The University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business recently appointed Jeff D. Davis – an experienced international executive, entrepreneur, investor, and professor of entrepreneurship and marketing – as the new director of the award-winning Master of Business Creation (MBC). The unique program provides founders with personal mentorship, applied curriculum, access to funding, marketing resources and more to help them grow their business while also earning an accredited master’s degree.
Davis replaces Paul Brown, who stepped down after serving as co-director of the program since 2023 and led its rapid growth and expansion, which included graduating the first class of founders from the MBC Online option in 2024 and the biggest graduating class ever in spring 2025.
“As a faculty member of the marketing department and a co-founder of the MBC program, Jeff has been deeply involved since its inception, leading key strategic initiatives including launching the first global expansion with a thriving cohort of 20 student founders in Africa,” said Kurt Dirks, dean of the David Eccles School of Business. “He also created the student-led MBC Marketing Agency, which provides undergraduate students experience in working on real projects, while also helping MBC companies succeed.”
Davis will continue to grow the MBC program in the United States through two enrollment options – the MBC In-Person option at the University of Utah and the MBC Online option available across the country. He will also apply his international business expertise to grow the MBC Global option, which he has led since it launched last year. He enrolled the first global cohort in Africa starting in fall 2025 and will lead an expansion to Europe.
“The global expansion of the MBC program has been very exciting and exceeded my expectations at every level,” Davis said. “We are proud to be graduating our first founders in Africa this summer, and we will be accepting applications soon to enroll in Europe. We look forward to making the MBC program the world’s leading business accelerator plus graduate degree for serious entrepreneurs”
Before joining the University of Utah, Davis built brands at Procter & Gamble in numerous product sectors and in several countries for 23 years. After retiring from P&G in 2009, he became an angel investor, board member and eventual CEO of Orabrush, which sold a world-leading tongue cleaner. Orabrush was one of the first companies to build and commercialize a product on a global level leveraging only YouTube advertising, and Google recognized Orabrush as one of the 10 most iconic ad moments on YouTube alongside billion-dollar brands. In addition, Davis is the founder of Molio, an independent, full-service creative and media analytics digital agency, with online video at the core with capabilities to also originate, co-create and validate new brands.
A fluent German speaker, Davis is an avid skier, an advanced open-water scuba diver and golfer. He earned a B.S. in marketing and a B.A. in German from the University of Utah, is married with four children and lives in Salt Lake City.
Meanwhile, Brown will continue to serve as an instructor, mentor and strategic advisor to the MBC program and a faculty member in the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy. His experience outside the classroom includes practicing law as a partner of the Kirkland & Ellis law firm in Chicago, founding and co-managing Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s $300 million national venture capital fund, serving as a managing director at Sandbox Industries, and co-founding Upstream Ventures, an early-stage venture fund.
Brown earned dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Utah and a law degree from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
“Please join me in thanking Paul for his exceptional service and congratulating Jeff on his expanded leadership role,” Dirks said. “With their continued involvement, we are well positioned to grow the MBC into the world’s premier graduate program for real-world startup entrepreneurs.”
Learn more about the Master of Business Creation program at eccles.utah.edu/mbc.
About the David Eccles School of Business
At the Eccles School, students do more than earn a degree or learn business – they live the experience with hands-on immersive learning. This empowers students to graduate not only with a degree, but the real-world experience, the mindset, skills and confidence to succeed. Founded in 1917 and educating more than 6,000 students annually, the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah offers nine undergraduate majors, four MBA programs, eight specialized master’s programs, five Ph.D. academic tracks and an executive education program. The Eccles School is also home to more than 16 institutes, centers and initiatives, which create societal impact through academic research, applied knowledge, leadership and innovation. Learn more at eccles.utah.edu.
About the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is a nationally ranked hub for student entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Utah and an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business. The first programs were offered in 2001, through the vision and support of Pierre Lassonde, an alumnus of the Eccles School and successful mining entrepreneur. The institute now provides opportunities for thousands of students to learn about entrepreneurship and innovation. Programs include workshops, networking events, business-plan competitions, startup support, innovation programs, graduate seminars, scholarships, community outreach and more. All programs are open to students from any academic major or background. The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute also manages Lassonde Studios, a five-story innovation space and housing facility for all students. Learn more at lassonde.utah.edu.