ROHNERT PARK -- With renewed emphasis on building strong bridges between the world of academia and the public-private sector, Sonoma State University is developing a series of programs to instill an entrepreneurial spirit among students that will ultimately permeate each academic department and involve local businesses and SSU alumni.
Led by Entrepreneur-in-Residence Mark Nelson, SSU professor Kirsten Ely, PhD, and others, the goal of these programs is to help ensure that students are ready for the world of work by stimulating a critical-thinking process where classroom instruction goals and business needs are more closely aligned within the community.
"Graduates often find that they do not have skills relevant to industry jobs or career paths, meaning they are not ready for the workforce. We want them to start thinking of themselves as an ‘Economic Unit of One' as they plan for careers in a highly competitive market that increasingly requires creative approaches, -- and one that may involve having multiple income streams, life-long learning and career detours rather than just a single employer," said Nelson.
He works with university faculty and students together to chart future career paths. He believes young people should be engaged in career discussions in their formative years, at prekindergarten and elementary school levels, when strong desires emerge to be a fireman, policeman or have a job like mom and dad.
"Most young people have many ideas about how to work and innovations they would like to develop," he said. "The key is helping them see the opportunities, determine the value and viability of these ideas to the market, and how to be flexible when it comes to shifting direction to address changing circumstances, all while keeping options open."Gap in student goals, employer needs
Dr. Ely is the faculty lead for Entreponoma, SSU's entrepreneurial-thinking incubator, to help launch businesses and career pathways that leverage student passions, while filling a market need.
"There is a growing gap between what students say they want to do with their lives and what employers say they are looking for in new hires," she said. "Young people want jobs that allow them to do what they love, while regional employers want to attract qualified local talent that can help their businesses retain market relevancy through innovation."
The Entreprenoma umbrella covers a variety of plans to help students transform their education into value through action and entrepreneurial thinking.
"The key to visualizing the realistic application of the theories that will make your dream come true is to put them into practice," according to Dr. Ely.
One aspect of this new approach involves bringing back SSU alums that have established their own successful businesses to speak to students about how to imagine the possibilities and see their dreams through to completion. Some of these alums have included Nick Papadopolous and Joanne Ceder, co-founders of CropMobster.com, along with Sarah Scudder, chief growth officer of The Sourcing Group, and Ron Holt, co-founder of North Bay Brewery Tours.
It also means having students create their own businesses. For example, Darren Fong created Off the Map San Francisco streetware; Lindsey Voight, "Lindseyvee" jewelry, Tomio Endo, growing and selling produce to SSU's dining services. Those were among more than a dozen other current student business ideas in various stages of development.
Other plans include an iHub-linked program co-located at the SoCo Nexus incubator at Sonoma Mountain Village in Rohnert Park, entrepreneurial thinking and Lean Launchpad courses, and both formal and informal gatherings to bring professionals and students together.
Two additional projects are planned to attract widespread attention -- a Market Day on campus, where students can sell the items they make and share their ideas with other students and the community, and a future Student Center storefront business that will be operated by students.
The first Market Day is planned for April 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the SSU Student Center ballroom.Developing action plans
Another objective is to have students develop a five-year action plan that defines the courses and experiences that can move them from where they are now to where they want to be.
"We want them to understand what they know and what they should want to know, as well as who they know and need to know," Dr. Ely said. "It would include a strategy for interacting with faculty, community members, industry subject matter experts (legal, accounting, operations, manufacturing, etc.) and business coaches -- while creating an enthusiastic and adaptive mindset focused on how to think about these issues and, perhaps, even ways source the seed money for a private or social venture."
One aspect of this program would be to hold a series of "Outrageous Solutions and Decisions" meetings where groups would come together to explore blue-sky ideas during green-light sessions where every scheme is put on the board for consideration and no idea is ever bad.
"At the end of the day, we want to teach a process students can embrace that will assist them in building their own careers and companies," Dr. Ely said. "We also want to support them through a transition period that links their education -- and passion -- to a profession, whether in a corporate setting, when working in the community to give back, or as a self-employed contractor or business owner."
