How did VentureWell contribute to your leadership development and your professional trajectory?

The VentureWell community has had an outsized impact on so many aspects of how I work, how I teach, and how I strive to lead. Whether it’s the exceptional colleagues I meet and learn from at VentureWell conferences and workshops, the NSF I-Corps™ National Faculty Training I went through, or the inspirational mix of professionalism, fun, and camaraderie I’ve witnessed with so many VentureWell team members, these are all formative pieces I’ve gleaned and incorporated into my life today!

What’s the biggest change or milestone your institution or venture has experienced since participating in VentureWell programming?

At VentureWell conferences, I found myself fully engaged in sessions that actively got me up and about and that were truly interactive, collaborative, and all about maximizing everyone’s sharing and learning. That drastically better conference experience started me on an ongoing journey to continually strive to find ways to raise the bar even higher for collaborative gatherings by constantly listening and observing and by constantly experimenting and iterating.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at the start of your journey?

In 2003, David Barbe made University of Maryland (UMD) one of the original partners in VentureWell’s Invention to Venture workshops for students, faculty, and regional entrepreneurs and investors. From that fruitful collaboration, UMD steadily grew its innovation & entrepreneurship (I&E) ecosystem with campus-wide programs. Today, half of all undergraduates enroll in an I&E course each year, and UMD has been a Top 10 College for Entrepreneurship for 10 straight years.

What’s a key learning or takeaway from the VentureWell program you participated in, and how did it impact your journey?

The biggest takeaway for me was the community. [During the Ecosystem Futures Fellowship workshop], VentureWell put me in a room with people asking the same kinds of questions and testing new ideas at their schools. It showed me different ways of approaching things, and I brought a lot of that energy back to Old Dominion University. Even now, I find myself drawing on those conversations when I’m building something new.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at the start of your journey?

I’d tell myself not to hold back waiting for everything to line up perfectly. At the start, I was hesitant to put ideas out there because I thought they weren’t “ready enough.” What I’ve learned is that the act of sharing an idea—whether in a grant proposal, a pilot project, or even a classroom activity—creates momentum and brings people alongside you. I’d remind myself that progress comes from taking small, imperfect steps and building on them.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

In 10 years, I see myself leading major initiatives that shape how engineering education integrates sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship. My goal is to drive change at a national scale, working across universities and with partners in industry and government to make these approaches the norm rather than the exception.

Learn more about Dalya’s innovation journey.

How did VentureWell contribute to your leadership development and your professional trajectory?

Twenty years ago, I received my first VentureWell grant to build a windmill-based enterprise in rural Kenya. That grant lit the spark. It launched me into a rewarding journey building rigorous academic programs in social innovation and enterprise, first at Penn State, and now at Lehigh University. Along the way, I’ve racked up plenty of spectacular failures, 20+ modest entrepreneurial successes across different global regions, worked side-by-side with 1,000+ students (many of whom went on to become successful entrepreneurs), published 200+ papers, and traveled to 99 countries. It all started with that one grant and my first VentureWell conference. I’m deeply grateful.

What’s a key learning or takeaway from the VentureWell program you participated in, and how did it impact your journey?

My biggest lesson is simple yet profound: You just have to start. Don’t wait for the perfect plan, partner, or timing—they never come. VentureWell taught me that momentum matters more than perfection. Once you begin, the key is to stay humble and curious: Keep listening to the people you’re trying to serve, keep learning from your missteps and mentors, and keep pivoting when reality doesn’t match your assumptions. That mindset has shaped every step of my journey and is what I try to instill in my students—impact comes not from waiting, but from starting and staying in the fight.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at the start of your journey?

Be patient with the process but relentless with the mission. Surround yourself with people smarter than you, lean into discomfort, and don’t let setbacks define you—they’re where the real growth happens.

Read more about Khanjan’s innovation journey.

How did VentureWell contribute to your leadership development and your professional trajectory?

I was the principal investigator for two E-Team Program teams. VentureWell gave me a taste of true partnership, alignment in values, complementarity of skills and resources, a similar work ethos, and an extension of the resources available at the university so my students could have a longer runway. From this partnership, I went on to co-create the E3 partnership with CodePath, which we piloted at Georgia State University three years ago, and is now deployed in 18 universities across 14 states—and growing—training thousands of students every year and connecting them to bigger opportunities.

What’s a key learning or takeaway from the VentureWell program you participated in, and how did it impact your journey?

The value of early funding and external validation for teams of students who may not yet believe in the commercial potential of their venture.

What’s the biggest change or milestone your institution or venture has experienced since participating in VentureWell programming?

The DelivHer venture [which participated in the E-Team Program] has gotten more patents, completed the design, and contracted with manufacturers, which included multiple rounds of designs, testing multiple materials, and getting molds produced, etc. We are ready for distribution. [This fall] we launched the pre-sale, followed by the Kickstarter; they were among the finalists of the Black Ambition prize (founded by Pharrell Williams) at Demo Day in Miami, hopefully getting the funding and national visibility to amplify the launch and secure distribution deals.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at the start of your journey?

I would remind myself that it takes 10 years to create an overnight success. #WorthIt

Read more about Isabelle’s innovation journey.

How did VentureWell contribute to your leadership development and your professional trajectory?

I have collaborated with many people across a number of initiatives over the years. The communities of practice that developed from these projects have been invaluable to growing my network and developing practical methods for engaging students in the Padnos College of Engineering at Grand Valley State University at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurial thinking, and sustainability. It has enabled me to tell a coherent story of a vision for a comprehensive approach to modern engineering education.

What’s a key learning or takeaway from the VentureWell program you participated in, and how did it impact your journey?

Over time and working with people from a wide range of disciplines, I realized that an entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving that fosters value creation in a broad sense can be a critical component of solving sustainability challenges.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at the start of your journey?

Keep going. You are in for a wild ride!

Read more about Adebayo’s innovation journey.

How did VentureWell contribute to your leadership development and your professional trajectory?

VentureWell opened the door for me to connect with a national community of innovators during the pandemic, when isolation could have stalled progress. Attending OPEN 2020 connected me with like-minded faculty seeking to solve complex, real-life problems. From there, my role expanded—as a grantee, community of practice participant, OPEN conference presenter, and grant reviewer—each experience strengthening my leadership as an educator and advocate for underrepresented innovators. VentureWell empowered me to view entrepreneurship not only as business creation but as a pathway for sustainable and inclusive impact.

What’s the biggest change or milestone your institution or venture has experienced since participating in VentureWell programming?

The most moving milestone has been witnessing my students at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley—many of whom are first-generation and underserved—launch ventures such as chemical-free skincare products and cancer patient meal preparation, proving that with support, they can innovate in ways others once thought impossible.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at the start of your journey?

I would tell myself: “Trust that your challenges will become your strength.” When VentureWell recognized me for the Sustainable Practice Impact Award, I was also undergoing cancer treatment and teaching classes from the chemo chair. At the time, it felt like a burden, but it became a testimony to resilience for my students. I’d advise myself to lean wholly into community, because it is through collaboration—with students, colleagues, and networks like VentureWell—that fundamental transformation happens.

Read more about Sylvia’s innovation journey.

How did VentureWell contribute to your leadership development and your professional trajectory?

I received three VentureWell faculty grants. The first one was a $7,500 planning grant when VentureWell was still the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA). This allowed us to prepare a submission for a $21,000 grant the following year. The grant was seed money for what has become the Office of Academic Innovation at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona! This office curates experiential learning opportunities for Cal Poly Pomona students, faculty, staff, and industry and community partners. We grew from a staff of two in the Student Innovation Idea Lab (iLab) to a team of over 40 focused on student success. My leadership growth from inaugural director of the iLab to associate VP of Academic Innovation can be directly attributed to these grants.

What’s a key learning or takeaway from the VentureWell program you participated in, and how did it impact your journey?

Compared to a recently awarded $7.5 million National Science Foundation grant, a $24,050 VentureWell grant seems small. But the funding enabled us to grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem on our campus into what it is now. Now we can get large grants, but we started with faculty grants from VentureWell that allowed us to conduct small experiments, develop minimum viable products, and create and expand our entrepreneurial ecosystem. I learned not to despise the days of small things. We started small and changed the DNA of a campus!

How did VentureWell contribute to your leadership development and your professional trajectory?

VentureWell helped me pilot a unique new professional development course that functioned exactly as it was designed: It helped students build critical professional networks, while also building new relationships for the university. One of those relationships resulted in Penn State being selected to host a prestigious United Nations (U.N.) youth innovation program, the World Food Forum Youth Food Lab, for all of North America, and I was selected to lead it.

What’s the biggest change or milestone your institution or venture has experienced since participating in VentureWell programming?

The critical mass that came with the U.N. World Food Forum Youth Food Lab designation has enabled us to start building an Innovation Gap program where we’re working to help young innovators scale and de-risk new technologies. This program will build trusted networks that both companies and students can interface with in support of the world’s most compelling new agri-food system technologies.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

In 10 years, hopefully, I’m looking back on how many impactful technologies I was some small part of helping along. And if I’m really lucky, former students and colleagues will think of me as someone who helped them find their way to impact that’s meaningful to them and to the world.

How did VentureWell contribute to your leadership development and your professional trajectory?

In 2019, a VentureWell faculty grant application initiated a collaboration between Dr. Zen Parry, then a business department faculty member at Salish Kootenai College (SKC), and me, then a life sciences faculty member at SKC. Working with Zen, I learned grant writing hands-on and began viewing biomedical research through a new lens: how it solves problems and creates societal impact. We both loved VentureWell’s mission and found ways to become more involved with the organization. We presented at the virtual 2020 OPEN conference, and I later reviewed faculty grants. Those experiences grew my confidence, expanded my network, and led me to my current role; since May 2023, I’ve been a development officer at VentureWell!

What’s a key learning or takeaway from the VentureWell program you participated in, and how did it impact your journey?

I learned to think about research differently: Start with a real community need and build the science with partners, not in silos. At SKC, this meant framing life sciences work in a Tribal context and weaving in entrepreneurship to connect biomedical ideas to problems worth solving in Tribal communities. I also learned to stay involved with organizations whose mission and vision resonate. This mindset guided how I designed projects, taught, and chose my next steps, and it continues to shape my journey every day.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at the start of your journey?

I’d tell my early-career self: Step out of the silo from day one. Collaborate beyond the biomedical community. Work with business, social science, and community partners early and aim your research at solving real problems, not just satisfying academic curiosity. I made that shift later, and it transformed my mindset; I just wish I’d done it much sooner.

Read more about Wendy’s innovation journey.

How did VentureWell contribute to your leadership development and your professional trajectory?

VentureWell’s faculty grant strengthened my leadership in entrepreneurship education by expanding the New Venture Design Experience at my university, the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, and funding student prototypes. Dr. José E. Lugo and I recruited students across disciplines, impacted more minds, and created a unique space where theory and practice merged. Attending VentureWell’s OPEN conference also allowed me to connect with peers nationwide, leading to collaborations on presentations and workshops with universities I would not have otherwise reached.

What’s the biggest change or milestone your institution or venture has experienced since participating in VentureWell programming?

The biggest change at my university has been the surge of faculty and student involvement in entrepreneurship across diverse fields. Beyond business administration and engineering, we saw participants from food sciences, humanities, agriculture, biology, aerospace, and political science embrace entrepreneurial thinking. This shift led many to integrate entrepreneurship into their courses, research, and projects, while also engaging with the Business and Economic Development Center and other related programs.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at the start of your journey?

The biggest advice I would give myself is to not be shy; engage fully, attend every workshop, network widely, ask questions, and take advantage of every opportunity. The VentureWell program is open, supportive, and rich in possibilities, and I’m grateful I pushed past fear and immersed myself in it as much as I could.

Read more about Mari Luz’s innovation journey.