate myself, I was really interested in entrepreneurship,” she said. “Entrepreneurs think differently. The way they approach problems is different, and I wanted to understand that mindset.”
Throughout the semester, students learned to focus first on the challenge rather than the product; a principle Donnell considers foundational to innovation. They also gained exposure to key business concepts such as finance, marketing and customer engagement.
“Success for me would be a student who finishes the course with an understanding of who their customer is, what the customer needs and wants, and how they will meet those needs and wants,” Donnell said.
The course reflects the College of Engineering & Computer Science’s commitment to preparing graduates for leadership in rapidly evolving industries. By complementing technical training with entrepreneurial and business skills, UTulsa is helping students become innovators and founders.
Andreas Polycarpou, the dean of the College of Engineering & Computer Science, believes the program also enhances the university’s ability to recruit talented students while producing alumni who stand out in the marketplace. “This will help The University of Tulsa attract the best and brightest high school students,” he said. “It will also help UTulsa provide the hiring community with graduates who are exceptionally prepared to contribute and lead.”
The Introduction to Engineering Entrepreneurship course was made possible through a generous gift from alumna Carrie Kirk (B.S. ’89). Her vision and support have helped launch and advance technology entrepreneurship initiatives within the College of Engineering & Computer Science. Through this investment, Kirk is empowering students to think creatively, build entrepreneurial skills, and transform ideas into impactful ventures while strengthening UTulsa’s commitment to innovation and real-world application.
