Dr. Michael Sheppard is an Associate Professor at Acadia University's F.C. Manning School of Business, specializing in entrepreneurship and innovation. Drawing on over 20 years of industry experience in IT consulting and software entrepreneurship, he brings practical insights to his classes. He integrates his teaching with practice through The Path, a student start-up incubator focused on triple-bottom-line opportunities. His research examines the growth and survival of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), focusing on strategic orientations and innovation, as well as educational technology and pedagogical innovation. Dr. Sheppard holds a Ph.D. in Management Sciences from the University of Waterloo.