The Ohio State University recently became a showcase of budding commercial prowess as students and alumni converged for the Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Entrepreneurial Leadership Summit. According to OSU News, the event, spearheaded by the Fisher College of Business, offered a platform for current and former students to display their innovative ventures and network with seasoned industry professionals.
In a recent gathering at the Blackwell Inn, situated on the Columbus campus, Fisher Interim Dean Aravind Chandrasekaran described entrepreneurship as more than launching new businesses, embodying a mindset of opportunity in the face of adversity. The participants, ranging from students to alumni, engaged in panel discussions, and a unique Student Entrepreneur Marketplace was on full display, having been fostered through the Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Entrepreneurial Initiative. Watching over the rising ideas were industry leaders and academics, eager to stoke the fires of innovation.
The success stories echoed the spirit of opportunity mentioned by Chandrasekaran. Sarah Hallock, who graduated in 2024, built a textile enterprise called The Bazaar Collaborative with a backbone of university support, including an intern and participation in the Moritz Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic. "They’ve given me so many resources: I got an intern, I got three semesters in the [Moritz] Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic," Hallock said in a statement obtained by OSU News. Similarly, Luke Carrell, an MBA student and founder of Side Coach Sports, credited Ohio State for providing significant business guidance and support, allowing him to connect athletes with trainers in diverse disciplines and raising funds via business pitch competitions.
The Ohio State initiative with Nike brought different aspects of professional development into the fold. Students, as assistants in the collaborative 5k runs and community events, learned much about networking and teamwork. Taji Flynn, a kinesiology student, believed the experience pushed him out of his shell, teaching him the ropes of teamwork on big projects. But alumni also had insights to share about how university affiliations fostered business growth. For instance, 2006 grads Adam Benner and Walt Keys teamed up with Jason Rawls, an Ohio State assistant music professor, attracting a new brew of customers to their Land-Grant Brewing Co., courtesy of Rawls's global music event called Salve! Benner told OSU News, "Columbus doesn’t really have that much of a DJ scene, but he brings them to the brewery."
Ellie Katherine Bevington, charting a course as a first-year finance major, shared how Fisher College’s curriculum already enhances her business acumen and philanthropic endeavor, EMJewelryCo. She contributes part of her proceeds to Helping the Hardworking, a charity backing local workers making societal impacts. Bevington underscored the importance of purpose over titles in leadership, a mindset fostered within the Ohio State community. "I’m so grateful for how this community has already shaped me," she expressed in an interview with OSU News.
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