Our Story | Technological Leadership Institute

Technological
Leadership Institute

The Technological Leadership Institute (TLI) is an interdisciplinary center at the University of Minnesota established in 1987 by an endowment from the Honeywell Foundation. The Institute is part of the College of Science and Engineering, which is ranked among the top engineering and science schools in the country.

Mission

TLI's mission is to develop local and global leaders for technology-intensive enterprises through its three Master of Science degree programs:

M.S. in Management of Technology (MOT), a four-semester program aimed at transforming engineering, science and other technical professionals into business leaders.
M.S. in Security Technologies (MSST), a 14-month program designed to shape tomorrow's risk management policymakers and innovators.
M.S. in Medical Device Innovation (MDI), a 16-month program designed to prepare students to manage complex innovation challenges in the global medical technology industry.

Transformative Education

TLI's academic programs are intentionally kept small and highly selective in order to ensure the highest quality student body and personal attention from faculty. All TLI degree offerings are tailored to empower professionals by:

Focusing on leadership in technology-based environments
Teaching technical professionals to analyze existing and emerging technologies
Leveraging interdisciplinary faculty with real-world experience
Bridging the gap between technology and business with applied learning

Results That Matter

TLI students and graduates are at the core of the Institute's success. The outstanding contributions they make to technology innovation within the program and post-graduation impact all aspects of high-tech industries. The professionals who enroll in our degree programs continue to be among the best of the best, as are the TLI faculty members who have dedicated their careers to grooming the next generation of technology leaders.

80+ Current Graduate Students
1,400+ Accomplished Alumni
60+ Dedicated Faculty & Staff

Distinguished Faculty

What sets the Technological Leadership Institute apart is the distinguished faculty and industry-leading experts that teach in our programs. Our instructors, many who are actively working in their respective industries, bring real-time, real-world, leadership experience directly to the classroom. The small cohort model allows students to build meaningful relationships with both the faculty and their classmates, developing a strong network of industry-leading professionals as they move forward in their career.

Advisory Board

TLI's advisory board is comprised of prominent business and government leaders, as well as University of Minnesota alumni committed to strengthening Minnesota's technological leadership position through education, research and consulting. Advisory board members review curricula, suggest new programming opportunities, and support TLI’s public engagement activities.

Advisory Board Members

Emily Benner, Preventice Solutions
Timothy Cassidy, Best Buy Company, Inc. (Current Board Chair)
Pat Dillon, Minnesota High Tech Association
Deborah Dixson, retired Best Buy
David Espindola, Brainyus & Ilumina Tech
Chuck Extrand, Colder Products Company
Steen Fjalstad, Midwest Reliability Organization
Paul Mattson, Luther College
Ken Merdan, Boston Scientific
Richard O’Brien, Medtronic
Ronald Peterson, Peterson Technology Business Strategies, Inc.
Chriss Renier, retired (Emeritus Board member)
James Renier, Renier and Associates and retired CEO of Honeywell (Emeritus Board member)
Santiago Vallejo, RoomIt by CWT
Murad Velani, Longitude Partners, LLC
Michael Wright, Artisans Inc. (Emeritus Board Chair)

Commitment to Success

The Technological Leadership Institute is dedicated to lifelong education through our degree programs, undergraduate experiences, and continuing education opportunities aimed at bridging the gap between business and technology. Learn more about the Technological Leadership Institute's organizational values.

Technological Leadership Institute