Living Out a Call for Business as Mission: Dr. Ross O’Brien Celebrates 25 Years at DBU

When the Lord began opening doors for Dr. Ross O'Brien to bring his passions for business and missions together, he found himself being guided to Dallas Baptist University, where he has spent the last 25 years exhibiting Christ-centered leadership and service. Dr. O'Brien has made an impact on the Don and Linda Carter School of Business, entrepreneurship at DBU, Business as Mission, and in teaching generations of Patriots.

Dr. O'Brien's heart for missions began early in his life as he was raised in Indonesia as part of a missionary family.

He then moved to the United States to pursue his bachelor's degree from Baylor University, where he met Dr. Gary Cook, former DBU President and current Chancellor, who was serving at Baylor at the time.

Reflecting on meeting Dr. O'Brien, Dr. Cook shares how his heart for following the Lord was evident. From their first encounter when Dr. O'Brien was the President of the Baptist Student Union (now known as the Baptist Student Ministry) to watching him throughout his career, Dr. Cook describes Dr. O'Brien as a missionary and entrepreneur at heart.

After his time at Baylor, Dr. O'Brien attended DBU where he completed his M.B.A. with the goal of gaining access to unreached countries as a missionary after graduation. However, when the door for full-time missions began closing after a year and a half in Indonesia, Dr. O'Brien came back to the U.S. where he began working as an account executive for AT&T.

Later, Dr. O'Brien founded his own internet services firm with the hope of placing people overseas to do business as mission, which he ran for seven years before returning to DBU in 2002 with an invitation from Dr. Cook.

As he returned to DBU, this time as a professor in the Don and Linda Carter School of Business (CSB), the door opened for Dr. O'Brien to launch the Center for Business as Mission in 2013 and the Entrepreneurship Program in 2014 under Dr. Cook's presidency. "God led him here 25 years ago, when nothing existed of an entrepreneurial nature, at least not academically, because God had plans for Ross and DBU," Dr. Cook reflects.

Beginning these two programs with God's guidance, Dr. O'Brien hoped they would allow students to have the opportunity to serve as missionaries through business.

Years after launching the Center for Business as Mission, the Lord brought to DBU Sandra Crawford Williamson, Marketing Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Marketing; Dr. Owen Schipplein, Professor of Engineering; Dr. Rick Martinez, Department Chair of Business Administration and Professor of Entrepreneurship; Michael Brown, Adjunct Professor in the Entrepreneurship Program; and Bob Reader, Director of Entrepreneurship and Business as Mission and Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship.

As Dr. O'Brien continually looked for ways to add value to students, DBU, the Carter School of Business, and the Kingdom of God, each person brought a unique expertise that contributed to the growth of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business as Mission (EBAM).

Bob Reader shares how, though the program has grown since its creation, it still focuses on Christ and encouraging students to serve His Kingdom through entrepreneurship.

Reflecting on reaching 25 years at DBU, Dr. O'Brien shares how grateful he is for the unexpected ways God has worked to open doors throughout his career. Each opportunity and relationship built over the years has been shaped by God's plan.

Dr. O'Brien continues to seek God's direction as he moves forward in the work that the Lord has blessed him with. "God is doing some amazing things in the world," Dr. O'Brien says. "And so, if we ask Him, Lord God, can I be part of some of what you're doing, He'll open up that door."

Others continue to reflect on Dr. O'Brien's consistent Christ-centered character. DBU President Adam C. Wright shares, "Dr. O'Brien has a heart for missions and seeing how Christ-centered business can have an impact not only in just the marketplace here in our DFW area, but all over the world."

Dr. Rick Martinez describes Dr. O'Brien as "an inspiration to me and to so many others, because he is faithful in his calling, humble in spirit, and gives glory to God for everything that he does."

Since returning to DBU 25 years ago, Dr. O'Brien has continuously encouraged students in their entrepreneurship pursuits. One of his students even created and launched the DBU Coffeehouse under his mentorship, which has become a well-loved place for students to fellowship and study together.

Alongside his entrepreneurial achievements at DBU, Dr. O'Brien has also completed his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington; was named Piper Professor of the Year in 2015 and nominated two other times; was named DBU School of Business Faculty Member of the Year in 2008, 2013, and 2015; and was named DBU Advisor of the Year and Outstanding Student Organization Advisor in 2019.

Today, Dr. O'Brien serves as the Professor of Entrepreneurship and Chair of the Entrepreneurship Department in DBU's Don and Linda Carter School of Business.

His servant leadership and heart for Business as Mission is continually seen in Dr. O'Brien's life outside of his role at DBU through his speaking engagements, study abroad trips to the Middle East, and his involvement with the Lion's Den DFW, the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, and global business opportunities. Dr. O'Brien and his wife, Lisa, also own O'Brien's Bookshop in Midlothian, TX, which Lisa manages.

The past 25 years at DBU have been marked by Dr. O'Brien's Christ-centered character and servant leadership. As Dr. O'Brien continues to see the development of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business as Mission (EBAM), he looks forward to seeing how God will use the program to equip students to serve through business.