A leading female entrepreneur to visited OU in a bid to empower women.
Global Entrepreneurship Week is celebrated by countries worldwide to acknowledge innovative start-ups and business leadership.
Many universities take part in the week with competitions, celebrations and events. At Ohio University, the Center of Entrepreneurship will host two events this week with guests speakers Randy Fleitman and René Banglesdorf.
Fleitman spoke Monday, on promoting innovation around the world. Fleitman is the director of textile trade in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. His discussion will include how government agencies are using entrepreneurship to help assist poverty and economic development.
Fleitman shows how entrepreneurship isn’t just about the creation of start up businesses, and one can use entrepreneurship to focus on more social and public issues, according to Luke Pittaway, the Copeland professor and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship.
René Banglesdorf will speak Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Baker Theatre. Banglesdorf is an OU alumna, who founded her own company, Charlie Bravo Aviation, and will be talking about what it's like to be a female entrepreneur and how to succeed in business.
“What we’re trying to do is to bring women’s groups together all over campus,” Tanya Conrath, the entrepreneurial ecosystem network manager at TechGROWTH Ohio, said. “We’re looking to bring these groups together because entrepreneurship crosses all majors.”
The world of entrepreneurship is mainly dominated by men, and Banglesdorf will be challenging women to put themselves out there by sharing what she’s learned, Conrath said.
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Earlier in the day, there will be an open house and reception with Pam Benoit, executive vice president and provost, welcoming M. Geneva Murray, the new director of the Women’s Center, as well as Banglesdorf. That will take place in the Women’s Center in Baker Center 403 and start at 3 p.m.
“We think she’s a great person to really speak to the issues affecting women entrepreneurs,” Conrath said.
Conrath said the event is a great opportunity for networking and to connect women from all over campus. "Banglesdorf is a great role model that can make women from OU think about starting their own venture and empower them to explore their options," she said.
“I’m looking forward to raising awareness that entrepreneurship is a genuine career path for any student on campus, and we have a certificate that they can take,” Pittaway said. “We need more female students. We’re interested in those who want to do the certificate in entrepreneurship.”
Banglesdorf also became the first broker and dealer of aircraft to be certified as woman-owned.
“The fact that she’s female should not stop male entrepreneurship students from coming to this event, as well,” Pittaway said.
Conrath said by having the awareness week the office is trying to change the culture on gender in entrepreneurship.
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