Dr. James Stapleton Attends USA Partners Forum for Global Entrepreneurship Week

The forum consisted of more than 100 partner organizations that gathered to begin the planning of Global Entrepreneurship Week/USA, scheduled for Nov. 15-21. As the regional director of the event for Missouri, Stapleton helped develop suggestions for sponsored activities designed to raise awareness for the importance of entrepreneurship and inspire people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is held internationally in November of every year. This annual event connects young people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. The week includes a number of presentations, speakers, hands-on activities, scholarships, and business plan competitions that  encourage students to make their dreams become realities. Global Entrepreneurship Week has four main objectives for participants: to inspire, connect, mentor and engage.

Stapleton, executive director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and assistant professor of management at Southeast, described the activities planned for Global Entrepreneurship Week as “students, educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials and the public coming together to participate in a range of activities, from keynote presentations by nationally recognized entrepreneurs from all walks of life, to innovation and creativity competitions and networking events. We want to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset, to help young people explore the creative entrepreneurial process that leads to new venture creation and the opportunity to consider self-employment as a career choice.”

Southeast Missouri State University is a registered partner for this global event. A partner organization agrees to host one or more activities during Global Entrepreneurship Week/USA in November. Under the guidance of Stapleton, Southeast Missouri State University is in its third year of hosting Global Entrepreneurship Week on campus. Global Entrepreneurship Week at Southeast is coordinated by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Southeast Missouri State University is one of the most comprehensive entrepreneurship-focused university centers in the Midwest, offering a wide array of academic and outreach programs and services, including: innovation development and research; entrepreneurship education, training and mentorship; and business incubation and development services. The CIE supports Southeast Missouri State University’s strategic priority to advance the region’s economic appeal and strength by accelerating local and regional economic growth and development that improves the quality of lives, communities and businesses in southeast Missouri and the surrounding region.

For more information about Global Entrepreneurship Week or the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial support services it offers, contact (573) 651-2929 or visit www.semo.edu/cie.