What happens when a startup veteran with a passion foroperations decides to dive deep into academic research? In this episode, we’re joined by Sean Doherty, founder and CEO of Sierra Delta Advisors and current DBA student at Penn State University, who is also pursuing a masters in SupplyChain Management—simultaneously!

From managing flight operations to scaling logistics forHelloFresh and Vineyard Vines, Sean brings a rare blend of real-world startup hustle and research rigor. We explore:

• Why Sean pursued a DBA (and why now)
• His dissertation focus- supply chain strategies fore-commerce startups
• Lessons learned from startup failures—andthe opportunity to do better
• The power of mixed methods research and working with leading scholars
• Practical advice for founders on supply chain readiness and raising venture capital

“You can't scale a spreadsheet.” Sean shares candid storiesand actionable insights for anyone navigating the world of e-commerce, operations, or the DBA journey.

Whether you're a founder, a DBA student, or a supply chainstrategist, this episode is packed with lessons on leadership, learning, and leveraging failure to fuel success.

Tune in and discover why Sean says he’s the happiest he’sever been—professionally and academically.

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LinkedIn: DBA Chronicles
Website: www.dbachronicles.org

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Until next time—keep learning, keep leading!