The American Dream of starting your own, successful business is alive and well at Penn State with the tenth anniversary of Global Entrepreneurship Week.  The annual event, expanded this year from a week to ten days to mark the ten years, connects student innovators and community entrepreneurs with collaborators, mentors and investors to create a fertile environment for the development of new and innovative businesses.

 

The Global Entrepreneurship Week is one of the major initiatives of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, an international movement created by the Kauffman Foundation in 2007 “to inspire people everywhere to unleash their ideas and take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey.”  A truly global event, the GEW began with 37 countries and, over the past decade, has expanded to include 170 countries with over 15,000 partners.  This is a celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups, bring ideas to life, drive economic growth, expand human welfare and engage millions across the globe.  More than just an awareness campaign, the GEW is a platform for connection and collaboration between budding entrepreneurs and seasoned business leaders, introducing them to new possibilities and exciting opportunities.

The driving force in bringing the GEW to Pennsylvania has been the Penn State Small Business Development Center. The SBDC provides free, confidential business consulting and low-cost seminars to pre-venture, start-up and existing small businesses located in central Pennsylvania.  In 2008, Linda Feltman of the SBDC was assigned to bring the GEW to Penn State.  That year, GEW featured two events; from its modest beginnings that year, the GEW at Penn State has expanded to include over 100 events, engaging over 5,000 students at 18 commonwealth campuses.  As Feltman notes, “It is gratifying to see the growth, not only with the students and the faculty, but an expanding engagement with the community that will continue to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit into the future.”

The events which comprise the GEW are designed to have broad appeal to the individual entrepreneur and the ever-evolving business landscape.  Diversity is a key component in many of the events, not only in the business environment, but with the individual entrepreneur as well.  “Empowering Women in Technology,” “AARP’s Work for Yourself at 50+” and “Veteran Entrepreneurship” are samples of the programs that address not only the technical aspects and problems of creating a new business, but the challenges facing the individual entrepreneur.  As SBDC Director Kimberlee MacMullan notes, “Anyone starting their own business can find not only valuable information that applies to all start-ups, but events and individuals which speak directly to their life experience.”

Drawing inspiration from what frightens us

This concept of providing practical information combined with powerful individual experience was beautifully encapsulated in the presentation of keynote speaker Tanya Wright, which kicked-off the GEW on November 8 at Ruth Pike Auditorium at Penn State.  Wright, a young African-American actress best known for her roles in Orange is the New Black and True Blood, is also the founder of HAIRiette, a hair care line for people of all ethnicities.  Wright, who in addition to her acting career is the author of two books—Butterfly Rising and I Found God in My Hair—is also a sought-after speaker at universities and corporations, where she shares insights on her artistic and creative entrepreneurship.  Despite the many demands of her multi-faceted career, Wright regards her public speaking as an integral part of her development as an artist and an entrepreneur, “I want to use my voice to inspire others.”

Wright noted that it took her some time to find the confidence to use her own voice.  “I was a pretty shy girl growing up, but I’ve always been strangely drawn to those things that frighten me the most.  There were times when I did not raise my hand in class and other folks either said what I wanted to or worse yet, never did.”  As her confidence in her own voice grew, she was able to step into the career that she created for herself. “I learned what I had to say was important, despite the fact that I was terrified to say it.”  Wright said that finding her voice as a writer helped her in her acting career. “I have a treasure trove of scripts I have written through the years, very quietly.  I have always been prolific, bopping from acting to writing.  I don’t think I would be happy to do one or the other; my writing helps my acting and my acting helps my writing.”

Despite her burgeoning career as an author and actress, there was another animating passion in Wright’s life—a desire to be part of the beauty industry.  “My naturally curly hair was a struggle for most of my life and I literally got the name ‘HAIRiette’ while outside walking my black lab, Macarena.”  Wright explained that her hair care line was inspired by Ayurveda, an Indian system of healing using fruits, herbs and oils.  “I worked in the office of an Ayurvedic doctor and learned about kokum butter, which is great for skin, allergies and even heart ailments—but it’s pretty phenomenal for your hair.”

Like many budding entrepreneurs, Wright had a great idea but needed guidance in getting it off the ground. “Many people assume since they see me on TV shows that I have this huge engine behind my hair care line, but it’s mostly just me.”  Fortunately, Wright had ties to eastern Pennsylvania and was connected with staff at Penn State Lehigh Valley’s LaunchBox, a center devoted to identifying and assisting potential entrepreneurs.  “The staff at Lehigh Valley LaunchBox has been a huge help to me on my entrepreneurial journey.  I also received a micro-grant to help with funding.”  The invaluable assistance she received from the Lehigh Valley LaunchBox enabled Wright to identify and implement a mission and operating model for her business.  “The mission of HAIRiette is to help make the world a better place.  We do that via our high-quality products and media, including the book I Found God in My Hair and the HAIRiette series about gratitude on YouTube.”

Wright’s message resonated deeply with her audience, and the question and answer session, moderated by WPSU’s community engagement manager, Carolyn Donaldson, was lively and insightful.  Students not only asked practical questions, but were interested in the mindset and drive necessary to launch a successful new business.  Wright succinctly summarized her own message to her audience, “I hope people can walk away from this event inspired to be persistent and take definitive action in creating the lives they want, personally and professionally.”     

A wealth of diversity in entrepreneurship

After Wright’s inspiring keynote, a wealth of events both in the Centre region and at 17 other commonwealth campuses explored the many aspects of the start-up and small business experience.  The events in Happy Valley took place at different locales along what has been dubbed the “Avenue of Entrepreneurship.” GEW co-coordinator Linda Feltman said that the Avenue was created in 2016 as an initiative to increase community involvement in the GEW.  The Avenue extends from Pattee Library to the Happy Valley LaunchBox on South Allen Street, and events for the week take place both on campus and at various locations downtown. Feltman noted that the creation of the Avenue and other outreach initiatives have greatly increased the participation of the community and individual businesses in the GEW and complement the involvement of Penn State faculty and students.

Seminars throughout the ten days covered a wealth of topics and approaches.  The GEW kicked-off with “The First Step to Small Business Success” hosted by John Peterson of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, one of several events devoted to the initial stages of starting a business.  Engaging sessions such as “Save the World, Start a Business —all in 90 Minutes” hosted by John Gershenson and a panel discussion, “Entrepreneurial Intention, Culture and New Venture Development,” further explored the mindset, resources and guidance needed at the very beginning of the business development process.  Participants were given keen insights into the preliminary steps necessary to move their ideas into reality.

Other events focused on specific opportunities available to budding entrepreneurs.  Noemi Mendez presented a talk on “Using Census Business Data to Start or Grow Your Business.”  Margaret King hosted “Culture’s Impact on our Behavior Patterns and Buying Decisions” and Frank Koe spoke on “Entrepreneurship Essentials: Lessons worth Remembering.”  There were seminars covering the music and entertainment industry, the hospitality industry and presentations by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  Marketing, design thinking, entrepreneurial creativity and legal issues were other topics explored by local businesspersons and Penn State faculty, giving the participants a well-rounded overview of the challenges and rewards of individual entrepreneurship.

One of the best illustrations of a local businessman presenting his experience and insight was by Michael DelGrosso of DelGrosso Foods and DelGrosso Amusement Park.  DelGrosso shared his experience of running a family business and building a brand during his presentation, “Reinventing the Family Business.”  He reviewed the start of his family business as a pasta sauce maker, their acquisition of a local amusement park and the struggles to keep it afloat during its early years.  By the early 1980s, with business stagnating, the company had reached what DelGrosso described as the “tipping point,” where the company had to invest to expand beyond its regional reach or stop growing.  One of the markets that opened up was the expansion of private brands, store chains that buy products and put their own labels on them.  DelGrosso highlighted the company’s expansion into this market as an illustration of the importance of responding to trends in the marketplace.

DelGrosso noted that, while there were many lean years, a good product, hard work and willingness to adapt can produce success.   He said the key ingredient to becoming an entrepreneur is simply getting started.  “Too many people wait for the perfect moment, and that usually never comes.  Start small, learn, fail and then grow.  Your idea or business may shift from your initial concept as you see how the market reacts to your offerings.”

For Linda Feltman, who spearheaded Penn State’s sponsorship of the GEW ten years ago and is still its co-coordinator, the interaction between Wright, DelGrosso and the other attendees is exactly what the GEW is all about.  Feltman noted that the decision in 2014 to expand the program to the commonwealth campuses dramatically spurred its growth and reach. 

From its humble beginnings in 2008, the GEW at Penn State has expanded to become a statewide program reaching thousands of entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the commonwealth.  While the GEW is over for this year, the work it celebrates continues throughout the year through its sponsor.  The SBDC not only continues to sponsor events to educate and promote small businesses, it provides the practical, hands-on counseling and referrals essential to helping entrepreneurs succeed.  As Kimberlee MacMullan, the SBDC’s director and GEW’s co-coordinator, commented, “We want to inspire and motivate entrepreneurs to make their dreams happen.  We want to help them materialize their vision.”