BY: KELLEY MASON - 04/02/2012
Article from Retriever Weekly
The Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship facilitated the Raymond V. Haysbert, Sr. Entrepreneurship Lecture with an alumni entrepreneur panel discussion in The Commons on March 28.
Students quickly flowed into the room eager to hear the stories and advice that the panelists had to offer. The panel of alumni entrepreneurs included Ryan Bricklemyer, '06, Director of Cold Ones of BeerGivr; Dr. Sheldon Broedel, '90, Chief Executive and Science Officer of Athena Environmental Sciences, Inc.; Delali Dzirasa, '04, Founder and President of Fearless Solutions; and Nancy Krebs, '72, founder of The Voiceworks Studio.
The panel members each gave a 10-minute speech about their successes and failures as entrepreneurs, but encouraged students to be brave in all their endeavours.
"There is not a clear path to entrepreneurship," said Bricklemyer. His company, BeerGivr, allows participants to buy beer online at participating bars and email a barcode for the beer to a friend, who can then go to the bar and redeem the barcode for the beer. He took the simple phase "I owe you a beer" and turned it into a viable system that is used in sixteen bars in the Baltimore area.
Broedel, CEO of his biotech company, encouraged students to "keep thinking, keep learning, and keep moving forward." Broedel, who is also a UMBC graduate professor, explained that students should challenge their professors in order to be successful.
Dzirasa of Fearless Solutions told stories of how he used to run a barbershop when he lived on the UMBC campus to make money.
"I am a serial starter of things," he said. "My advice for you is to believe in yourself... Never give up and hold onto your vision."
Krebs of The Voiceworks Studio explained that students should create short-term goals for themselves to continuously have a sense of accomplishment.
"Follow your bliss and help others achieve theirs," said Krebs.
Students reacted positively to the alumni stories of successes and failures. Manpreet Suri, a sophomore and information systems major, enjoyed the insight from the UMBC alumni.
"I could definitely relate to what they were saying," said Suri. "I agree with them that you should seize your passion and go for what inspires you."
Freshman graphic design and business technology administration major Diana Chou said, "I was very impressed with the passion that each speaker had developed through their experiences."
Students are encouraged to contact armor@umbc.edu for possible internships with these alumni.
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Article from Retriever Weekly