Amy C. Horner, CPA, MBA

Dr. Amy C. Horner, CPA, is a change ambassador, innovation enthusiast, and international speaker
recognized for her thought leadership in embracing change, career growth, and professional
development. With a passion for helping leaders navigate complex challenges, she blends executive
experience with academic rigor to drive meaningful impact.

As a Professor of Practice and the Academic Director of the Executive DBA Program at the
University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business, Amy leverages her extensive C-suite background
to equip DBA scholars with the strategies and insights to successfully navigate their doctoral
journey. A sought-after keynote speaker, Amy is known for her engaging storytelling and for having
a positive, lasting impact on her audiences. She simplifies complex leadership challenges, making
them approachable, and provides attendees with actionable tools for success.

Before transitioning to academia, Amy served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
for multiple organizations, leading them through transformative periods of innovation and growth.
Her strategic leadership resulted in diversified revenue streams, expanded service offerings,
stronger brand awareness, increased market share, a more engaged workforce, and improved
financial outcomes.

Amy’s own DBA journey was profoundly transformational. What began as a pursuit of advanced
scholarship while she was the Chief Operating Officer of an international professional services firm
based in the DC Metro area became a catalyst for reinvention. Now she stands as an alum and
leader in the international DBA community. She was honored to have been selected as the
Commencement Speaker for the 2025 hooding ceremony.

Amy is a Co-Founder and Chair of DBA Chronicles, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging
academia and industry through global community-building, storytelling, and dialogue. Her
influence has been recognized with Ignition’s Top 50 Women in Accounting Award and as a Top
Leadership Voice on LinkedIn.
In addition to her Doctorate in Business Administration from UNC Charlotte, Amy holds an MBA
from Penn State University and a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania,
where she was a student-athlete on the university’s first PSAC Championship Women’s Varsity
Soccer Team. She brings the same team-driven mindset, resilience, and strategic thinking from the
soccer field into her leadership philosophy today.

Research Interest:
Amy’s research explores the relationship between leadership team diversity characteristics and
strategic change and aims to determine the extent to which leadership diversity might impact the
likelihood of strategic change.