Meet David Choi of Loyola Marymount University in Westchester

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Choi.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have a relatively new and unusual job. I am a senior faculty member of Entrepreneurship at Loyola Marymount University. To many people’s surprise, the Entrepreneurship major at LMU is one of the largest majors on our campus, and it is one of the highest-ranked programs in the country.

If you think about it, it’s a weird major. It certainly did not exist when our parents or even I went to college. What kind of an oddball professor would or could teach a subject like Entrepreneurship?

The fact is that I have been an oddball all of my life. I was the worst athlete on a top-notch baseball team in South Korea when I was growing up. When I was ten years old, I moved to a blue color town in Germany where I was the only Asian kid in school, often harassed and discriminated. I moved to the U.S. by myself when I was 14, lived with five different foster families through high school. I was the poorest kid in high school and college among my friends. I wasn’t the smartest person but worked hard to earn my degrees in Engineering and then in Business.

I had the chance to work with several prestigious organizations. I also worked with a number of startups that included those in foods, software and biotech. The fact is that I am still an oddball. Most academics say that I act like a business person. Some of my entrepreneur friends say that I act like an academic. Luckily, I am perfectly prepared to do what I do: Teach and mentor entrepreneurs and buddying business leaders. I can switch back and forth between an academic and an entrepreneur – and that seems to work for many of my current and former students.

Has it been a smooth road?
Let me say that I know what it’s like to go to bed hungry when you are a growing teenager. The worst part is not going to bed hungry but waking up hungry – for some reason I know this.

I know what it’s like see a parent lie in bed suffering for 12 years and feel the financial effects coming from it.

As an adult, I know what it’s like to get a second loan against your home to finance your business. I know the anxiety but also the sense of power that come from taking such a risks.

But I am thankful for my experiences – I can tell good stories in class.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I have been an entrepreneur (founder) as well as an advisor to many small and large companies. As advisor, I get called for weeks, months and sometimes longer to help CEOs with critical issues, whether it is to help turnaround a situation, to accelerate growth, or sell a company. I am lucky to work on the most challenging and interesting issues. Many of the projects did well, and I have been able to accomplish things that I didn’t initially think were possible – and now I can tell great stories in class.

Speaking of class, teaching, advising and building educational programs are what I focus my efforts on these days. Nothing is more fun than discussing business opportunities with motivated young people with big dreams. They inspire me as much as I might inspire them.

With all the things that you have done, why and how did you decide to be an educator?
When I was in my early 30’s, I realized that I had a special talent – that I could mentor young minds. It wasn’t my lecturing, but mostly just hanging out and joking around. I found out that I could motivate troubled high school kids to go to a top university or help a college student head in the right direction. I could relate well especially to kids that had struggled in some way, had something to prove, or needed a confidence boost. I am not trying to brag, because I believe God entrusted me the talent, which is why I decided to use it.

When I worked at Harvard Business School, I thought that I was not a perfect fit with the students because I thought that they would do well without me. LMU has been a better fit, except for some weird ones who feel overly self-important. Most students in Business and Engineering have been great. I have been quite good at pushing my motivated students to really excel in their careers. It’s important to know how to make business fun and enjoyable while also preparing them for the real world.

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
Life isn’t like being in the Olympics or winning the NBA Championship. There usually are no single moments that define a career or a life. I would say that I have had many small proud moments.

Last year, I was proud to receive the highest teaching award that my university offers. It was a big deal for me and my family and some of my past students. Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of my job has been the friendships I have built with my former students. Equally satisfying have been the friendships I have built with my colleagues in the program.

My students over the years have won all sorts of regional, national and international university competitions, something I am very happy about. I am thrilled when I hear about a former student’s startup doing well or a former student getting promoted in their job. Sometimes, I am just as happy to see a student who struggled in school finally graduate. I love seeing a kid from a poor background completely change their life trajectory. But to be honest, whether they are male or female, rich or poor, no matter what race, I love them the same. I just cannot stand the lazy and unmotivated.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I think Los Angeles is a fantastic place. It is so diverse in terms of industries and job opportunities that it offers a large and stable economic base. Unless the person has a specific interest that requires them to be a certain city, e.g., New York for Broadway, LA is a safe bet for a great career and a great life.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 3103382344
• Email: [email protected]

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