Gary L. Polk, Sr. - Born To Talk

My guest today, Gary L. Polk, Sr., he is the President, CEO and Founder of the Polk Institute. He’s also a proponent of social entrepreneurship and launched the Polk Institute Foundation, www.polkinstitute.org, a 501(c)(3) on January 15, 2021.

Meet Gary L. Polk, Sr.

Gary L. Polk, Sr. is a distinguished Adjunct Professor of Business Management, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship at CSUDH (California State University, Dominguez Hills) located in Carson, CA. He discovered his true passion for teaching in 1991 when he began instructing at CSU, Northridge, and has been an influential figure in the academic community ever since. He is passionate about entrepreneurs… and why they succeed or fail. Gary is also a three-time author.

His initial book, “Why Entrepreneurs Fail (to Win)”, is widely used as a textbook in college entrepreneurship programs. “Why Black and Brown Entrepreneurs Fail (To Win)“ is for entrepreneurs and those who want to be.

His third book, “Why Women Entrepreneurs Fail (To Win)“, was recently published.

The Polk Institute and Foundation

Developing the next generation of Social Entrepreneurs and Empathetic Business Leaders. PI’s FIVE overarching goals are:

Create a Welfare Withdrawal Paradigm: To empower individuals toward self-sufficiency rather than dependence.
Teach Entrepreneurs How to Fish: To empower founders with the tools, knowledge, and skills necessary to sustain their own businesses, rather than providing temporary fixes.
Teach Them What They Do Not Know About Business: To provide high-level, master-level practitioner training that covers the gaps in the knowledge base of emerging entrepreneurs.
Create Fundable CEOs, Who Are Ethical and Possess Great Character: To focus heavily on nurturing character, integrity, and trust as essential components of business success.
Create Leaders Who Believe That “People, Planet, and Profit” is Not a Zero-Sum: To promote the triple bottom line, ensuring that businesses are profitable while also benefiting people and the planet.

The Polk Institute Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit that offers tuition-free programs in a three-phase approach: Training Academy, Accelerator Launchpad, and Access to Capital.