Sona is the Entrepreneur Coach and Start-up Specialist here at the Center for Innovation. Her days here are never the same as she meets with students, faculty, and staff to coach and mentor and instruct in their start-up journey. When she isn’t meeting with people, she typically works on improving and managing the programs in her portfolio.
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I was born and raised in the former Czechoslovakia/ Czech Republic. I love to dance, I own a dog and a bearded dragon, I speak 5 languages – various skill level, and I am learning how to keep plants alive (gardening).
What college did you attend and what was your major?
My alma mater is Vysoka Skola Banska – Technicka Universita Ostrava, in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It is a university with a primary focus on engineering degrees. I earned an MBA in public finance and public policy and nonprofits from there.
What is your favorite book or movie?
Movie – Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood or Spanglish. Book – Essentialism by Greg McKeown
If you could drop everything and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
The Czech Republic. But I love to travel, so I could go to Iceland, Italy, or Turkey!
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Sleep, work out, cook, and read. Oh, and travel. And dance. I need more free time!
What is your favorite part of living in Grand Forks?
Everything is within a very reasonable distance in town, and the rush hour is very short.
What is your favorite part about working at CFI?
My role allows me to be creative, use my strengths, and work on the things I enjoy – developing relationships with students, faculty, and staff, build and grow programs, and witness cool things in the making.
Check out Sona’s LinkedIn profile! https://www.linkedin.com/in/sona-lesmeister/