Written by Alexis Burstad
Last week, two members of our CFI staff attended the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) Conference in Boston. This year, the GCEC community, which includes representatives from approximately 300 schools, gathered at Babson College to share innovative ideas, expand their networks, and engage in sessions aligned with the conference theme: Simplify, Scale, Sustain
Amanda Voight and Sona Lesmeister had the privilege of presenting our InternGF program during the conference, along with Becca Cruger from the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation (EDC). InternGF, a partnership between the UND Center for Innovation and the Grand Forks EDC, introduces UND students to high-wage, in-demand careers in the Grand Forks area. This initiative is key to supporting local recruitment and retention efforts by showcasing the region’s dynamic companies, career opportunities, and community assets. “Our session, titled Avoid the Brain Drain. Retain Talent. Increase Local Economic Impact for Startups., was very well received,” Sona said. “We got the opportunity to present on the success of InternGF, which has made a significant impact since its inception in 2018. The feedback was fantastic, and we had many engaging conversations afterwards with attendees asking for more details and offering compliments.”
In addition to presenting, Voigt and Lesmeister were able to attend a range of sessions, including “Cultivating Resilient Mindset in Entrepreneurs”, “How to Gamify Business Model Canvas”, “Going Slow to Scale Fast”, and “Space Activation”. These sessions offered them new perspectives and actionable ideas to bring back to the Center for Innovation.
Lesmeister reflected on some of her major takeaways from the conference, “I attended a session on cultivating a resilient mindset in entrepreneurs, which was both insightful and inspirational. It got me thinking about how we can incorporate these concepts into our own programs.” Another session that stood out to the team was a workshop on gamifying the business model canvas. “It was super fun and interactive!” she continued. “I think it will serve us well to make it a part of our initial session for the Runway Accelerator program.”
Both were impressed by Babson College’s commitment to sustainability during the conference. “What a fantastic way to expand one’s horizons!” Lesmeister noted. “I wish I could have attended multiple sessions that were offered at the same time, but one thing I truly appreciated was Babson’s emphasis on sustainability. It wasn’t just talked about – it was lived out. The event was powered entirely by solar energy, the food came from local sources, and there was a plan to donate all uneaten food.”
In addition to the educational sessions, the conference provided numerous opportunities for networking. One event included a fun evening event at Fenway Park, where they enjoyed appetizers while making valuable connections.
Both are excited to apply everything they learned to further strengthen the work we do at CFI. Voigt concluded, “We’re really lucky to have the ability to support students, faculty/staff, and the community with the services we provide.”