Professor Michael Kitz
Mike Kitz brings a rare blend of executive leadership, deep market expertise, and engineering rigor to Notre Dame’s College of Engineering and to the ESTEEM program, where he serves as a Teaching Professor. With over 20 years in the C-Suite and senior management, his career spans Fortune 100 companies, including roles as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at OfficeMax, VP Brand Management at GM, Consumer Tire business unit at Goodyear, and senior positions at Procter & Gamble (P&G), Motorola, and Honeywell. An alumnus of Notre Dame with dual degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Theology, and an MBA from the University of Michigan and a driving force behind market innovation, Professor Kitz is credited with leading the successful introduction of over 10,000 new products throughout his career. His core expertise lies in leading comprehensive business and brand-building strategies across these major corporations, integrating technical development with aggressive market positioning.
At Notre Dame, Professor Kitz leverages this vast industry experience—which includes brand management, engineering design, global sourcing in China, and managing large P&Ls and cross-functional teams—to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. He currently directs the Integrated Engineering and Business Practices Program (IEBP) and the Summer Engineering Programs, focusing his teaching on design thinking, innovation, product development, and marketing strategy. As he emphasizes, a successful career demands more than just technical knowledge; it requires leadership, curiosity, and presentation skills.
Mike shares some insight into his professor journey and offers advice to ESTEEM students.
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ESTEEM: What was the most surprising or unconventional lesson you’ve learned in your professional journey?
Mike: The strongest brands and the most successful products have emotional benefits as well as rational benefits for the consumer/customer. So many businesspeople think of the rational benefits, sure. But the best products help consumers/customers at both rational and emotional levels. Build these and you will build the business. Human-centered work is so important.
ESTEEM: Can you share a pivotal moment in your career when you took a risk or embraced uncertainty, and what you learned from it?
Mike: I took a risk every time I moved to a new company and industry. Through these moves I learned a lot about business and a lot about myself. Regarding businesses, I learned that one can innovate and grow the business in any category. Regarding myself, I found that my heart sings when I am creating something new with people, whether it is creating new products, new marketing campaigns, or new student experiences.
ESTEEM: If you were a student starting the ESTEEM program this year, what would you make sure to focus on learning or doing during the year?
Mike: ESTEEM students do so many things, have so many experiences, learn so much, and accomplish so much. They should be sure to reflect on which things make their own heart sing. Knowledge of this will enable them to make wise career and life choices, and grow throughout the ups and downs of their career journey.
ESTEEM: What emerging trends or challenges in your field do you think ESTEEM students should be paying attention to?
Mike: Sure, they should work with AI and learn how AI can help them and any business grow. But my hope is all ESTEEM grads shape this new world so that humans flourish. All humans flourish. Their work will have a profound impact on so many people.
ESTEEM: What do you personally learn from working with ESTEEM students year after year?
Mike: Their optimism and creativity are infectious. I love how they take new technologies and imagine something good, something better. I learn what new technologies can do and what they enable. Looking over the years, I am amazed how so many migrate to work where they make a difference. I am amazed by how they help each other, both within their cohort and other classes of graduates.
ESTEEM: If you had one piece of advice for students striving to make an impact, what would it be?
Mike: Start with love and relationships. This will ground you. And then with this, you will be energized to overcome so many obstacles and make the impact you so desire.
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About the ESTEEM Graduate Program:
Over the course of this 11-month Master of Science degree (in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship) program at the University of Notre Dame, students from technical backgrounds are equipped with the skills and experience to launch new businesses, become innovators within large corporations, and be leaders of dynamic, innovative teams. Students are immersed in an entrepreneurial sandbox, where they get their hands dirty with entrepreneurship and innovation through a cutting-edge curriculum, a capstone commercialization project for an emerging technology, and outstanding out-of-the-classroom experiences.
To learn more about the ESTEEM Graduate Program or to apply please go to our website.