Dr. Samuel Gorham

Dr. J. Samuel (“Sam”) Gorham is an accomplished global operations leader, executive coach, and higher education faculty member with more than 30 years of industry experience and a decade of university teaching. He is passionate about helping organizations and students achieve exceptional results by combining practical leadership experience with proven business strategies. Dr. Gorham brings real-world insight into the classroom, preparing students to lead effectively in today’s complex and rapidly evolving global marketplace.

Throughout his career, Dr. Gorham has held leadership roles across a diverse range of industries including banking, operations, supply chain management, telecommunications, healthcare, music, and consulting. His professional background includes building high-performing teams, driving operational excellence, implementing cost-saving initiatives, and delivering innovative solutions that create measurable business impact. This extensive experience enables him to connect academic theory with real-world application in meaningful ways for his students.

In addition to his corporate leadership career, Dr. Gorham has been actively involved in higher education for more than ten years, teaching undergraduate and graduate business courses for universities around the world. His teaching focuses on leadership, project management, operations, and strategic execution, where he emphasizes experiential learning, critical thinking, and practical problem-solving to prepare students for leadership roles in global organizations.

Dr. Gorham holds a Doctor of Strategic Leadership from Regent University, a Master of Business Administration from DeVry University, and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from Clemson University.

He is also an executive coach and holds the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation. In addition, Dr. Gorham is a Master Business Continuity Professional (MBCP) through DRI International and a Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Through these certifications and his consulting work, he helps organizations strengthen operational resilience, improve performance, and implement sustainable process improvements.

Dr. Gorham’s work has taken him across the United States and internationally, where he has collaborated with global teams and experienced a wide range of cultures and business environments. These experiences inform his approach as a mentor, coach, and educator, enabling him to guide students and professionals in developing global perspectives and leadership capabilities.

Dr. Gorham resides in the metro Atlanta area with his family. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys volunteering, playing tennis, and traveling to new and exciting destinations.