Innovation and entrepreneurship take front stage

Global Entrepreneurship Week will be celebrated this week at Southeast

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Students at Southeast Missouri State University and members of the community will join millions of people around the world this week in participating in Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is an initiative that inspires people to embrace creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship -- to think big, to turn their ideas into reality, to make their mark.

Through this initiative, the next generation of entrepreneurs will be inspired and emerge. In doing so, they will begin to acquire the knowledge, skills and networks needed to develop innovative, sustainable enterprises and careers that have a positive impact on their lives, their families and communities.

Global Entrepreneurship Week, now in its third year at Southeast, will connect people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators and to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and culture. Students, educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, employees, not-for-profit leaders, government officials and many others will participate in a range of activities, from large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings. The week will focus on generating new ideas and seeking better ways of doing things.

Southeast's Global Entrepreneurship Week will include a series of events that will engage participants in various dimensions of entrepreneurship, including segments on agricultural entrepreneurship; entrepreneurship in the arts; entrepreneurship for women; local entrepreneurs; a keynote address by Delatorro McNeal II, a best-selling author and internationally renowned public speaker; the Fault-Line Film Festival, which includes two student film competitions; the Imagine It! Innovation Challenge and Sustaining Southeast competitions for students; and the Women Inspiring eNtrepreneurship (WIN!) Conference, which will feature keynote speaker Brenda Warner.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is one of many initiatives created by Southeast's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to cultivate innovation and accelerate entrepreneurship. We believe entrepreneurship is a way of life for the 21st century and that individuals from all walks of life will benefit from adopting entrepreneurial behavior.

We have planned events that will bring together students and members of the community from a wide variety of backgrounds and areas of study with successful entrepreneurs to consider the importance of entrepreneurship across a wide spectrum of society.

The 21st century will be led by innovators, and the events we have planned on campus will provide individuals an opportunity to explore creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Events during the week are open to the public and free of charge, with the exception of the WIN! Conference which has a $10 charge. For information about the specific events, visit www.semo.edu/gew or call the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at 573-651-2929.

James Stapleton is the executive director of Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University.