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GEW Penn State will unite town and gown entrepreneurs

Keynotes, masterclasses, perspectives and workshops are free and open to students and the public

Penn State President Eric J. Barron poses with students who are learning how to become entrepreneurs at GEW (Global Entrepreneurship Week) Penn State. Credit: Penn State Small Business Development CenterAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) at Penn State, Nov. 13-17, will bring together student and community entrepreneurs with start-up events and workshops on 12 Penn State campuses — including University Park. GEW is an international event celebrating world-wide entrepreneurship in more than 160 countries and organized at Penn State by the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Heather Fennessey McWhorter, executive director for the Penn State SBDC, said this year’s event on the University Park campus is a new mix of town and gown.

“GEW Penn State is a unique collaboration between the University, community, entrepreneurship and economic development groups that want to foster innovation, new business creation and career exploration,” McWhorter said. “Nearly 14 percent of working-age Americans own or are starting a new business. GEW gives enterprisers the opportunity to explore paths to entrepreneurship.”

Each day of GEW will have a theme, starting Sunday with "Go Freelance!" and continuing the rest of the week with "Social-preneurship," "Intrapreneurship Innovation," "Entrepreneurial Women" and "Start-up Shake-up."

Keynotes, masterclasses, perspectives and workshops are free of cost, open to the public and students. There will be networking opportunities throughout the week and the Centre County Chamber of Business and Industry will sponsor Flavor Flights each evening, featuring entrepreneurs in local food and beverage.

Anne Deeter Gallaher, author of “Women in High Gear” and “Students in High Gear,” will be sharing strategies for networking and why it is crucial to success at the Women in Entrepreneurship Day Luncheon.

“It’s never too early to be in high gear. Who do you need to connect with to help you achieve your goals? A business leader, policy maker, university president or a Fortune 100 CEO,” Gallaher said. “Start connecting the dots now to surround yourself with positive and influential people who can help you. The business world is ready and willing to help you succeed.”

Other GEW Penn State features include HackPSU, a 24-hour hackathon sponsored by the Penn State EdTech Network and the Center for Online Innovation in Learning; keynote presenter George Steinmetz, a freelance photographer best known for his work with National Geographic magazine, and a masterclass with Mike Karns, known for his social media outreach for the Broadway musical “Hamilton.”

Participants will be able to find most venues for GEW in a centralized location called the Avenue of Entrepreneurship: Paterno Library, Carnegie Building, New Leaf Initiative and Happy Valley Launchbox.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.GEW.PSU.EDU.

Global Entrepreneurship Week at Penn State is organized on the University Park campus by the Penn State Small Business Development Center. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated September 4, 2020

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