Guest commentary: The steady growth of UC Santa Barbara’s Technology Management Program
By Jillian Tempesta
Santa Barbara’s business community has helped shape a talent incubator in their own backyard: UCSB’s Department of Technology Management.
From its beginning as an undergraduate certificate program, the Department of Technology Management has grown to offer real-world experiences and advanced degrees for students who aim to lead technology-driven businesses.
In just 15 years, an infusion of philanthropic support has helped Technology Management transform from a promising program into a powerhouse of entrepreneurial education.
Alumni are proof of concept for the Department of Technology Management.
More than 70 companies have launched from Technology Management programs, collectively raising over $1.2 billion in capital. Graduates have built successful careers at leading companies such as Amazon, Deckers, AppFolio, Procore, Teladoc Health, Apeel, and ShipHawk, shaping industries and driving global innovation.
Chuck Sheldon is a local entrepreneur who pioneered the resale of internet hardware. His company, Network Hardware Resale, was sold in 2016 with 600 employees and global operations.
Chuck and his wife, Missy, are longtime supporters of Technology Management, especially the New Venture Program and Competition, which invites students from all academic disciplines to pursue entrepreneurial education through practical experience and industry mentorship.
“I don’t think there’s a business school in the country that provides students with the level of participation that New Venture does. Over eight months, students build companies, pitch investors, and experience the entire process. Right now, undergraduate students earn a certificate. I hope our support helps students get course credit for their participation, which will allow the department to hire more instructors and expand the curriculum,” said Sheldon.
The Sheldons’ vision is to help the department offer a minor in entrepreneurship. Currently, no undergraduate major or minor is available, although students from any major can earn a Technology Management Certificate. With it, alumni stand out: 70% of certificate recipients report finding jobs faster than their peers, and 90% indicate that they were promoted faster because of their knowledge.
In addition to a master’s and Ph.D. in Technology Management, the department also offers a Graduate Program in Management Practice Certificate. In the 2024-2025 academic year, 2,368 students were enrolled in certificate courses.
Like Sheldon, Loi Nguyen was inspired by his own experiences to support the Department of Technology Management.
Loi Nguyen co-founded Inphi in 2000. What began as a startup in the family dining room evolved into an industry leader in optical communications integrated circuits.
“In the past 50 years, society has been changed forever by disruptive innovations in semiconductors, computers, the internet, mobile, cloud, and now artificial intelligence. Successful companies are those that can navigate these technology transitions well. In fact, Inphi became the industry leader for high-speed optical interconnects because we had not only good engineers and technologies, but also a culture of leading disruptive innovation. Technology Management can help generate an ecosystem of successful startups by training students to lead in high-tech entrepreneurship,” said Nguyen.
Significant community investment has contributed to the department’s rapid growth. Led by their passions, donors have supported programs, scholarships, and research endeavors. Forward-thinking philanthropists have invested in faculty research and teaching by establishing endowed chairs. The Sheldon and Nguyen families each founded an endowed chair in 2025, joining a large base of nationwide supporters who have dedicated time and resources to excellence in technology management.
For Department Chair Paul Leonardi, Duca Family Professor of Technology Management, these gifts are more than recognition: they’re a call to action.
“How do you build businesses that can innovate in an age of technological uncertainty? How does new technology change the way we work and our businesses, for good? We aim to be the preeminent department in the world answering those two questions. There’s a flywheel between philanthropy and the university, where it can be hard to start new things. If philanthropy can get it moving, we can build momentum,” said Leonardi.
Jillian Tempesta is the director of development communications at UC Santa Barbara.
