The Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business is joining forces with entrepreneurship programs across the University to host the annual entrepreneurial symposium, Entrepalooza, on Friday, September 25 at the Michigan League, located at 911 N. University Ave. in Ann Arbor, Mich. This year’s symposium, “Entrepreneurship through the Kaleidoscope,” will explore how diversity in teams, ideas and backgrounds can empower an entrepreneurial journey. Katherine “Katty” Kay, lead anchor of BBC World News America and co-author of The Confidence Code, will deliver the keynote and offer insight into what it takes to create and inspire the confidence needed to take the risks involved in entrepreneurship.
The annual university-wide event brings together entrepreneurial leaders to share their insights and experiences with students from many areas of study, alumni, faculty and members of the broader business community. This year’s program is designed to celebrate and explore the ways diversity takes shape in entrepreneurship through TED Talk-style insights from entrepreneurs who are empowering the underrepresented, transforming social climates and exploring new industries. It is co-hosted by the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, the Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Engineering, the School of Public Health’s Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship program, the School of Information’s Entrepreneurship Program, the School of Music Theatre and Dance’s EXCEL Program, and Innovate Blue, the University’s campus-wide entrepreneurship initiative.
TED Talk-Style Speakers Share Secrets of Success with Budding Entrepreneurs
Following Kay’s keynote address at 9:00 a.m., the half-day symposium will continue with a series of TED Talk-style sessions from a selection of Michigan’s most successful entrepreneurs. Following a “un-conference” format, each speaker will encourage an interactive session, focusing on areas including angel investing, food and sustainability entrepreneurship, technology entrepreneurship and arts entrepreneurship. Aaron Dworkin, dean of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance and founder and president of the Sphinx Organization, a national arts organization that focuses on youth and minority involvement in classical music, will kick off this portion of the program. Other confirmed speakers include:
- Nate Aschenbach, co-founder, GameStart,
- Justin DeLay, CMO and co-founder, Tempo IQ, BBA ’05, MSI ‘12
- Jill Ford, special advisor to Mike Duggan, head of innovation and entrepreneurship, City of Detroit
- Mary Lemmer, CEO and co-founder, Scape, BBA ’10
- Lisa McLaughlin, CEO and co-founder, Workit Health, MSI, MSW ‘08
- Dawn White, CTO, co-founder and president, Accio Energy
For more information or to register to attend the event, please visit http://entrepalooza.umich.edu/. To receive event updates or share your thoughts from the symposium, use hashtag #epalooza on Twitter.