Christopher Hanks

Chris is the founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship. He also serves as the Entrepreneur in Residence for the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE). Prior to this, he was the founder and executive director of the entrepreneurship center at Kennesaw State University.

Chris began his journey in entrepreneurship education at Georgia State University. So far, he has helped develop leadership and entrepreneurship programs for nineteen academic and corporate universities, including his longest service in academia as the founder and Director of the entrepreneurship program at the University of Georgia.

Chris’ many accomplishments including leading the International Entrepreneurship Institute and authoring several books on low-risk entrepreneurship published by McGraw Hill. Since 2001, Chris has taught executives from a variety of industries through formal and customized MBA programs. He has led over 300 sessions with leadership teams outside of graduate programs for fast-growing companies and established enterprises, including UPS, McKinsey & Company, and SunTrust Banks. 

Before becoming passionate about creating entrepreneurs, Chris was passionate about creating businesses. He has owned multiple businesses, including music, e-commerce, publishing, and export ventures. Additionally, he is certified in business valuation and has provided expert witness testimony.