Len Jessup

About

Len Jessup is a visionary leader in higher education and entrepreneurship, known for building organizations, transforming institutions, and expanding opportunity. As a two-time university president and two-time business school dean,  Jessup brings decades of leadership experience in academia, business, and venture creation.

Create More is Jessup’s blueprint for entrepreneurial leadership, drawn from his own life at the edge of innovation. Through compelling personal stories and practical insights, the book explores what it takes to create meaningful change—whether launching a new venture or leading transformation inside a legacy institution. It builds on the themes he first introduced in Self Less, his best-selling book on servant leadership.

Throughout his career, Jessup has served as president of Claremont Graduate University and president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; dean of the business schools at both the University of Arizona and Washington State University; and a professor of management and information systems. His work consistently focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship, and organizational change.

Jessup is also a founder and managing partner of Desert Forge Ventures, a venture capital fund supporting early-stage companies in the Las Vegas region. He serves on multiple startup and family business boards, where he helps shape strategy, scale operations, and unlock new markets.

As the first in his family to graduate from college, Jessup is deeply committed to opening pathways for others. His leadership combines academic excellence, entrepreneurial thinking, and an unshakable belief in what’s possible.