Suggestions
John Hill
Evangelist at Techstars
John Hill is currently the Vice President of Story at Whop, a position he started in August 2024. In this role, he is responsible for communicating Whop's narrative to universities and promoting the platform, which allows individuals to build businesses online.23
Before joining Whop, Hill had an extensive career in various roles focused on education and entrepreneurship. He served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Michigan State University and has held significant positions at Techstars, including Higher Education Evangelist at LinkedIn and Director of Alumni Career Services at Michigan State University. His background includes strategic planning, career development, public speaking, and business development, showcasing his commitment to connecting people with opportunities.1
Highlights
I've always been a dog person (my wife, not so much), so living with two cats has been an adjustment. But one of them decided I was his (meet Spud). I could have decided to be the way I always was, but I was open to change and was rewarded with this guy (he made me pet him for the next 10 minutes after I took this picture).
My career has been the same way. I thought I'd be a sports writer (and at 24, I did become an editor for a national sports magazine), but I was open to change. When I worked at Michigan State University, I thought I'd retire there, but I was open to LinkedIn when it came along. Similar openness led me to Techstars and Whop.
Some of the jumps I made were large and meant cross-country moves, reinventing myself and steep learning curves. So I understand people's apprehension to change. One of the reasons I jumped to Whop, which meant a large career shift and a regular commute to Brooklyn from Boston, was how simple the company made it for people to change.
In 10 minutes, anyone could launch a digital business (without a tech background). In 10 minutes, anyone could sell their expertise, grow a community, connect to a global market. In 10 minutes, anyone could change the trajectory of their life.
Again, I've always been a dog person, until Spud showed me a different way.
Who are the most innovative people (or universities) in Higher Ed when it comes to innovation, entrepreneurship and adoption of technology. Need your help (thx my friends). Please tag or DM.
