Equipping the Entrepreneurial Mindset: Lineup Announced for Fall Workshops

The U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation will offer eight free, interactive workshops this fall for all U of A community members.

Held at three locations — the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, the McMillon Innovation Studio and the Collaborative in Bentonville — the workshops cover an array of topics that will equip participants to think with an entrepreneurial mindset, from how to construct a persuasive pitch, to influencer marketing, to IP considerations and agile project management.

Food and refreshments will be included. Students may view the entire workshop schedule on the OEI website and register today.

Led by experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts, OEI workshops are designed with the needs of current students in mind but are free for all members of the U of A community, including students, faculty, staff and alumni.

The workshops are an excellent way to get "plugged into the ecosystem," said Tiffany Henry, OEI's instructional designer of training and workshops.

"Our workshops provide an opportunity for students and experts across all disciplines to connect and collaborate in an environment that provides learning, engagement and fun," Henry said.

August

Aug. 30, 12:30-1:45 p.m. — Open to Change
Stacey Mason, CEO/founder, The Improv Lab, at Brewer Hub
Learn to adapt and respond to an ever-changing world. Attendees will learn how to view problems from a new perspective and break out of the status quo mindset.

September

Sept. 6, 6-7 p.m. — Agile
Erin Helf, director of engineering and technology, at J.B. Hunt, The Studio
Gain an understanding of what an Agile mindset is and be introduced to common Agile project management frameworks including Kanban, Scrum, Scrumban, Lean, & Extreme Programming.

Sept. 22, 5-7 p.m. — Pitch Camp
Permjot Valia, co-founder, Flight and Partners, at Brewer Hub
Learn the principles of how to effectively pitch a company or idea, pitching best practices and have an opportunity to proactive new skills in an action-packed workshop.

Sept. 27, 6-7 p.m. — Explaining NFTs
Joe Payne, founder, Society of the Hourglass, at The Greenhouse

Full of hype, opportunities and questions, the NFT marketplace is a mystery. This workshop will discuss considerations on protecting your NFTs in a decentralized world.

October

Oct. 5, noon to 1 p.m. — Pitch Your Impact Venture
Jensyn Hallet, director of impact capital, Heifer International, at Brewer Hub
Impact ventures are startups with a purpose. Socially conscious companies can attract investors who are committed to making an impact in addition to a profit. This workshop will teach communication skills and what language to use when talking to an impact investor.

Oct. 25, 6-7 p.m. — Problem Solving With Blockchain
Liam La Fargue, director of growth, Mycelium, at Brewer Hub
This workshop will share true stories about how some local startups are building companies that contribute to the Internet of Things.

November

Nov. 1, 12:30-1:45 p.m. — Influencer Marketing
Dominique Blake, Olympian and serial entrepreneur, at Brewer Hub
This workshop will teach how to leverage and use your social media accounts to grow your following and build your brand.

Nov. 8, 12:30-1:45 p.m. — Build Your Network
Stacey Mason, CEO/founder, The Improv Lab, at Brewer Hub | 
Networking events: Who do you talk to? What do you do? How do you stay connected to the people you've met? This workshop will provide tips and tools for networking effectively.

About the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation creates and curates innovation and entrepreneurship experiences for students across all disciplines. Through the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, McMillon Innovation Studio and Startup Village, OEI provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. OEI also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.