Alumni Spotlight: David Francis, MBA ’07

Over the past 110 years, more than 200,000 individuals have graduated from Webster University around the world.

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Meet David Francis, an entrepreneur who earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster in 2007.

What enticed you to choose Webster University for your degree?

I was friends with Professor Fanon Cross, who taught economics at Webster. After I shared my goals with him, he encouraged me to consider Webster for my master's degree. I did some deep research, and he was right, choosing Webster was one of the best decisions I made in pursuing my MBA.

What stood out about your studies at Webster?

Overall, Webster University offered the curriculum I was looking for in an MBA program. It aligned with my goals and gave me the tools I needed to grow as a professional and entrepreneur.

How did your Webster degree help advance you in your career?

Studying qualitative and quantitative analytics significantly advanced my business career. Anyone can count money, but applying the right formulas and interpreting data, that's a real skill. It wasn't something that came naturally to me, so I had to put in the effort to learn it. Taking the course at Webster helped me grow as an entrepreneur and strengthened a skill I once lacked.

What is your favorite part about your job?

My favorite part about my job is being my own boss. Entrepreneurship isn't easy. Most of what I've learned came through hard knocks and failures, but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

What is something valuable you have learned during your career?

The best teacher in life is experience. As an entrepreneur, you live, learn and grow from your mistakes – you just try not to repeat them.

What advice would you give to others who are considering Webster University for their degree?

Befriend a classmate who's chasing their dreams like you. There will be times when you feel tired, discouraged or overwhelmed – that's just life. Having someone in your corner makes all the difference. You can push each other, encourage each other and stay focused when things get tough.

For me, that person was my wife. We leaned on each other through the hard moments, and we both graduated from Webster University with our MBA.

What has your life journey looked like?

I grew up in Chicago and live in Los Angeles with my wife and our two kids. Growing up, I excelled in football and basketball and had dreams of going pro. But over time, my focus shifted to entrepreneurship.

I knew I had a business mindset back in high school when I started cutting my classmates' hair in my mom's garage. That hustle followed me into undergrad, where I kept cutting hair to make extra money. I put in the hours — way more than 10,000 — but mastery alone didn't guarantee success. What shaped me were the failures and lessons along the way.

Eventually, I realized that true happiness and peace come from within. That was a turning point. I stopped chasing money and started chasing purpose, and the money followed. I learned that being rich isn't about money; it's about productivity. What you produce is what makes you rich. Poverty isn't just financial, it's the absence of productivity.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is patience. Early on, every idea felt urgent. I wanted instant results, like popcorn in a microwave. But with me, I saw that consistency makes time your ally. That's when things start to happen, at the right time, in the right way.

What was your first job, and what do you remember most about it?

My first job was as a paperboy. I'd ride my bike nearly 30 miles a day delivering newspapers around the neighborhood. The most memorable moment? The day I overslept and missed my route. The owner cursed me out, but my older sister wasn't having it. She called and gave the owner a piece of her mind. I never went back after that.

How do you spend your free time?

I spend my free time traveling with my wife. Even though I travel the world for work, I rarely get the chance to actually explore the places I visit. When we're home, we enjoy the simple things, bike rides, beach walks and going to the movies.

Is there anything else you want to share?

Understanding your purpose doesn't guarantee success. There's one thing that does: your habits. Success isn't a feeling, it's a habit. Motivation is overrated. It's useful, but it only gives you a boost. It's your habits that keep you going. I explore this idea in my poetry book, "Dear Me, Who Am I?"