Will is an experienced global business executive, change agent, entrepreneur, consultant, educator and retired attorney. He is committed to developing current and future leaders to create shared value, reduce operating costs and environmental impact. Currently, his focus is on the integration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the School of Management\u2019s curriculum, research and community outreach.<\/p>\n
He has 50 years experience in starting businesses, creating new organizations and managing P&L responsibility for global operations resulting in consistently high financial performance. Professional experience includes marketing management for computer systems and services, technical support, project management, supply chain management for multi-vendor service delivery, management consulting and a small law practice. Much of his career has been in leadership positions for worldwide organizations addressing strategic issues and advising executives from global companies in various industries.<\/p>\n
After completing service as a U.S. Naval Officer in Viet Nam in 1968, Will spent a year traveling around the world. \u00a0At Honeywell Information Systems, he managed Finance & Administration at a large field sales office. In 1972, Will joined Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), now part of Hewlett-Packard, and worked for the company for 25 years in various management and executive positions. He left DEC, 1978-80, to work as Director of Customer Service for Data Printer. Returning to DEC in 1980, he managed a mini-computer systems business for the Laboratory Data Product Line and achieved aggressive growth goals. From 1985-90, Will was responsible for worldwide marketing operations for DEC\u2019s Services Division (revenue = $2.6B) as a member of the Division\u2019s executive team.\u00a0 In the early 90s, he established DEC\u2019s Marketing University for the corporation focused on development and education of 3,000 marketing professionals worldwide. Subsequently, he led the rebuilding of DEC\u2019s Worldwide Sales and Partner Training organization.<\/p>\n
Upon retiring from DEC, Will worked as a consultant for Kana, Inc. responsible for helping large national and global corporations implement Internet technologies to improve customer responsiveness, reduce costs and increase productivity of their service operations. Since 2002, Will has been the vice president\/treasurer for Nautilus Decisions, Inc., a small management consulting firm, with clients such as Avon, Campbell Soup, Gillette, LL Bean, TJX and Welch\u2019s. Academic institution clients have included American University in Bulgaria, Norwegian University of Science and Technology as well as Worcester Polytechnic Institute.<\/p>\n
Will began his career in education in 2002 as an adjunct faculty member at Bentley University McCallum Graduate School of Business.\u00a0 He has also lectured\/taught at \u00a0American University in Bulgaria, Peking University College of Environmental Science, Harvard University Division of Continuing Education, Johns Hopkins University Environmental Studies Department, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Viet Nam National University for Benedictine University Asia Institute, Suffolk University Sawyer Business School, Varna Free University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute Foisie Business School.<\/p>\n
After teaching management courses for five years, Will turned his focus to environmental sustainability and social responsibility. In 2007, he created an experiential learning course focused on sustainability consulting and later one on corporate social responsibility. The courses require students to secure client projects and prepare actionable plans for businesses, non-profits, and communities worldwide. Through both courses, students have created and delivered plans to over 420 organizations in support of community as well as sustainable development.\u00a0 Will is directly involved in planning a community development project addressing poverty alleviation in Nigeria and also a reading glass donation program, through the Stow Lions, for people in Malawi.<\/p>\n
At Clark, Will has chaired the Principles of Responsible Education (PRME) Committee for several years and is currently a member of\u00a0 the Board of Trustees – Community Affairs and Social Responsibility Committee.<\/p>\n
Since the mid-70s, Will has been a contributor to and served in leadership roles for his local community and church; e.g., Director of Religious Education, President, Stow Community Chest, Other service activities have included Board of Directors, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston, Director, Worcester Sustainable Business Leader Program, Chair, Board of Advisors, WPI Center for Sustainability in Business, President, Board of Directors, Illampu Sustainability Epicenter.<\/p>\n
Will and Kathleen have been married for over 50 years. They have three children and eight grandchildren and live in Stow, MA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":38350,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"cu_faculty_f180_userid":"C70191933","cu_faculty_first_name":"Will","cu_faculty_last_name":"O'Brien","cu_faculty_employment_status":"Honorary","cu_faculty_rank":"Professor of Practice","cu_faculty_position":"Professor Emeritus
Professor of Practice","cu_faculty_phone":"","cu_faculty_email":"WOBrien@clarku.edu","cu_faculty_location":"","cu_faculty_about":"
Will is an experienced global business executive, change agent, entrepreneur, consultant, educator and retired attorney. He is committed to developing current and future leaders to create shared value, reduce operating costs and environmental impact. Currently, his focus is on the integration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the School of Management\u2019s curriculum, research and community outreach.<\/p>\n
He has 50 years experience in starting businesses, creating new organizations and managing P&L responsibility for global operations resulting in consistently high financial performance. Professional experience includes marketing management for computer systems and services, technical support, project management, supply chain management for multi-vendor service delivery, management consulting and a small law practice. Much of his career has been in leadership positions for worldwide organizations addressing strategic issues and advising executives from global companies in various industries.<\/p>\n
After completing service as a U.S. Naval Officer in Viet Nam in 1968, Will spent a year traveling around the world. \u00a0At Honeywell Information Systems, he managed Finance & Administration at a large field sales office. In 1972, Will joined Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), now part of Hewlett-Packard, and worked for the company for 25 years in various management and executive positions. He left DEC, 1978-80, to work as Director of Customer Service for Data Printer. Returning to DEC in 1980, he managed a mini-computer systems business for the Laboratory Data Product Line and achieved aggressive growth goals. From 1985-90, Will was responsible for worldwide marketing operations for DEC\u2019s Services Division (revenue = $2.6B) as a member of the Division\u2019s executive team.\u00a0 In the early 90s, he established DEC\u2019s Marketing University for the corporation focused on development and education of 3,000 marketing professionals worldwide. Subsequently, he led the rebuilding of DEC\u2019s Worldwide Sales and Partner Training organization.
Upon retiring from DEC, Will worked as a consultant for Kana, Inc. responsible for helping large national and global corporations implement Internet technologies to improve customer responsiveness, reduce costs and increase productivity of their service operations. Since 2002, Will has been the vice president\/treasurer for Nautilus Decisions, Inc., a small management consulting firm, with clients such as Avon, Campbell Soup, Gillette, LL Bean, TJX and Welch\u2019s. Academic institution clients have included American University in Bulgaria, Norwegian University of Science and Technology as well as Worcester Polytechnic Institute.<\/p>\n
Will began his career in education in 2002 as an adjunct faculty member at Bentley University McCallum Graduate School of Business.\u00a0 He has also lectured\/taught at \u00a0American University in Bulgaria, Peking University College of Environmental Science, Harvard University Division of Continuing Education, Johns Hopkins University Environmental Studies Department, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Viet Nam National University for Benedictine University Asia Institute, Suffolk University Sawyer Business School, Varna Free University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute Foisie Business School.<\/p>\n
After teaching management courses for five years, Will turned his focus to environmental sustainability and social responsibility. In 2007, he created an experiential learning course focused on sustainability consulting and later one on corporate social responsibility. The courses require students to secure client projects and prepare actionable plans for businesses, non-profits, and communities worldwide. Through both courses, students have created and delivered plans to over 420 organizations in support of community as well as sustainable development.\u00a0 Will is directly involved in planning a community development project addressing poverty alleviation in Nigeria and also a reading glass donation program, through the Stow Lions, for people in Malawi.<\/p>\n
At Clark, Will has chaired the Principles of Responsible Education (PRME) Committee for several years and is currently a member of\u00a0 the Board of Trustees - Community Affairs and Social Responsibility Committee.
Since the mid-70s, Will has been a contributor to and served in leadership roles for his local community and church; e.g., Director of Religious Education, President, Stow Community Chest, Other service activities have included Board of Directors, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston, Director, Worcester Sustainable Business Leader Program, Chair, Board of Advisors, WPI Center for Sustainability in Business, President, Board of Directors, Illampu Sustainability Epicenter.
Will and Kathleen have been married for over 50 years. They have three children and eight grandchildren and live in Stow, MA.<\/p>","cu_faculty_degrees":"J.D. in Law,<\/span> Suffolk University, 1975\nM.B.A. in Marketing,<\/span> University of Albany, 1970\nB.S. in Mathematics,<\/span> LeMoyne College, 1964","cu_faculty_cv":"https:\/\/faculty180.interfolio.com\/public\/download.php?key=SDRwNCtxSUpsamxBQ213WS9ucHFuNnMwT0hzQU11b2RPQkJ2cWc3amxyUmNRdVVXTkF4MU1sdUtpdlE1MFA5ckRPcXdXMEs1ZjZDM2hNVkRJR0tMbEhjSjVmamJTZ01iakovVDZMY21SSkdsV0IxMGJjTDN0L1ErMWNEU0pxczBvZ1M0a3RpejFWUT0%3D","cu_faculty_links":"[]","cu_faculty_scholarly_interests":"","cu_faculty_scholarly_works":"[{\"activityid\":4754,\"fields\":{\"Type\":\"Articles in Refereed Journals\",\"Title\":\"Improved Solutions for Shared Value Creation and Maximization from Used Clothes: Streamlined Structure of Clothing Consumption System and A Framework of Closed Loop Hybrid Business Model \",\"Journal Title\":\"Cleaner and Responsible Consumption\",\"Series Title\":\"\",\"Month \\\/ Season\":\"October\",\"Year\":2021,\"Publisher\":\"Elserier\",\"Publisher City and State\":\"\",\"Publisher Country\":\"Netherlands\",\"Volume\":\"\",\"Issue Number \\\/ Edition\":\"CLRC-D-20-00050R4\",\"Page Number(s) or Number of Pages\":\"\",\"ISSN\":\"\",\"DOI\":\"\",\"CoAuthor\":null,\"URL\":\"\",\"Description\":\"Underutilization, downcycling, and landfilling of clothes and their material remain challenging problems of the current clothing consumption system (CCS). Past Research and the stakeholders of CCS recognize the circular economy as a solution. However, a review of CCS's existing structure and its industry solutions reflect potential oversight and partial adoption of the circular economy and the unintended loss of economic value and market share for brands. Despite the knowledge, awareness, desire, initiatives, and innovations, brands\\ncontinue to incentivize underutilization. Our research shows that around 68% of the sample brands and apparel companies do not maximize value from used clothes. Regulators continue to restrict or impose high taxes on the import of used clothes for reuse and recycling. A substantial amount of used clothes are landfilled or recycled without value maximization. Upcycling remains a niche activity, as getting similar used material continues to be a primary barrier in scaling it up. Four percent of the sample brands engage in upcycling. This analytical investigation uses publicly available information and past research on the industry's practices as a base. It applies a combination of design and systems thinking while using deduction, abduction, and induction reasoning with the dissolution approach as tools to derive improved solutions. It aims to scale up and accelerate reuse, upcycling, and recycling in the post-production phase of CCS while increasing the economic pie for brands and reducing the virgin material pie. It identifies brand and consumer as the main leverage points to intervene in the system. It proposes an explicit CCS structure and supports it with a customizable framework of a closed-loop hybrid business model (CLHBM) as a way for its successful implementation. The paper also illustrates the revenue model of CLHBM and its potential resource efficiency through a stylized model of the two consecutive consumption periods while using a hypothetical example. Our model shows that CLHBM-approach can generate higher margins for brands, increase product and material life, and reduce virgin fiber demand compared to business as usual approach. The paper concludes with a discussion and recommendations for proposed solutions' successful implementation. \\n\",\"Include description in output citation\":1,\"Origin\":\"Manual\"},\"facultyid\":\"C70191933\",\"status\":[{\"id\":4754,\"status\":\"Accepted\",\"term\":\"Summer\",\"year\":2023,\"termid\":\"2022\\\/05\",\"listingorder\":4,\"completionorder\":4},{\"id\":4754,\"status\":\"Accepted\",\"term\":\"Summer\",\"year\":2022,\"termid\":\"2021\\\/05\",\"listingorder\":4,\"completionorder\":4},{\"id\":4754,\"status\":\"Accepted\",\"term\":\"Fall\",\"year\":2021,\"termid\":\"2021\\\/01\",\"listingorder\":4,\"completionorder\":4},{\"id\":4754,\"status\":\"Accepted\",\"term\":\"Summer\",\"year\":2021,\"termid\":\"2020\\\/05\",\"listingorder\":4,\"completionorder\":4}],\"userid\":\"C70191933\",\"attachments\":[{\"attachmentid\":3367,\"mimetype\":\"custom\\\/url\",\"filename\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sciencedirect.com\\\/science\\\/article\\\/pii\\\/S2666784321000334\",\"filesize\":354931,\"downloadurl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/faculty180.interfolio.com\\\/public\\\/download.php?key=SDRwNCtxSUpsamxBQ213WS9ucHFuNnMwT0hzQU11b2RPQkJ2cWc3amxyUmNRdVVXTkF4MU1sdUtpdlE1MFA5cmdvenUvRWZhUzlJdVpLQzIycUowS0crNS9XV2tLdDlTNGc1dno0aVlWMW9FZVlzenNEV3dnTzdSbzNVSy8wcDRpSzJSQ1lFREJaZ2VNTFNuM0J2M2VoNHNCMGFZSlhEZzZUMitPYTRzZ0xkdkdvMzdDS3NmdzMvVkszbkhuSm4yb3grU2N1ZkNqS3c9\"},{\"attachmentid\":3301,\"mimetype\":\"application\\\/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document\",\"filename\":\"ImprovedSolutionsForSharedValueCreationAndMaximization- 05102021.docx\",\"filesize\":1701975,\"downloadurl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/faculty180.interfolio.com\\\/public\\\/download.php?key=SDRwNCtxSUpsamxBQ213WS9ucHFuNnMwT0hzQU11b2RPQkJ2cWc3amxyUmNRdVVXTkF4MU1sdUtpdlE1MFA5cmFDSXRIR3NUQnVzbUgvd25Rb1FVQ3B3K1ZpZ1NpV0g3VC95ZHFzcUJ6amhtdldRVyt3dGxMdkE2UE9qZkxJMTVyS1VUQTV0YktuY1NjVGpJaFovc3UwbnQ0cGVGeTFreDJudFpKeGVTZ0F3SnRWRHEvN25jUVE9PQ%3D%3D\"}],\"coauthors_list\":[\"Vinit Jain\",\"Thomas Gloria\",\"Will O'Brien\"],\"sort_date\":\"2021-10-01\"},{\"activityid\":2749,\"fields\":{\"Type\":\"Papers Published - Conference Proceedings\",\"Title of Paper\":\"Interdisciplinary Education for Sustainable Development: The Harvard Global Development Practice (GDP) Model\",\"Title of Published Proceedings\":\"\",\"Title of Conference\":\"International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD)\",\"Conference Location\":\"Columbia University, New York, New York\",\"Month \\\/ Season\":\"September\",\"Year\":2020,\"Publisher\":\"ICSD\",\"Publisher City and State\":\"ICSD, New York, New York.\",\"Volume\":\"\",\"Issue Number \\\/ Edition\":\"\",\"Page Numbers\":\"\",\"DOI\":\"\",\"CoAuthor\":null,\"URL\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ic-sd.org\\\/events\\\/icsd-2020\\\/\",\"Description\":\"Achieving global sustainability necessitates the adoption of well-organized educational methods. Indeed, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reiterate the need and provide a framework for educational programs that equip students with capabilities for fostering sustainable development. Adopting interdisciplinary educational models in institutions of higher learning is therefore key to ensuring that teaching and learning are tailored in line with the goals of global sustainability. This is underscored by the fact that not only does sustainable development intersect several disciplines, but also because it requires acquisition of relevant knowledge and skills that could be applied to provide solutions to the numerous challenges related to our shared humanity and environment. Hence, this study sets out to analyze the interdisciplinary educational model of the Master of Global Development Practice (GDP) program at Harvard University Division of Continuing Education (DCE) with a view to demonstrating how it serves as an effective means of developing and enabling leaders in sustainability. It examines the relationship between interdisciplinary education and sustainable development and how the former is crucial to attaining the latter.\",\"Include description in output citation\":0,\"Origin\":\"Manual\"},\"facultyid\":\"C70191933\",\"status\":[{\"id\":2749,\"status\":\"Completed\\\/Published\",\"term\":\"Fall\",\"year\":2020,\"termid\":\"2020\\\/01\",\"listingorder\":6,\"completionorder\":6}],\"userid\":\"C70191933\",\"attachments\":[{\"attachmentid\":1639,\"mimetype\":\"application\\\/pdf\",\"filename\":\"HARVARD_GDP_MODEL.pdf\",\"filesize\":671512,\"downloadurl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/faculty180.interfolio.com\\\/public\\\/download.php?key=SDRwNCtxSUpsamxBQ213WS9ucHFuNnMwT0hzQU11b2RPQkJ2cWc3amxyUmNRdVVXTkF4MU1sdUtpdlE1MFA5ckoxb0RFQzI5dHVWRkU2Nkx1VmxTczNtV3ZjSkl6NUtpS2VSMU0wYThuNUlxSWIrQXdyOVR0QT09\"}],\"coauthors_list\":[\"Will G. O'Brien\"],\"sort_date\":\"2020-9-01\"},{\"activityid\":589,\"fields\":{\"Type\":\"Chapters in Books\",\"Chapter Title\":\"\\u201cSustainability in Higher Education: Implementation in Bulgaria\\u201d - Bui, K. & O\\u2019Brien, W., book chapter. Editors: Ulisses M. Azeiteiro, J. Paulo Davim International Journal of Higher Education and Sustainability. (August 2019).\",\"Book Title\":\"\\u201cHigher Education and Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals\\u201d\",\"Series Title\":\"\",\"Year\":2019,\"Date Published\":\"2019-08-30\",\"Publisher\":\"CRC Press - Taylor & Francis Group\",\"Publisher City and State\":\"Boca Raton, FL\",\"Country of Publisher\":\"USA\",\"Edition\":\"1st\",\"Page Numbers\":\"24\",\"ISSN\":\"\",\"DOI\":\"\",\"CoAuthor\":null,\"URL\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.crcpress.com\\\/Higher-Education-and-Sustainability-Opportunities-and-Challenges-for-Achieving\\\/Azeiteiro-Davim\\\/p\\\/book\\\/9781138556539\",\"Description\":\"\",\"Include description in output citation\":0,\"Origin\":\"Manual\"},\"facultyid\":\"C70191933\",\"status\":[{\"id\":589,\"status\":\"Completed\\\/Published\",\"term\":\"Summer\",\"year\":2019,\"termid\":\"2018\\\/05\",\"listingorder\":6,\"completionorder\":6}],\"userid\":\"C70191933\",\"attachments\":[],\"coauthors_list\":[\"Will G. O'Brien\",\"Kathy Bui\"],\"sort_date\":\"2019-08-30\"}]","cu_faculty_awards_and_grants":"","cu_faculty_title":"Professor Emeritus, School of Business
Professor of Practice, School of Business","cu_faculty_department":"School of Business","cu_faculty_affiliated_departments":"School of Business","footnotes":""},"cu_faculty_group":[52],"cu_faculty_department":[7],"cu_faculty_position":[],"class_list":["post-530","cu_faculty","type-cu_faculty","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_faculty_group-business-emeriti","cu_faculty_department-school-of-business"],"yoast_head":"\n