The Entrepreneurship Club at Kutztown University hosted a March 27 luncheon on Insights on Women as Innovators.
Entrepreneurial Women: Insights on Women as Innovators was an event to learn how entrepreneurial women launch innovative ideas into business. Keynote speaker Jen Groover, a KU alumna and a “serial entrepreneur who went from guest-hosting spots on QVC to inking deals with some of the industry’s biggest heavyweights,” according to the KU College of Business April 15 newsletter, http://www2.kutztown.edu/Documents/Business,%20College%20of/April%202015.pdf.
Groover is an author, speaker, and media contributor, who also has served on the Kutztown University Foundation Board.
“I believe that entrepreneurship is a journey of self transformation. Entrepreneurship is an opportunity to grow and evolve, to face your fears head on,” said Groover, whose success began with the creation of the Butler Bag, the world’s first compartmentalized handbag, and more recently Leader Girlz, which teaches young girls the importance of empowerment through play, and her newest brand, Empowered by Jen Groover.
“And most entrepreneurs who are really successful had no idea what they were doing when they got started, I assure you that. Most stood in a place of fear but propelled forward with passion. Most stood in a place of ‘am I crazy? I don’t even know what I’m doing.’ But their resiliency and their determination propelled them forward,” she said.
As she began that journey having no idea what she was doing, Groover said she could not have been happier.
“I was living my passion. I thought I was living my purpose, my purpose to inspire and empower people. It’s not really what you want to do for a living; it’s who do you want to be,” said Groover.
When people begin their journey of entrepreneurship, she said they often came to her saying they didn’t know what they wanted to do, what company to start. Then, they really get hung up on the look of the logo.
“I laugh and say, the reason you’re so hung up is because you’re asking the wrong questions. It’s not what you want to do; it’s who do you want to be. What do you want your legacy to be? What do you want the impact to be in this world? How do you want to feel everyday? How many lives do you want to touch?”
Groover said if you want to touch a million lives, she assured that the resources would come and so would the financial stability.
“Entrepreneurship is about innovation; it’s not about duplication. You have to own your uniqueness.”
One of the most powerful principles is that uniqueness is your power, she said.
“How you do something is authentic to you… do not try to do something that someone else did. Take wisdom from them but don’t try to duplicate what they’re doing. Bring your own flavor and your own belief systems and that way you can bring your own innovations to the table.”
Groover also talked about facing her fears of asking for help, learning the importance of health and the importance of believing in oneself.
After Groover’s presentation, KU College of Business, Department of Business Associate Dean Dr. Martha Geaney said, “Wow.”
“I hope that everyone in the audience, especially our students, heard what you were saying about believing in yourself,” said Geaney.
A panel of speakers, including Groover, shared more insights into entrepreneurship.
The panel included June Clougher, director of Jump Start Incubator which is managed by the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center and housed in the Berks County Community Foundation. Prior to Jump Start, she was CFO at industrial scrap and salvage company Moses B. Glick LLC. She was a founding partner and controller for more than 16 years at Edwards Landscape & Nursery.
Co-advisor to the KU Entrepreneurship Club Dr. CJ Rhoads, a KU professor and founder and CEO of HPL Consortium, Inc., also sat on the panel, as did KU student Olivia Knowles, co-creator of Brain Bug Magazine.
Describing herself as a dirty rock that friends and family scrubbed and cleaned up, Rhoads credited the support of friends and family as being important to success. “I see so many friends and family who have supported me.”
Groover also talked about the importance of support. “I have what I call my power posse. They are not yes people by any means, but they are friends who are unconditionally loving and support me, who I can get credible feedback from, that have my best interest at heart.”
The panel was followed by lunch and a chance to speak with the panelists. Rhoads also thanked the following for their contributions to Entrepreneurship Week at KU: Dr. Martha Geaney, Associate Dean of the College of Business; Danielle Santos, assistant to the Dean; Leslie Scroble, assistant to Dr. Martha Geaney. She also recognized Stephen Hilborn, who recently won the Student Entrepreneurs of the Year award, and was voted in as President of the Entrepreneurship Club on campus at KU.
