Doug Carlston
Encyclopedia
Doug Carlston is the founder and current CEO of Tawala Systems based in San Rafael, California
. He was previously CEO, chairman, and co-founder (with brother Gary) of Brøderbund Software, a major software publishing firm that produced such hit titles as Myst
, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
and Prince of Persia
. Brøderbund was acquired by The Learning Company
for $420 million, and the combined company was sold to Mattel
for $3.6 billion.
Carlston received his bachelor's degree
from Harvard University
in 1970 and also studied economics at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He earned a J.D.
from Harvard Law School
in 1975. Prior to founding Brøderbund in 1980, he was an attorney.
As of April 2008, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Public Radio International
(PRI) and of the Carlston Family Foundation (formerly the Brøderbund Foundation), and serves on the Boards of the MoveOn Political Action Committee, the Ploughshares Fund
, the Albanian American Enterprise Fund
, A.H. Belo Corporation and the Long Now Foundation
. He also serves on the Committee on University Resources of Harvard University, and the Board of Advisors of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
. He was previously CEO, chairman, and co-founder (with brother Gary) of Brøderbund Software, a major software publishing firm that produced such hit titles as Myst
Myst
Myst is a graphic adventure video game designed and directed by the brothers Robyn and Rand Miller. It was developed by Cyan , a Spokane, Washington––based studio, and published and distributed by Brøderbund. The Millers began working on Myst in and released it for the Mac OS computer on September...
, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? is the title of several edutainment computer games in the Carmen Sandiego series that teach geography. The World games, often marketed as the flagship products of the Carmen series, were created by Brøderbund Software from 1985 to 1996 with another version...
and Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia is a platform game, originally developed by Jordan Mechner and released in 1989 for the Apple II, that represented a great leap forward in the quality of animation seen in video games....
. Brøderbund was acquired by The Learning Company
The Learning Company
The Learning Company is an American educational software company, founded in 1980. It produced a grade-based system similar to Knowledge Adventure's JumpStart series. The products for preschoolers through second graders feature Reader Rabbit, and software for more advanced students features The...
for $420 million, and the combined company was sold to Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
for $3.6 billion.
Carlston received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1970 and also studied economics at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He earned a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1975. Prior to founding Brøderbund in 1980, he was an attorney.
As of April 2008, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Public Radio International
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
(PRI) and of the Carlston Family Foundation (formerly the Brøderbund Foundation), and serves on the Boards of the MoveOn Political Action Committee, the Ploughshares Fund
Ploughshares Fund
The Ploughshares Fund is a public grantmaking foundation that supports initiatives to prevent the spread and use of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and other weapons of war, and to prevent conflicts that could lead to the use of weapons of mass destruction. Ploughshares is a 501...
, the Albanian American Enterprise Fund
Albanian American Enterprise Fund
Albanian-American Enterprise Fund is a non-political, not-for-profit US corporation established pursuant to the Support for East European Democracy Act of 1989 . It was incorporated in 1995 and maintains offices in New York and Tirana...
, A.H. Belo Corporation and the Long Now Foundation
Long Now Foundation
The Long Now Foundation, established in 1996, is a private organization that seeks to become the seed of a very long-term cultural institution. It aims to provide a counterpoint to what it views as today's "faster/cheaper" mindset and to promote "slower/better" thinking...
. He also serves on the Committee on University Resources of Harvard University, and the Board of Advisors of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.