S. J. Fairchild began his business career working in family businesses where he observed dysfunctional behavior and learned “how not to run a business.” Later in his professional career, he lived and worked in five states, Europe, Asia, and Australia. 

He held senior management roles in both public and privately owned companies. With his experience in finance, sales, marketing, product development, operations and international business, he successfully commercialized new technologies in culturally diverse environments. 

Currently, he consults and mentors new startups. He coaches students at the University of North Carolina business and medical schools. He has adapted his fiction series into several case studies for business school curriculum. His work as a standardized patient consultant at UNC's School of Medicine is captured in an essay here.

He and his wife, Katherine, live in North Carolina.