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 first became involved with VentureWell as a graduate student, attending the OPEN conference while evaluating Penn State’s engineering entrepreneurship minor. I was struck by how discussions of innovation and creativity were framed in such practical, applied ways, sparking my lasting interest in entrepreneurship education. VentureWell and the connections I built through [that community] shaped my trajectory as a leader in entrepreneurship education.

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

Looking back, I would tell myself that the field not only welcomes but needs the interdisciplinary perspectives psychologists bring. Instead of doubting my place, I should have embraced that difference as a strength. And I’d add: Just wait—20 years later, you’ll not only be an expert in entrepreneurship education but an entrepreneur yourself!

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

It’s hard to believe, but in 10 years I’ll likely be retired or near retirement from my academic “day job.” My hope is to step fully into an entrepreneurial lifestyle, supported by my own ventures. While my primary relationship with VentureWell has been through research, and OPEN and the community I found there, which gave me the confidence to see myself as more than an evaluator, I can be an entrepreneur too! I’ve embraced the very attributes I have studied, especially opportunity recognition, and now constantly look for ways to advance my entrepreneurial goals.

Read more about Sarah’s innovation journey.