Headshot of Dale Fickett

Dale Fickett

Instructor of Entrepreneurship
  • Profile
    Dale Fickett is a visiting professor of entrepreneurship. He is also an investment advisor and president of RVA Works, a public charity to help people overcome economic barriers to business ownership, providing education, community engagement, and the Open Trellis® technology to foster business ownership. Fickett has served on the boards of the U.S. Senate Small Business Award Panel, the Governor's Social Enterprise and Impact Investing working group, and the Virginia Catholic Conference. He previously led a venture in the retail sector and served as a strategy consultant with Accenture's European Financial Services practice, focused on transformational programs in banking and capital markets. He guest lectures and conducts joint research on entrepreneurial finance, digital ecosystems, and developmental economics. Previous engagements have included: the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Trinity College Dublin, Northwestern University, the University of Liverpool, the University of Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University. He holds an MBA magna cum laude from Villanova University and a BSBA cum laude from La Salle University. His passion is being a father to his daughter and son, as well as his missionary development work in rural Haiti.
    Expand All
    • Grants and Fellowships

      Community Engaged Research, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 2022

      Impact Initiative, Capital One, 2014 – 2022

      Thrive Grant, United Way, 2015

      Building Entrepreneurial Economies, Virginia DHCD, 2014

    • Awards

      Exemplary Service, Virginia Catholic Conference 2021

      Social Entrepreneur Scholarship - Scaling Nonprofit, Social Capital Markets 2020

      Governor's Housing Conference Speaker, Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development 2018

      GrowInclusive Venture, World Bank & World Economic Forum 2015

      Ambassador of Peace, Universal Peace Federation 2005

      Net Impact Leader in Action 1997

      Academic Excellence – Finance Department, LaSalle University, 1997

      Eagle Scout with Silver Palm, Boy Scouts of America, 1988

    • Presentations

      2022, Entrepreneurship in a Post Pandemic Environment, Main Street America

    • Professional Experience

      Instructor of Entrepreneurship (2021 - present)

      University of Richmond

      Founder & President (2013 - present)
      RVA Works Enterprise Support

      Independent Advisor Representative (IAR) (2020 - present )
      Barrett Capital Management

      International Entrepreneurship Researcher (2009 - 2013)
      Trinity College Dublin

      Managing Consultant - Banking Strategy (2006-2009)
      Accenture

      Instructor (2005 - 2006)
      New Venture Execution at the Wharton Small Business Development Center, University of Pennsylvania

      Founder & President (2003 - 2006)
      D'Lectables (chocolatier)

      Project Manager & Analyst (2000 - 2002)
      Andersen Consulting

    • Certifications

      Series 65 Licensed, Independent Advisor Representative, FINRA

      Virginia Life, Annuities & Health Insurance Licensed

  • Publications
    Journal Articles

    Forthcoming "Explainable AI for Capital Access Across Unsecured Loan Portfolios" (with Swati Sachan) 2021

    "Competing Conceptions of Social Value Creation Through Social Impact Assessments: The Case of RVA Works" (Mulloth & Rumi), Journal of Small Business & Enterprise Development, *Acknowledgment 2021

    "RVA Works: Empowering Entrepreneurs for Big Change", (with Bala Mulloth) SAGE Publishing 2021

    "Entrepreneurship in a Post-COVID Environment", Virginia Main Street, Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development 2020

    "Digital Availability, Affordability & Accessibility", Governor's Housing Conference, Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development 2020

    "Small Business Relief in the COVID Economy", LinkedIn Blog 2020

    "Coronavirus: Economic Impact for Small Business", LinkedIn Blog 2020

    "Running Out of Cash?", LinkedIn Blog 2019

    "Patagonia: Leadership Lessons from South America", Medium 2019

    "Startup Inclusion - What?' In it for Me?", Medium 2017

    "Sustainability, How Long will this all Last?", Medium 2017

    "Poverty in Shades of Grey, Not Black & White", Medium 2017

    "Personal Income, Why aren't we getting a raise?", Medium 2017

    "What is our Economic Problem?", Medium 2017

    "What is the Good Economy?", Medium 2016

    "Toward a More Just Economic System" (with Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI) and "Faith & Sustainable Economic Development", Conference of Major Superiors of Men 2016

    "Convening & Catalyzing Entrepreneurs 2.0", RVA Works 2015

    "Horizon 2020 - A Top Startup Community", Economic Development Authority, City of Richmond 2014

    "Differentiating Our Startup Ecosystem", Economic Development Authority, City of Richmond 2014

    Startups & Entrepreneurship Section, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, Richmond Regional Planning Development Commission 2013

    "Transforming Advantech: New Business Incubation in Richmond", Economic Development Authority 2011

    "Developmental Entrepreneurship in Sub Saharan Africa - Assessing Financial and Social Returns", Institute for International Integration Studies 2008

    "Financial Services Leadership Briefings: The Payment Services Directive, Regulation Banks Must Address", Accenture 2007,

    "Making Payment Deliver: From Compliance to a Strategic Response", Accenture 2007

    "Planning for SEPA Implementation (Single Euro Payments Area)", Accenture