Christopher M. Judd
Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business
Age: 52
“Entrepreneurial CTO and author, passionate about learning and developing the next generation of technical leaders.”
Hometown: This should be an easy question, but as an Army kid, I moved around a lot — living in Oklahoma, Germany, Florida, Mississippi, Connecticut, Ohio, and at least one other state I can’t even remember, all before the age of seven. I spent most of my school years in Hudson, Ohio, and eventually settled in Columbus, where I’ve lived for over 30 years and proudly call home.
Family Members: Wife (Sue) and son (Blake, age 21)
Fun fact about yourself: A fun fact about me is that while I’ve co-authored three technical books on Java and software development — Beginning Groovy, Grails and Griffon, Pro Eclipse JST, and Enterprise Java Development on a Budget — I’ve also written a children’s book. Bearable Moments tells the story of a boy whose mother is deployed with the U.S. military and how discovering her childhood teddy bear helps lift his spirits in her absence.
Undergraduate School and Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Computer Information Systems (CIS) from Ashland University with minors in Accounting and Finance (1996)
Where are you currently working? I currently serve as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-owner of Manifest Solutions, an IT consulting firm, where I lead our efforts to help clients design, develop, and implement custom software solutions that drive business success.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: I’ve had the privilege of leading the Central Ohio Java Users Group for over 25 years, where I organize monthly meetups, coordinate speakers and sponsors, and help foster a strong local tech community. For the past 19 years, I’ve also been involved with CodeMash, a regional tech conference, primarily as the speaker coordinator. One of my favorite parts of the event is volunteering with KidzMash — the children’s conference — where I’ve created hands-on educational sessions like building light sabers out of bubble wands to teach basic electronics, and constructing binary clocks with Raspberry Pi Zeros to introduce programming and IoT concepts.
Beyond the tech community, I enjoy giving back by volunteering at Midwest Food Bank and serving through my local church.
During my EMBA program, I was honored to be named co-Valedictorian and was awarded the Outstanding Leadership and Contribution Award by my peers. Additional recognitions I’m proud of include:
- 2024 Tech Community Coalition (TCC) Community Leader Award
- 2018 Central Ohio Tech Power Player
- 2017 Java Champion
- 2014 Columbus Business First C-Suite Award for CTO
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’m most proud of being named co-valedictorian of my Executive MBA class, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. This achievement means more to me than a number — it represents how far I’ve come. As a child, I struggled significantly in school. I had to repeat third grade because I couldn’t read, and more than one teacher told my mother I wasn’t “college material” and should consider a trade. Those early setbacks stuck with me for a long time. Over time, I learned how I learn — and once I did, everything changed. I went on to succeed in high school, undergrad, and now, in one of the most challenging academic programs I’ve ever undertaken. Being named co-valedictorian was not only an academic honor — it was a deeply personal milestone that validated years of perseverance and growth.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of the achievements I’m most proud of in my professional career is creating the Manifest Agility Bootcamp — a six-week paid training program for recent computer science graduates. I designed and led this program to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world software engineering skills — the things students often don’t learn in school but absolutely need to thrive in the industry.
Over 12 years, more than 200 students went through the bootcamp. Many have gone on to work at top companies like Google, Microsoft, and AWS, while others have become respected speakers at tech conferences and leaders in their own right. Watching them grow, find their footing, and ultimately excel has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. What began as a way to help new graduates has become a legacy of mentorship, and I take immense pride in the impact it’s had.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? There have been so many professors and classmates who’ve influenced me throughout my EMBA journey, but if I had to single out one person, it would be Professor Dan Oglevee. His Entrepreneurship and Financing New Business Ventures class gave me invaluable insights into the startup ecosystem, particularly in Silicon Valley. But what made Dan truly impactful wasn’t just the depth of his knowledge — it was the way he brought learning to life. Beyond the classroom, he led our transformative trips to Silicon Valley and Spain, which turned out to be some of the most eye-opening experiences of the program.
What stood out even more were the personal conversations I had with Dan during these trips. He consistently challenged me to think bigger and encouraged me to see new possibilities for my career. His guidance gave me the confidence to pursue a company board seat, something I might not have considered so soon without his influence. I’m now actively in conversations about joining a board, and I credit much of that momentum to the spark Dan ignited.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I chose Fisher’s Executive MBA program for both personal and professional reasons. On the personal side, The Ohio State University is deeply rooted in my family — my parents are alumni, my wife works at the Moritz College of Law, and my son is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree there. I was the only one who wasn’t a Buckeye, and I knew it was time to change that.
Professionally, Fisher has an outstanding reputation, and the EMBA program’s structure, faculty, and emphasis on applied learning made it a perfect fit for where I am in my career. The fact that it’s right down the road was an added bonus — but it was the quality of the experience that ultimately made the decision an easy one.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? One of the most powerful lessons I learned during my EMBA came from an optional course called Legacy. During the span of that class, three significant life events deeply affected me: my stepfather passed away, a key employee was diagnosed with cancer, and a close friend of 27 years — not much older than me — suddenly passed of a heart attack. These moments forced me to confront the reality that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, and they brought the course’s theme into sharp focus.
I realized that while professional success is important, what truly matters is the legacy we leave through the lives we impact. No one looks back at the end of their life wishing they’d spent more weekends working on reports or chasing one more promotion. What we remember — and what others remember — are the moments we gave our time, our care, and our mentorship to others.
Since then, I’ve been more intentional about how I lead and how I live. I’ve prioritized balance, invested more time in mentoring the next generation, and created more space for the people who matter most — both at work and at home. That mindset shift has been one of the most lasting takeaways from my MBA experience.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? The final seven months of my EMBA were particularly challenging. My stepfather was diagnosed with bone cancer and passed away, and I became the executor of his estate — responsibilities I hadn’t anticipated. During that time, I had to find ways to stay focused on school while managing work and family matters. Every moment of free time became essential — whether it was a few quiet minutes between meetings or late nights.
It wasn’t easy, but it taught me how to manage time with precision, how to prioritize effectively, and how to show up for what truly matters — even in the toughest moments. Through it all, I learned the importance of resilience, and that sometimes, balance comes not from equal distribution but from giving your best where it’s needed most. I also couldn’t have done everything without my supportive wife.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? An Executive MBA is challenging, but incredibly rewarding. You’ll leave with a structured, analytical mindset — equipped with tools like financial ratios, frameworks, case studies, and simulations that sharpen your decision-making and deepen your problem-solving. More importantly, it will help you appreciate diverse perspectives and develop the discipline to think strategically before taking action. Most of all, an EMBA will expand both your confidence and capability as a leader, preparing you for more impactful and thoughtful leadership in your career.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I deeply admire Wes Hart, James Fox, Chad Rybicki, Courtney Thraen, and Ryan Storck for their service to our country. Their dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to something greater than themselves have not only shaped their leadership but also inspired all of us in the EMBA program.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I chose an Executive MBA over part-time or online options because I wanted a cohort experience that allowed me to learn from experienced professionals. At 52, I felt that being in a classroom with recent undergraduates wouldn’t offer the depth of experience and perspective I was looking for. The immersive trips to Silicon Valley to explore the startup culture and to Spain to experience international business firsthand were also significant factors in my decision. These experiences provided real-world insights that were invaluable in shaping my leadership approach.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I self-funded my EMBA through personal savings. Fortunately, my wife works at The Ohio State University, which allowed me to benefit from a small tuition discount.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My ultimate long-term professional goal is to develop the next generation of technical leaders. I’m working toward this by teaching in the Manifest Agility Bootcamp, presenting at conferences, leading user groups, and writing books. Beyond that, I’m passionate about reaching young people with hands-on, educational projects that are both fun and informative, helping them build the skills and mindset they need to thrive in the tech industry.
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