Brad Smith

Brad D. Smith is renowned for building empowering, innovative cultures both at Intuit, where he served as CEO, and now as President of Marshall University. While at Intuit, Smith championed a culture that prized original thinking, experimentation, and agility—believing that the best solutions arise when teams embrace creativity and diverse cognitive approaches. He fostered an environment where employees felt safe to challenge assumptions and collaborate across disciplines, which helped Intuit evolve from traditional software into a market-leading cloud platform. Smith’s leadership emphasized empathy with customers, encouraging a “fail fast, learn faster” mindset that unlocked countless innovations and cemented Intuit's reputation as an incubator of entrepreneurial talent.

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Since transitioning to academia, Smith has brought this same forward-thinking leadership ethos to Marshall University. His presidency focuses on transforming the institution into an inclusive, vibrant hub where creativity, resilience, and original thought flourish. Smith actively invests in programs that support student success and community engagement, emphasizing education as a catalyst for social and economic revitalization in West Virginia. Through strategic partnerships and bold initiatives, he is reshaping the university’s culture to prepare students for a rapidly changing world—championing diversity of thought and creating pathways for all learners to reach their full potential.