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Entrepreneurship Comes to Life in Business 306

At ӣƵCollege, the spirit of entrepreneurship is thriving in the Business 306 class, where students are gaining invaluable insights into the world of business creation and innovation. This course, modeled after the world-renowned Babson College Entrepreneurship program, provides our students with a unique blend of practical knowledge and hands-on experience.

Under the guidance of Molly McKinley, ӣƵCollege’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence, students are exploring the multifaceted world of entrepreneurship. McKinley, a successful entrepreneur herself, brings real-world experience to the classroom. As the founder and owner of Redtail Creative, a branding agency, and Intentionaliteas.com, an herbal tea company, McKinley offers students a firsthand look at the challenges and triumphs of building businesses from the ground up.

A highlight of the course has been the array of guest speakers, featuring prominent female entrepreneurs making waves in their respective industries. Students had the privilege of learning from Sherry Chris, the visionary founder and president of Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate. Chris shared invaluable insights into building a global brand in the competitive real estate market, inspiring our students with her journey of leadership and innovation.

The class also welcomed Annelies Gentile, a local businesswoman who has masterfully blended art and creativity with business coaching. Gentile’s unique approach to entrepreneurship through coaching workshops offered students a fresh perspective on the diverse paths to business success.

Recently, the class completed the Stanford University d.school’s 5-Chairs prototype challenge, a hands-on exercise in design thinking and rapid prototyping. This experience pushed students to think creatively, work collaboratively, and develop solutions under constraints – all crucial skills in today’s workforce.

“In my entrepreneurship class, I have discovered a new light of creativity in the business world,” said senior interior design student Sarah Shelton. “I have gained a new mindset around business thinking, allowing me to get creative. I now have the skills and knowledge to produce a product or service.”

The Business 306 class is more than just a course; it’s a launchpad for future innovators and entrepreneurs through a mindset shift of finding opportunity in chaos and solutions within problems. By exposing students to real entrepreneurs, practical challenges, and cutting-edge business concepts, ӣƵCollege is nurturing the next generation of women leaders, regardless of discipline and degree of study.

All ӣƵstudents will have the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship in the upcoming Entrepreneurship Challenge this spring.

Melyssa Allen

News Director
316 Johnson Hall
(919) 760-8087
Fax: (919) 760-8330

allenme@meredith.edu