Willy C. Shih

Willy Shih is a prominent educator, technology strategist, and business leader who shapes the conversation around innovation, operations, and enterprise resilience in an increasingly complex global economy. He is a Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School, where he teaches core courses in Technology and Operations Management and elective programs such as “Building and Sustaining a Successful Enterprise.” In addition to his work with MBA students, Shih plays an influential role in executive education, helping leaders from diverse industries navigate strategic change, manufacturing shifts, and competitive transformation.

Before joining academia in 2007, Shih spent 18 years in the technology and consumer electronics industries, bringing real‑world expertise to the classroom. Early in his career he spent 14 years at IBM, where he worked primarily in product development and engineering leadership. He then moved to Digital Equipment Corporation, managing the Alpha microprocessor‑based engineering workstation business and leading marketing for Windows NT and UNIX systems. At Silicon Graphics Computer Systems, he oversaw marketing for high‑performance computing and advanced graphics divisions, further deepening his experience at the intersection of technology and market strategy.

Shih later transitioned into consumer electronics leadership, serving as president of the Consumer Digital unit at Eastman Kodak from 1997 to 2005. There he was responsible for launching and scaling the company’s consumer digital camera business to more than $1 billion in annual revenue. His executive career continued internationally as Executive Vice President and co‑head of the Technology Group at Thomson in Paris, where he managed corporate research, intellectual property licensing, and strategic technology initiatives.

A seasoned authority on intellectual property and innovation strategy, Shih has structured licensing programs and participated in negotiations and technical leadership roles across industries. He holds S.B. degrees in Chemistry and Life Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Shih serves on the board of Flextronics International and chairs the Technical Advisory Board of QD Vision in Watertown, Massachusetts. His insights on global manufacturing, technology disruption, and operational excellence continue to influence both business practice and academic thought.