NJCU School of Business Hosts a Week of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Management major Raven Smith became the first freshman to win the 2018 Build Your Dream Business Pitch during the NJCU School of Business Week of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Smith, of Piscataway, was one of five NJCU students selected to compete in the Shark Tank -styled Build Your Dream competition that was held in April. She edged out four other finalists, including three graduate students, with her plans for Henrietta's, a fine-dining soul food restaurant concept. This was the first restaurant concept to win the competition.

As part of the Week of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the School of Business hosted its inaugural panel on social entrepreneurship. The panel featured four dynamic women from different sectors who discussed what social entrepreneurship means and how someone can earn a living by “doing good” in the world. They shared their stories with students and provided insights into how someone can become a social entrepreneur.

The panel discussion was moderated by visiting scholar, Libby Jacobson, an impact consultant, advisor, strategist, and business developer from the greater Los Angeles area who specializes in facilitating the efforts of enterprises that pursue sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.

Guest panelists were Andrea Reyes, a fair-trade advocate, educator, and small business owner; Lynn Hazan, a Jersey City blogger, creative entrepreneur, social media consultant, CEO of ChickpeaJC, and founder of Content Creators Academy; Berna Tural, founder of Be Natural World, an organization focused on removing plastics from the ocean, and Robin Levy, creator and founder of denimSOUL and TUSHY, two clothing companies. Levy also established a career in communications and advertising.