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.