Payroll Systems: From a college dorm room
Greg started Payroll Systems from his dorm room. Eighteen months later the largest national payroll processor bought it.
Start where you are, and build something worth buying.
Educate·Build·Empower
Dr. Greg Watson builds businesses, and teaches others to.
Every company Greg founded meant training a new team to a high standard. Higher education changed the vocabulary, not the practice: he has been teaching people to build ever since.
- Founder of 14 companies, 13 sold
- Professor of Business, Pima Community College
- Entrepreneurship Essentials, used at 78 institutions
Dr. Greg Watson's record: founder of 14 companies, 13 sold
14Founder of 14 companies, 13 soldAll but one still operating in some form
78Entrepreneurship Essentials, used at 78 institutionsThe free open textbook, v1.0
4.9Rated 4.9 out of 5 by students across 23 course evaluations, 2023–2026
PhDPhD in Business, Northcentral UniversityMBA, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Two sides, one practice: Business owners, students and educators, start here
Greg works with business owners who want a company that grows beyond them, and with students and educators who want entrepreneurship taught from experience.
For business owners: Grow a business that runs beyond its founder
Workshops, books and talks built on fourteen companies' worth of lessons.
For students and educators: Learn entrepreneurship from someone who has done it
Courses, research and a free textbook, shared openly.
The builder: Three ventures and what they taught
The America Beautiful Network: Technology that travelled
Launched during the dot-com boom, it was at the time the third-largest vertically integrated travel advertising network, with advertisers including Marriott. The buyer valued above all the ad-targeting technology his team built.
The team's capability is often the real asset.
The venture that taught the most: Empathy first
One venture began with an idea Greg loved before he had confirmed that customers had the problem, wanted his solution and would pay for it.
Empathy for the customer's problem now sits at the heart of everything he teaches.
The flagship workshop: Work On Your Business, Not in your business
A strategy workshop for founders and small-business owners who are ready to stop reacting and start leading: seeing the business clearly, redesigning how it works, and stepping into the role of strategic leader rather than the bottleneck.
This year's workshop is sold out. Join the list to hear about the recordings and next year's event.
Sold out
- When
- Black Friday, 27 November 2026
- Format
- In person, recorded
- With
- A local chamber of commerce
- Then
- A year-long series of strategic workshops
The author: Books by Dr. Greg Watson
Books you use, not just read. Each has its own home, with free chapters and tools. More about the author.
Mindset Mastery for Entrepreneurs
The thinking that built your business, and what it takes to grow beyond it.
Read Chapter 1 free →
AI Can Make Us More Human
From Human Resources to Human Beings: how AI gives us back the human part of work.
Start with Chapter One →
Entrepreneurship Essentials
The free open textbook for the introductory entrepreneurship course, used at 78 institutions.
Read it free →The Innovation TeacherTeaching Innovation Across the DisciplinesDr. Greg Watson
The Innovation Teacher
Teaching Innovation Across the Disciplines: the book and workshop for faculty who want to teach innovation in any subject.
Visit The Innovation Teacher →Watch: Talks and workshops by Dr. Greg Watson
Keynotes, workshops and public presentations.
Keynote · TENWest: Building a Business Bigger Than You!
Greg's talk at TENWest on growing a business that no longer depends on its founder.
Workshop · NACCE: Smarter, Leaner, Faster: AI Tools and Strategies for Business
A practical session on AI tools and strategies for business, for NACCE's community-college entrepreneurship network.
Videos load from YouTube only when you press play.
The teacher: Professor of Business, Pima Community College
Greg previously taught at the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management and directed the New Venture Development Program at the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship. His courses, research and his students' work live on ProfessorWatson.com.
Quick answers: Questions about Dr. Greg Watson
Who is Dr. Greg Watson?
A Tucson, Arizona-based entrepreneur and educator: founder of 14 companies, 13 sold, Professor of Business at Pima Community College, and author of the open textbook Entrepreneurship Essentials, used at 78 institutions. He is based in Tucson, Arizona.
Where does he teach?
At Pima Community College in Tucson. He previously taught at the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management and directed the New Venture Development Program at the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship.
What has he written?
Mindset Mastery for Entrepreneurs, AI Can Make Us More Human, The Innovation Teacher, and the open textbook Entrepreneurship Essentials.
How do I book him to speak?
Send a note through the contact page with your event, audience and date.
Book Dr. Greg Watson to speak at your team or event
Keynotes and interactive sessions on mindset, growth beyond the founder, and AI at work.