David Entinghe

Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business

Age: 35

“A kindhearted husband, friend and colleague who thrives on challenge.”

Hometown: I was born and raised in Lima, Ohio and currently reside in Chicago, Illinois.

Family Members: Elizabeth Entinghe (Wife)

Fun fact about yourself: I’ve appeared in over 50 nationally televised commercials.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

Ohio Northern University, Bachelor of Arts (2009)

Where are you currently working?

Rudolph Investment Company, Managing Partner

Several years ago, my wife and I started a business that I have been managing on a part-time basis. As business school began to wind down, I decided to pivot my career and run this business full time. I am the managing partner of Rudolph Investment Company, an investment firm focused on real estate and early-stage companies.

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work, and Leadership Roles:

• Ranch Triangle Neighborhood Association Member – 5 years
• Buckeye Bash Volunteer for the Ohio State University Alumni Club of Chicago – 2 years
• Paint the Night Purple Volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter Junior Board – 2 years
• Field Day Volunteer at KIPP One Primary – 1 year

My hobbies include endurance sports and golf, and I am a U.S. Presidential history enthusiast.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Having not been in an academic setting for nearly 15 years, combined with the unique yet nontraditional roles I’ve held in my professional life, I entered my EMBA experience feeling a little out of my league. I am proud of my commitment to the curriculum, my expanded skillset and the lasting friendships, which have resulted in a new-found confidence that I am excited to take with me as I enter the next chapter in my life.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? While pursuing my EMBA, I was also in the initial stages of a new career. Balancing a career change, my personal life, and the adjustment to graduate school was challenging. Many of the core classes in our program tied directly into my day-to-day operations as I reinvigorated our company. I am proud of the consistent effort and attention, I was able to maintain in my academic, professional and personal life for the duration of the program.

Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? It took me a few years to find the right business school and program. I chose Ohio State for a number of reasons. First, it was the reputation of the Fisher College of Business. Second, I appreciated the program’s format, including the two immersion experiences (Silicon Valley and China), and flexibility. Third, I was drawn to the program’s elective selection process and options, particularly as I looked to expand my skillset. And, finally, I was impressed with the caliber and diversity of prior cohorts of the Ohio State program.

What did you enjoy most about business school in general? My classmates! When I enrolled, I could not have anticipated or envisioned the bond that I would end up making with many of my fellow cohort members. These relationships did not form overnight, but rather over time. We built a trust and camaraderie as a class that allowed each of us to open up in ways we never imagined. Personally, this was one of the most valuable and enjoyable aspects of our program. Our cohort provided me with a learning environment that was conducive to being vulnerable and honestly assessing where I’ve been and where I plan to go in the future.

What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? Healthy collaboration is imperative in any team setting and compromises must be had to produce the best end product. In EMBA, you must rely on your study group given the team-based curriculum; however, a good team does not come easily. Building relationships, trust, and a strong foundation on which to grow from is critical in innovating and producing great outcomes. I have helped evolve the level of collaboration on current projects at work based on my experience with my study group and the skills I’ve developed while at Ohio State.

Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? Each week, there was a constant but different push and pull between work, family, health, and school. Early on in my EMBA journey, I commuted to South America regularly for a work assignment. I quickly learned how to maximize my downtime while on the road in order to keep up with my class assignments. During this time, I missed numerous birthday celebrations, family reunions, anniversaries and weddings. While these were all sacrifices I anticipated and was willing to encumber, it didn’t make that time any easier. This was not a burden I shared on my own. My family, friends and study group got me through this time, and for that I am forever grateful.

What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? There will never a “good time” to go to graduate school as a working professional. If you’re exploring the possibility, find a program that encompasses what you are looking for, go to a preview day and don’t be afraid to reach out to alumni with questions. EMBA is an incredible time commitment that isn’t for everyone. However, if you are willing to invest the time and make the investment in yourself, I can assure you that it is worth every bit of the sacrifices you encounter along the way. Personally, I wish I would have embarked on this journey sooner.

What is the biggest myth about going back to school? While not exactly a myth, I didn’t quite know what to expect of my classmates. I’m incredibly grateful that my class was encouraging, respectful, and incredibly helpful in my personal and professional growth. Many of our classroom discussions spilled over into social hour where we gained a better appreciation of the obstacles each of us had overcome to get where we are today. These insights helped me understand where and how an individual’s insights and perspectives were coming from and added to the cohesiveness of our cohort.

What was your biggest regret in business school? Commuting from Chicago, I regret not making it a greater priority to spend more time than I did outside the classroom with my classmates. While I enjoyed getting to know them, looking back, I regret not spending more time with them when given the opportunity. The time you spend together within the boundaries of the program goes far quicker than I ever would have imagined.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Each of my classmates are remarkable in their own right and have impressed me as I’ve gotten to know each one. However, David Cohn stands out. David’s curiosity, kindness and attention to detail is unparalleled. These attributes, combined with his humility and willingness to help others, set the bar for what all leaders should strive to exemplify.

“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I finally began the career transition I had been pondering for years and our company was quickly outgrowing my skill set. While I believe there is no substitute for experience, I knew deep down it was time to proactively take the next step in my development and invest in myself in order to scale the business to the next level.”

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My personal goal is to build an organization that provides investment and creates opportunities for others.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? I hope my fellow classmates remember me as a kind, hard-working individual who is always more than willing to lend a hand.

What are the top two items on your bucket list?

Run the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim.

Identify and pursue opportunities to give back to my hometown of Lima, Ohio.

What made David such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2020?

“When I first approached David with my interest to nominate him for Poets &Quants Best & Brightest, he immediately answered “Why me?” not being prepared for that answer, I directly shot back “Why not you?” with a sudden awkward silence, the rest of the conversation was a bit hazy but essentially centered on his thoughts that there were better cohort candidates worthy of this award…

After our conversation, it hit me that as someone in the education space with 19 years, he did not see what I and a number of his cohort witnessed over the previous 17 months. In my humble opinion, David is the kind of invested and dedicated student who appreciates the opportunities and knowledge afforded by an EMBA.  One step further is David’s instinctive ability to contribute and help others learn in a kind and respectful manner.

Both faculty and classmates often commented that they found David’s energy and genuine interest in learning to be both invigorating and welcoming.  It took a couple of weeks for the students to learn about David’s professional career which I believe is a testament to his humble nature.

I would characterize David as a student with purpose who helped facilitate the EMBA program learnings not only with his team but with the entire cohort.  David was willing to openly share information, experiences, perceptions and feedback in an engaging and professional manner.  He listened to others, was open-minded, yet could always be counted on to provide an honest and straightforward answer.

Faculty members and students alike appreciated David as a hard-working and high integrity individual.

I am proud to know David and it was a privilege to have him be a part of the EMBA Class of 2020.”

Daniel D. Oglevee, MBA
Executive Director, EMBA
Sr. Lecturer, Finance
Department of Finance
The Ohio State University

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