Bernard has served in leading academic roles, including Professor at the University of Virginia and Founding Chair of the Department of Engineering and Society, shaping future innovators through interdisciplinary teaching at the intersection of history, technology, and entrepreneurship. His most recent role was at University of Galway in Ireland.
Bernard is the author of several major works, including the widely praised Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age, translated into multiple languages. His books explore how inventors think, work, and change the world—connecting the past with the problems of the future.
A seasoned speaker, Bernard has delivered keynotes and talks across the globe at conferences, universities, and corporate gatherings. He brings a unique perspective that blends storytelling, scholarship, and strategy to spark fresh thinking in business and innovation.
Bernard advises organisations on strategy by drawing on contemporary and historical cases to identify effective ways to innovate. His work helps teams understand how new products are invented and how to connect those products to the needs and wishes of customers. Along with advising Corning Incorporated for over a decade, his clients have included the National Inventors Hall of Fame, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Boston Consulting Group.
