A.J. Wasserstein is an entrepreneur, investor, author, and award-winning professor at the Yale School of Management, where he helps students learn about entrepreneurship, leadership, and what it takes to successfully build and grow a business.
Before becoming a professor, A.J. spent nearly two decades building a company of his own. He founded ArchivesOne, grew the business to approximately 400 employees, and eventually sold it to Iron Mountain. He later served as president of Onesource Water, helping grow it into one of the largest companies of its kind in the United States.
Today, A.J. uses those real-world experiences to help the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders. At Yale, he teaches students that there are many different ways to become an entrepreneur—including purchasing and improving an existing business rather than always starting something from scratch. His commitment to students has earned him multiple Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards at Yale.
But A.J.'s message goes far beyond business and making money. As the author of What Matters Most: A Young Adult's Roadmap to Life, he encourages young people to think deeply about their values, relationships, happiness, careers, and the kind of life they ultimately want to create. The book began as something he wrote for his own children to share lessons he hoped would help them navigate adulthood.
Through his experiences as an entrepreneur, business leader, investor, professor, and father, A.J. encourages young people to develop grit, take thoughtful risks, learn from setbacks, explore different opportunities, and understand that there isn't just one path to success.
When A.J. joins us, students will have the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship, leadership, choosing a career, overcoming challenges, defining success, and discovering what truly matters in life.
