Eric Lin

Eric Lin is an Associate Professor of Business and co-chair of the Business Program at Oberlin College & Conservatory. He holds a DBA from Harvard Business School, an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, and a MAcc/BS from Weatherhead School of Management. His research focuses on human capital, talent management, and career dynamics, with notable contributions to understanding military officer retention and executive compensation equity. Prior to academia, he spent nine years as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, advising Fortune 500 firms on strategic operations.

• Teaches courses in business management, marketing, leadership, and innovation at Oberlin.
• Previously served on faculty at U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he developed the Hacking for Defense course, which trains cadets in agile innovation through real Department of Defense problem-solving.
• Published in Harvard Business Review on topics like executive resume gaps and job-hopping equity.

His work bridges liberal arts education with practical business skills, reflecting Oberlin’s interdisciplinary mission. He has advised over 50 organizations on talent strategies and led knowledge development initiatives at McKinsey.