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Big Ideas: Theresa Welbourne

Theresa Welbourne
Dr. Theresa Welbourne, director of the UNL College of Business Administration Center for Entrepreneurship and FirsTier Banks Distinguished Professor of Business, received the 2012 Academy of Management Distinguished HR Executive Award earlier this year.

Welbourne, who has over 30 years in human resource management practice and study, became the first woman and first entrepreneur to win the award.

“The prior winners are all from very large, Fortune 100 type firms,” Welbourne said. “To win this award the year I went back into academics at the UNL College of Business Administration was very humbling.”

The award is for people who make contributions to practice, research and teaching. Welbourne explained that she tries to make impacts in all three areas both in her academic and business work.

“We have changed the way people think about employee surveys at my business, eePulse. We deliver real-time data and help leaders and HR executives learn to tell stories with their data that drive dialogue, action and results.”

In her academic work, Welbourne has used data to learn how fast-growth companies maintain their entrepreneurial spirit through a high-energy workforce.

“I have been able to use science and rigorous research to create business interventions that help both high-growth and high-change organizations. I really enjoy the space where research and practice come together.”
Published: November 27, 2012