Eric Zackrison

Eric Zackrison is a Continuing Lecturer in the Technology Management Program at UC Santa Barbara, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in management, leadership, strategy, and business communication. He has been teaching in the TMP program since 2017 and works closely with students to bridge theory and practice—helping them develop the skills needed to lead teams, navigate ambiguity, and communicate effectively in complex organizations.

In addition to his teaching, Eric sources, scopes, and facilitates the field-based consulting projects for the Master of Technology Management (MTM) program, working with corporate, nonprofit, and public-sector partners to connect student teams with real-world organizational challenges.

Before entering academia, Eric spent more than 30 years as a manager and entrepreneur, including owning and operating a successful restaurant business for nearly two decades. He later returned to graduate school, earning an MBA and MA in Communication from Missouri State University and a PhD in Organizational Communication from UC Santa Barbara. His academic and applied interests center on leadership, team dynamics, coordination in complex systems, influence, and workplace relationships.

Beyond UCSB, Eric is an active consultant and leadership development facilitator through Effectiveness Consultants, working with organizations across technology, aerospace, healthcare, government, and nonprofit sectors. His consulting focuses on leadership development, team effectiveness, strategy, and communication, and his applied work regularly informs his teaching and course design.

Eric is also a course author and instructor for global learning platforms including LinkedIn Learning and Coursera, where his courses on leadership, communication, strategy, and AI-augmented decision-making have reached more than 1.5 million learners worldwide.