Bernard Bell

About Bernard Bell

As the Executive Director of the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship at UNC, I have the privilege of leading and growing one of the top-ranked entrepreneurship programs in the country. With my MBA and over 20 years of experience as a corporate executive and an entrepreneur, I bring a wealth of knowledge and insights to the students, faculty, and alumni of the program.My mission is to inspire, educate, and support the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators, who will create positive social and economic impact in the world. I oversee the curriculum, venture development, and outreach activities of the program, which has expanded from 200 to over 600 students in the past six years, thanks to a generous $18 million gift from the Shuford family. I also teach the capstone class and mentor numerous student-led start-ups, leveraging my expertise in media, technology, e-commerce, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, I run my own consulting firm, Urban Media Solutions, where I advise founders and Fortune 100 companies on various aspects of business strategy and communication. I am passionate about creating opportunities and value for the urban consumer and community.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Unc Shuford Program In Entrepreneurship

   Jul 2017 — Present · Chapel Hill, NC, US

   Bernard Bell is currently the Executive Director of the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship at the University of NC at Chapel Hill. He spent the majority of his career as both a Corporate Executive and an Entrepreneur. Here at UNC, Bell was part of the founding team that created the Shuford Entrepreneurship Program, and has been instrumental in shaping and growing it from 200 students to over 600 students while gaining national recognition as the #4 ranked entrepreneurship program in the country. Bernard also serves as a Professor of the Practice and teaches the Capstone Class in the program.

Education

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  Bachelors, Economics

  1982 — 1986

• UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

  MBA, Marketing

  1990 — 1992

• The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth

  Executive MBA Coursework, Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies

  2011 — 2011

Skills

• Digital Strategy
• Strategic Partnerships
• Social Media
• Social Media Marketing
• Digital Media
• Television
• Start-Ups
• Creative Direction
• Strategy
• Integrated Marketing
• New Media
• Marketing Strategy
• Entertainment
• Public Relations
• Advertising
• Broadcast
• Leadership
• Digital Marketing