Be adaptive and innovative.  Look for holes in the market.  Change the world.

Each successful local business owner seated on the Entrepreneurship Panel 2014 held on November 19 at Trent University Durham has done just that. Whether developing water analyzers for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or making millions from a flash retail website devoted to the latest cultural trends, these established entrepreneurs never stopped searching for new ways to do things better.  

In partnership with the Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD), Trent University Durham hosted the intimate panel discussion as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week ‘Do it in Durham’— a local initiative that produces over 40 events devoted to the needs of aspiring and current entrepreneurs.

Led by Business Administration professor Angus Duff, panelists Ryan Ounjian, Business Centre Durham (BACD), Fran Steyn, president and CEO of Frantastic Treats and Surprises, Jodi Glover, president and CEO, of Real Tech Inc., Kevin Alexander, president and CEO of Alexander Computer Services and Russ Montague, president and CEO of ShirtPunch candidly described their own paths through accounts of archaic marketing techniques, a failed solar panel venture, daunting risk and hard-earned reward.  Becoming your own boss requires strategic execution and constant innovation across the board from brainstorming to sales to technology.

Students attending the event represented varied interests including landscaping and marketing. Yonas Kennedy is a fourth-year Business Administration student and a key organizer of the event. He realizes the importance of innovation in an entrepreneurial career.  He said, “The entrepreneurs motivate us to invent new things and keep our ideas going even after we have an established business. We can’t stop.”

Ryan Ounjian of the BACD stated, “Young entrepreneurs and students are coming out into a workforce where you need to start designing your own job, your own place in industry to survive. We all have to be partnering and working together as government institutions, academia and community organizations to support entrepreneurship.” 

Posted on Friday, November 21, 2014.