J. Michael Cline’s career stands as a testament to the power of disruption—not for the sake of disruption, but for the creation of lasting value. As the founder of Fandango and a key player in reshaping human resources with Exult, Cline was a master of identifying inefficiencies and turning them into opportunities. He passed away in July 2024 at the age of 64, leaving behind a profound legacy in the world of entrepreneurship. His work demonstrated that the best innovations come from a deep understanding of the market and a willingness to disrupt the status quo.
Cline’s ventures, from reshaping human resources to modernizing movie ticketing, demonstrate how strategic innovation is not just about disrupting systems—it is about fixing them in ways that create new, sustainable value. Fandango revolutionized how we purchase movie tickets, while Exult modernized HR with digitization and outsourcing, and streamlining business operations for countless companies. Cline’s ventures were driven by a single-minded focus on improving customer experience and business efficiency.
After college, Cline worked for McKinsey and then at a private equity firm, where he listened to pitches from startup firms. During that time, he decided he would rather create companies instead of investing in them. As a serial entrepreneur, he had a knack for identifying inefficiencies in an industry after deep study of that industry. His ability to identify gaps in the market and design solutions that addressed them head-on is a hallmark of his entrepreneurial genius. After creating the new business, he would then handoff the company to a CEO to run. Just as Cline did with Fandango and Exult, we must look beyond the status quo and imagine a better way.
Cline’s approach to problem-solving was built on a foundation of structured thinking and strategic vision. He understood that the most successful ventures are those that not only challenge existing systems but also provide lasting value. His story inspires me as I teach students to approach innovation strategically—always with a focus on creating tangible, lasting value.
Similar to my own passions, Cline had a love of the great outdoors and wildlife. He was deeply involved with several wildlife foundations by serving on boards and donating millions as well. While he had a great love for the “big cats” (i.e., lions, tigers, and jaguars), I support many causes that help wildlife and domestic animals (e.g., Carolina Wildlife Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Center, and Mission K9 Rescue – works to bring U.S. military dogs home from around the globe). He deeply loved his wife and six children but could not overcome mental challenges that led to an untimely death.
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Dearly Departed profiles are the musings of SC Innovates’ Director and SmartState Endowed Chair Laura B. Cardinal. Cardinal is an academic researcher and teaches Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation at the University of South Carolina (USC) Darla Moore School of Business Professional MBA program. Her series of courses includes the Strategic Innovation Certificate. Cardinal’s courses offer a unique fusion of innovation, business strategy, science, and technology.