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Alyssa Rapp

Lecturer in Management at Stanford Graduate School of Business

Adjunct Professor at Booth School of Business

Schools

  • Stanford Graduate School of Business
  • Booth School of Business

Expertise

Links

Biography

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Research Statement

Since 2014, Alyssa has co-taught the inaugural courses of Global Dynamics of the Wine Industry at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. Rapp's course focus is presently on the effective management of global wine businesses and past, present, and future economic, regulatory, and market trends of this expanding industry. Her keen interest is in students and the insights that they derive from case studies from the global wine industry, insights that she hopes will continue to resonate after the GSB on their personal, professional, and wine-related lives.

Bio

In 2014, Alyssa Rapp joined the ranks as a lecturer in management at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, annually teaching a course on the Global Dynamics of the Wine Industry.

Alyssa currently serves as the Managing Partner of AJR Ventures, a firm providing strategic advisory services to companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500’s in the technology, beverage and luxury goods categories. 

Previously, Alyssa served as the founder & CEO of Bottlenotes, Inc., the leading interactive media company in the U.S. wine industry (sold to Peak 6 Investments). She is the author of Bottlenotes Guide to Wine: Around the World in 80 Sips®. 

Alyssa was named in Inc. Magazine’s “30 Under 30” coolest entrepreneurs in America” and is consistently named one of the wine industry’s top 100 most influential people by Intowine.com. Bottlenotes received the “People’s Choice Award” at the Empact Showcase at the United Nations, honoring the top 100 companies with founders under 35. Alyssa frequently serves as contributor to national print publications and television networks (Forbes, The Today Show, etc.) as an expert on wine and entrepreneurship.
 
Alyssa earned a B.A. in Political Science and the History of Art from Yale University in 2000 and an M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business in 2005. 

Alyssa serves on the Board of Trustees for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the country’s preeminent contemporary dance company, on the national Board of Directors of Spark Program, a non-profit that provides life-changing apprenticeships for middle school students, and is a gubernatorial-appointee on the board of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, dedicated to providing affordable housing throughout the state of Illinois.  

When not immersed in entrepreneurial and civic life, Alyssa loves to run track, do yoga, ski fast, and try as hard as possible to decipher a slider from a curve ball from her husband, 1990 MLB World Series champion and Director of Professional Scouting for the Los Angeles Angels, Hal Morris. Alyssa & Hal are the proud parents of Audrey Margaret Morris (born: 9/12/12) and Henriette Daniella Morris (born: 3/16/15).

Academic Degrees

  • BA, Political Science & History of Art, Yale University, 2000
  • MBA, Stanford GSB, 2005

Academic Appointments

  • Lecturer-in-Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Professional Experience

  • Managing Partner, AJR Ventures, 2015-present
  • Founder & CEO, Bottlenotes, 2005-2015

Awards and Honors

  • People’s Choice Award Winner & Best Advertising & Marketing Company, Empact Showcase, October 2013
  • 100 Most Influential People (#23) in the US Wine Industry, Intowine.com, 2012-Present
  • 30 Under 30 Coolest Entrepreneurs in America, Inc.com, October 2008

Teaching

Degree Courses

2017-18

GSBGEN 356: Dynamics of the Global Wine Industry

This course will examine the world of wine with a fresh and contemporary lens. It will explore the market dynamics of this fascinating global industry. The goal of the course is to provide insight into the branding, marketing, and distribution...

GSBGEN 518: Dynamics of the Global Wine Industry

This course is a compressed version of GSBGEN 356. We will examine the world of wine with a fresh and contemporary lens. It will explore the market dynamics of this fascinating global industry. The goal of the course is to provide insight into...

2016-17

GSBGEN 356: Dynamics of the Global Wine Industry

This course will examine the world of wine with a fresh and contemporary lens. It will explore the market dynamics of this fascinating global industry. The goal of the course is to provide insight into the branding, marketing, and distribution...

In the Media

Feminism In The Era Of Millennials

Forbes, February 14, 2017

The Power of Culture as a Competitive Advantage

Forbes, September 15, 2015

Maximizing Wine Exposure Through Social Media with Alyssa Rapp

FOX News, September 30, 2014

Women in Business: Q&A with Alyssa Rapp, Founder & CEO of Bottlenotes, Inc.

Huffington Post: Business, September 5, 2014

The Secret To Work-Life Balance As An Entrepreneur: Athletics

Forbes, July 1, 2014

Secrets to getting the perfect sip

The TODAY Show, January 21, 2014

Insights by Stanford Business

writtenHow to Tell the Story of Your Brand

July 29, 2015

Aim for “subtle” product pitches, and find ways to bring your brand loyalists face-to-face with each other.

Booth School of Business

As of January 2018, Alyssa was named the CEO of Surgical Solutions by private equity firm Sterling Partners. Within six months, she was named one of Crain’s Chicago’s “Notable Women in Health Care” (June 2018), and made the list for a second year in a row in 2019. She was also been named one of the Top 100 Healthcare Leaders by the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare in 2019. In February 2020, Alyssa successfully completed a transaction of Surgical Solutions to a private equity-backed, global strategic player in the healthcare services space. Alyssa was retained by the buyer as the CEO of the Company’s U.S. Subsidiary concurrently in February 2020.

Starting in 2014, Alyssa joined the ranks as a lecturer-in-management at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business teaching a sold-out class annually on the Dynamics of the Global Wine Industry. She was also named an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago’s Booth Business School, commencing April 2020, to teach a course on Women as CEOs, Investors, Directors, and Executives.

From 2005-2015, Alyssa served as the founder & CEO of Bottlenotes, Inc., the leading interactive media company in the U.S. wine, craft beer, and artisanal spirit industries. During the Bottlenotes years, Alyssa was named one of Inc. Magazine's “30 Under 30” coolest entrepreneurs in America (September 2008) and routinely one of the wine industry’s top 25 of 100 most influential people by Intowine.com (2012 onward). Bottlenotes also received the “Best Advertising and Marketing Company” and the “People’s Choice Award” at the Empact 100 in September 2013 at the United Nations, honoring the top 100 companies with founders under 35.

Starting in 2015, Alyssa also served as the Managing Partner at AJR Ventures, a strategic advisory firm for Fortune 500, $500MM+ privately-held companies, and private equity firms on their new business unit/new market development, digital and e-commerce strategies. As of 2018, her activities via AJR Ventures are primarily angel investing/seed stage investing in nature.

Alyssa earned a B.A. in Political Science and the History of Art from Yale University in 2000 and an M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business in 2005. At Yale, she earned the Frank M. Patterson prize for the best essay on the American political system for her senior thesis on public housing reform in Chicago.

Alyssa was honored to have been appointed by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner in 2015 to serve a four-year term on the board of directors of the Illinois Housing Development Authority. She served on the organization’s audit committee during her tenure, auditing $1B of assets and $100MM operating expenses in partnership with KPMG.

In November 2019, ForbesBooks released Alyssa’s second book entitled Leadership and Life Hacks: Insights from a Mom, Wife, Entrepreneur, and Executive. It hit the Amazon bestseller list in business management in January 2020.

When not immersed in business and civic life, Alyssa loves to Peloton, do yoga, ski fast, and try as hard as possible to decipher a slider from a curve ball from her husband, 1990 MLB World Series champion and current partner at X10 Capital, Hal Morris. Alyssa and Hal are the proud parents of Audrey Margaret Morris and Henriette Daniella Morris.

Education

  • MBA Stanford University Graduate School of Business (2003 — 2005)
  • BA Yale University (1996 — 2000)
  • New Trier High School (1992 — 1996)

Companies

  • Chief Executive Officer, Director Healthwell Acquisition Corporation I (2021)
  • Independent Director Health Data Movers (2021)
  • Independent Director The Women's Health Group (2020)
  • Adjunct Professor The University of Chicago Booth School of Business (2020)
  • Board Member Illinois Humanities (2020)
  • Lecturer In Management Stanford Graduate School of Business (2014)
  • CEO Surgical Solutions (2018 — 2021)
  • Member of the Board Illinois Housing Development Authority (2015 — 2020)
  • Board Member Spark Program (2011 — 2019)

Skills

  • Analytics
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Digital Media

Other

Nonprofits, Product Management, Product Marketing, Product Development, New Business Development, Online Marketing, Competitive Analysis, Digital Marketing, Leadership, Corporate Development, Strategic Planning, Venture Capital, Wine, Business Development, Social Media Marketing, E-commerce, Strategic Partnerships, Marketing, Fundraising, Social Media, Business Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Management, Strategy, Start-ups, Entrepreneurship

Videos

Read about executive education

Cases

Kingston Family Vineyards | SM266 Alyssa Rapp, Kaitlin Malloy2016

Wine in China: The Wild West of the Far East | SM261 Alyssa Rapp, Emily E. Turco2016

WineDirect: Supply Chain Management in the U.S. Wine Industry | GS45B Alyssa Rapp, Jacklyn Foroughi2016

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