At a conference with 400 educators, center directors, and advocates, I was the ONLY STUDENT. To my delight, of course.
I got a sneak peek into where our professors get their information, initiative, research, and tips.
There were sessions on everything from “Developing Entrepreneurship Education” to “Hiring Entrepreneurial Students” to “Integration of Entrepreneurship Education & Clubs” to “Technology Commercialization @ Universities”
I infiltrated. I learned. I took away…
Most surprising key lesson:
For graduating seniors studying Entrepreneurship, there are some smart options to consider if you’re not ready for a start-up. a) You can work for a start-up, b) You can work with a company like ValPak or Tom James whose missions are to mentor, develop, and advance their employees, c) You can become a franchisee, or d) You can work in sales.
Sales? I know. Sounds crazy. But they almost sold me on this one.. no pun intended. Being able to “sell” is such a critical piece of being an entrepreneur (from selling your idea to convincing others to work with you, etc), that sales very easily becomes a vital piece of the big picture.
Outstanding Keynotes:
Don Kuratko, “the Tony Robbins of Entrepreneurship” as put by a good friend of mine , told the shaking story of entrepreneurship education in the US:
“30 years ago there were only 6 universities that had recognized (entrepreneurship) programs. In the early 2000s, that number grew to 1,600. The initiative didn’t come from us. It came from the students. They CLAMORED for it! And we must not forget that.”
He went on to define entrepreneurship, in the context of the global economic state:
“… It is the most potent economic force the world has ever seen.”
His advice to the educators present?
- “Be dedicated to entrepreneurship research - the creation of it, the respect for it, and the application of it. Serve on editorial boards of journals, and to the criticizers, tell them - entrepreneurship is NOT magic. It’s a discipline, and like any discipline, it can be learned.“
- “As entrepreneurship expands throughout your respective campuses, be careful not to lose its meaning!”
- “If you sit and tell yourself how difficult campus administration is to convince, remember - Powerlessness is a state of mind. If you THINK you’re powerless, then you ARE.”
- “We have reached a point in time when the gap between what can be imagined and what can be accomplished has never been smaller.”
- “The old order of things is crumbling and a new way is painfully trying to structure itself. Be a part of that.”
Tomorrow LIVE @ USASBE - Tim Draper of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, one of the world’s most legendary venture capitalists!