Interested in trying your hand at graphic design? Always wanted to publish your writing, but not sure how? Struggling to figure out how your business’s tax forms should be filled out?
Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University is pleased to announce its new Lunch & Learn workshop series focused on providing students with tangible skills for their career, whether in starting their own business or working for another company. This series, taught by students in the LaunchPad community is a casual, conversational hour for students to share their expertise and skill sets with each other over a provided lunch.
The series kicks off on March 8th at 12pm with a session on Athlete Marketing hosted by Jack Adler ’23, studying in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Adler is the Founder and CEO of Out2Win Sports, a company which creates content partnerships between athletes and brands. As CEO, he’s partnered athletes with brands such as NBC Sports, Carhartt, and Reebok, and raised over $20,000 in 18 months. In his Lunch and Learn on March 8th, Adler will be sharing his experience and advice for marketing in athletics and building brand partnerships.
Upcoming Lunch and Learn topics include:
· March 24th at 10am, Ethan Tyo ’17, G’22 will host a session on civic engagement and social entrepreneurship with faculty from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Tyo is the founder of the AlterNative Project, which promotes widespread knowledge about Indigenous practices and culture across communities. On the 24th, he’ll explore how he turned cultural installation into a social venture by cultivating a community-oriented network of stakeholders to further developments and opportunities around food sovereignty.
· March 29th at 12pm, Cuse Blockchain Vice President Tom Montforte ’23 will be speaking on how Blockchain is currently disrupting industries, as well as providing a general overview on cryptocurrencies and their integration in various industries.
· April 5th at 12pm, LaunchPad Innovation Mentor Jack Ramza ’22, G ’23 will discuss fiscal literacy and accounting practices for business owners. With undergraduate expertise in advertising and accounting, and experience in venture founding; Ramza will guide those interested in starting their own business through the often-complicated process of properly caring for business’s finances and speaking the language of business: accounting.
· April 12nd at 12pm, LaunchPad Lead Designer Natasha Brao ’22, G‘23 will be presenting on graphic design, freelancing, and branding. Brao, who earned her B.F.A. in Communications Design from the College of Visual and Performing Arts, is a self-made entrepreneur with expertise in branding oneself and one’s business. She is currently earning her Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises in Whitman.
· April 19th at 1pm, LaunchPad Global Fellow Kelly Davis ’23 will host a session on entrepreneurship as life skills. Davis is the Founder and CEO of Woman-ly, an online platform dedicated to supporting and creating community for women in male-dominated fields. As an established entrepreneur herself, Davis is passionate about utilizing skills of innovation and fearlessness not just in entrepreneurship but in all aspects of life. Davis, who currently works as an intern for MSNBC, will share her experience and advice for intrapreneurship in any company and innovative thinking in day-to-day life.
· April 26th at 12pm, LaunchPad Innovation Mentor Ben Ford ’23 will speak on raising capital and finding investors for your business. Ford is the Founder and CEO of FundWurx, a platform which links charitable organizations and funding needs to individual givers. Well-versed in the hunt for investors and funding sources to launch a startup into a company, Ford will provide insight and advice for pursuing investment.
Story by Claire Howard, Blackstone LaunchPad Global Fellow; photo supplied