“Why are you doing what you’re doing?” That question changed the trajectory of Sean Dwyer’s life—and today, it’s helping him shape the future of business education.

Dwyer, an assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business, is on a mission: to help his students discover their deeper purpose and empower them to build businesses that make a meaningful difference in the world.

He didn’t always plan to teach. In 2008, Dwyer started college with dreams of becoming a doctor. But a pivotal moment at a 2009 conference challenged him to think differently. After hearing the story of Blake Mycoskie—founder of TOMS Shoes and creator of the “One for One” model—Dwyer realized business could be a powerful force for good. That realization sparked a lifelong commitment to purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

Since then, he’s launched a charitable clothing line, worked as a CPA and consultant, and traveled to rural Southeast Asia with Youth With a Mission. It was there, among aspiring entrepreneurs with limited resources, that Dwyer’s conviction deepened: business can be a tool to lift communities out of poverty.

That calling led him to pursue a Ph.D. at Baylor University, where he connected with like-minded changemakers, including the team behind the BEST (Business, Excellence, Scholarship and Team) program. Together, they began shaping what business education could look like when rooted in purpose.

Earlier this year, Dwyer helped host a “Live with Purpose” event at OU, bringing together students from both Baylor and OU to hear from university leaders, social entrepreneurs, and each other. The impact was immediate. Students walked away inspired—not just to succeed, but to use their success to serve others.

As one student, Preston Rathburn, put it:
“Financial success alone doesn’t bring fulfillment. True purpose comes from something deeper.”

Dwyer sees Gen Z as one of the most purpose-driven generations yet—but also one at risk of losing motivation in unfulfilling work environments. He believes universities and companies alike have a responsibility to help this generation thrive by aligning mission with meaning.

“Helping raise up the next generation of business leaders with a strong sense of purpose is a major part of my own purpose,” he says. “And I’m incredibly grateful to do that at the Price College of Business.”

With research underway and a forthcoming book on purpose-driven entrepreneurship, Sean Dwyer is walking the talk—and inspiring others to do the same.