"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." – Mark Twain

At 16, I started embracing entrepreneurial skills when I began helping my parents with our family’s bag manufacturing business in Nepal. Initially, I immersed myself in learning about our products and the administrative tasks, like managing resources and placing orders. But I was eager to understand the sales and marketing side of the business, too.
​
During a three-month holiday break before starting high school at 18, I dove deeper into the sales side of the business. I visited over 100 retailers and wholesalers where I presented samples and explained the unique features of our products. This hands-on experience taught me the benefit of customer interaction and importance of adapting sales strategies. I experimented with different pricing models based on order quantities and offered credit to select customers, which helped build trust and secure long-term relationships.
​
These efforts paid off when I secured around 10-15 regular customers who placed weekly orders. To further strengthen our relationships, I offered same-day delivery, making it easier for them to do business with us. This success was a huge motivator, and I began to understand the dynamics of customer demand. This experience taught me the importance of understanding the market and tailoring our approach toward the customers. It also reinforced the value of perseverance and adaptability in business.

My journey in the family business wasn’t just about gaining experience; it was a real-world education in entrepreneurship. Here are some takeaways that could be valuable for any entrepreneur, especially those just starting out...

Written by Shannon Marshburn
​
I like to think I know my strengths and weaknesses well, and I believe one of my not so strong qualities is public speaking. I used to be a strong public speaker all through high school, then one day it was like a switch flipped and the nerves had never left me since. Unfortunately, this is a life skill that you can’t avoid forever, and in a few months, I will need to give a speech at my friend’s wedding as a maid of honor in front of 200 guests. It has weighed on me for a year now, but one thing I think about to calm my nerves, strange as it is, is the Gettysburg Address.  

Did you know President Abraham Lincoln was the second speaker of the day? He was asked to deliver “a few appropriate remarks.”. One of the nation’s best orators of the time, Edward Everrett, was the main featured speaker and the first to talk to the crowd that day. Now, which speech do you remember learning about? Can you remember learning anything about Everrett’s speech, or can you recite anything from it? Though I’m sure we all know, “Four score and seven years ago...” Not to cast a shadow on Everrett, but why don’t we remember his speech as much?  
​
I went searching for some answers and guidance for how I can craft a great speech of my own, as well as some other public speaking tips. 

Keep It Simple: 
Everrett spoke for two hours that day. President Lincoln spoke for two minutes with his piece that contained only 272 words. In fact, Everett later wrote Lincoln that, “I should be glad, if I could flatter myself, that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes.” 
Shorter speeches can be more engaging and memorable. They’re easier for audiences to follow and retain important information, especially if they’re delivered with clarity and impact.


Memorize Ideas Instead of Paragraphs of Words: 
Common public speaking pitfalls are when you sound too rehearsed. You lose the attention of your audience and even your own passion and tone of voice when you just read off the slides or note cards. When I’m in the audience of someone reading something word-for-word, I often feel a great disconnect with the speaker. Instead of this, try memorizing the idea of each slide or topic, rather than the order of words. 
​

Engage with the Audience and Be Authentic:  
Interaction can keep the audience attentive and involved. Think about speaking in a way that feels natural to you and aligns with your style. I believe this will also help you in memorizing ideas instead of words because you can let your passion for the topic take over and let your personality come through. Ask your audience questions and have them raise a hand for their participation. Try to make your audience feel they are seen and considered in the writing of the speech.  


I am now going to take these tips and apply them in my own life this weekend and write a maid of honor speech that will bring the crowd to tears. I don’t want to be the one to keep the guests from hitting the dance floor so with some inspiration from a Founding Father, I’ll stick to something that it short, simple, to the point, and above all, authentic and from the heart.
​
There are so many tips out there for public speaking it is a bit overwhelming, but I hope this helped you step back a little and look at speaking in a different light. Of course, with time and experience, you’ll find your own style and strategies that work best for you. Happy speaking!

Networking events are all the range in the professional community. It seems like there is always an up-and-coming networking event somewhere in the area, but do these events really help further your connections? At UARF we host eight events a year, and as that person at the check-in table that watches everyone from afar, I have some thoughts on networking events and why you should try one out if you haven't yet.
 ​

Be on Time 
The first positive impression you can make is to be punctual. Just like you wouldn’t stroll into an in-person event late, the same courtesy applies to webinars. Aim to log in a few minutes early, and this gives you a great chance to ensure your tech is working, you are on mute, turn your camera on, and you’re ready to start. You can also use this time to familiarize yourself with the landscape, open chat windows, and look over the controls menu. You may be asked to do things like rename yourself, so knowing how to walk through the programs makes for a stress-free session. 

Turn on Your Camera 
Even if you are having a bad hair day, even if you are in a large meeting and you think you can hide with your camera off, it is a good choice to keep your camera on. It is respectful to those who worked hard to put on an event for you to enjoy, and it is respectful to others there, as we can see that you are paying attention and taking in the information. By giving social cue like nodding your head or keeping your eyes up and looking into the camera, the speaker feels more confident that you are understanding the topic and that you are not taking an afternoon nap.   

Be Present 
Now, let’s talk about distractions. We’re all guilty of wanting to multitask during webinars, but it could be doing you harm. Close those extra tabs, silence your phone, and give the presenter your undivided attention. Also, try not to turn your back and talk to others around you, be present in the meeting. Not only will you show respect for their hard work, but you’ll also maximize your own learning experience, and that is what you are there for after all. 

Know Where The Mute Button Is
This is when it helps to log in early to your virtual meeting so that you can take a moment and mute yourself. If you are in a busy public space or have other background noise that can’t be helped, as your first action when you join, go ahead and hit the mute button. If there is no presentation started yet, then feel free to say hello, but if you hear a conversation already going, then make sure the hit mute and wait for a chance for you to jump in. Now on that note, don’t be afraid to unmute yourself when it’s appropriate, especially during interactive portions like Q&A sessions or group discussions. Webinars and info sessions are put on for your benefit and so that you can learn about something. Don't be afraid to ask questions and show your interest. Just remember to mute back up afterward. 


Last but certainly not least, let’s talk about post-webinar etiquette. Take a moment to thank the speaker and organizers for their time and expertise. A simple thank-you as you are logging off or a nice comment in the chat is very encouraging! You could even send the presenter an email or a shout out on social media. It all goes a long way in showing your appreciation. And if you promised to follow up on something during the webinar, make sure to follow through promptly. It’s all about building positive relationships and building a strong network. 

So, there you have it! Armed with these insider tips, you’re ready to conquer the world of webinar etiquette. Remember to be punctual, minimize distractions, engage respectfully, and show your appreciation. I hope to see you at our next virtual event, perhaps the I-Corps Panel on July 19th? See you there!
​Register here for free: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/919015669607?aff=oddtdtcreator ​

Written by Rachel Wasik
​
Over the course of my internship at the University of Akron Research Foundation (UARF), I have been involved in several projects that have contributed to the organization’s mission to “transform and expand the region's innovation economy through entrepreneurship education, technology commercialization, application of UA research, and creation of new entrepreneurial ventures”.
​
I have greatly valued being able to have a role in helping the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 I-Corps Cohorts. I-Corps is a program that aims to teach upcoming entrepreneurs how to find and understand their customer market. I helped the instructors keep track of each team’s deliverables to ensure that we catch when teams are struggling so we can provide additional support and encouragement. For the same purpose, I also reviewed the specifics of each team’s submissions and provided feedback. However, the most rewarding part of this experience was helping to serve an instructor during the I-Corps weekly meetings. I enjoyed working with my co-workers to help guide teams in the right direction. I have learned a lot from them with regards to customer discovery and how to provide feedback that is both encouraging and constructive. 

​I was also fortunate to be a part of creating a new entrepreneurial class called Founder Life Skills. This class aims to help upcoming entrepreneurs avoid issues known to cause many start-ups to fail. I helped create content surrounding team building, emotional intelligence, leadership styles, conflict management skills, key performance indicators (KPIs), objectives and key results (OKRs), time management, and building relationships with co-founders, investors, and board members. These are critical skills to have regardless of if you are an entrepreneur or working in industry. I was very grateful to be a part of this unique opportunity.

I have also been a part of some smaller projects including managing the Starting Line course email, wrote blogs for the company website, and created automated templates that can be used for company outreach. I cannot express enough how enriching this experience was to me, which can only be credited to the amazing people working at UARF. 
​
After the Spring 2024 semester, I graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Computer Science from The University of Akron. While I will be pursuing a career in research and development, the entrepreneurial skills I have learned through this experience will greatly impact my thought process as I navigate through this new chapter of my life.

Written by Elyse Ball​
​
Startup cultures are obsessed with failure. We constantly hear the mantra “fail fast” and see entrepreneurs throw literal failure parties for unsuccessful companies and products. I’ve always felt like a bit of an outsider to this ethos. I understand that all of us will fail sometimes and that trying something new or interesting increases our risk of failure. We can learn a lot from failing. However, I still sometimes behave in unnecessarily risk averse ways and shut down when a failure occurs, which limits my ability to learn from it.
 
When a fellow I-Corps instructor told me that there was a science to failing the right way, I was immediately intrigued. Diving into Amy C. Edmondson’s The Right Kind of Wrong, Adam Grant’s Think Again, and the Freakonomics podcast series on failure has given me some much needed perspective on failure. This includes a method for classifying types of failure and actionable steps we can take to make the most of the right kinds of failure.
 
First, not all failures are created equal. Research Amy C. Edmondson has spent decade cataloguing failure and puts failures into three major buckets that help us understand how to react to it:
​

• Basic failure results from errors or mistakes that could have been avoided through better planning, communication, or execution. Think about oversleeping because you set your alarm to p.m. instead of a.m. or forgetting to send an important email.
• Complex failure results from unforeseen interactions between different components or factors within a system. An example is vacation plans that get derailed because of bad weather, a flight cancellation and a sick kid.

• Intelligent failure occurs within the context of well-designed experiments aimed at innovation and improvement. Think about pharmaceutical trials or beta tests.

 
While we want to try to minimize the first two kinds of failure, intelligent failure is the kind of failure entrepreneurs and innovators should be striving for. In intelligent failure, the risks taken are intentional and create a valuable learning opportunity that can advance a field or industry. These are the failures we really should throw parties for! 
 
Like any art, failure is something we can get better at. In fact, we can engineer our organizations to learn the most from intelligent failure:

• Recognize that failure is inevitable: We all make mistakes. Classifying the cause of the failure creates some objectivity that opens the door to learning. So does taking a few deep breaths before reacting to failure and trying to cultivate curiosity about the causes of failure. 
• Create psychological safety: Foster an environment where employees feel safe to take risks, experiment, and importantly, admit when they’ve failed so others can learn from it. This starts with admitting some of your own failures and applauding others when they share a failure to encourage continued openness.
• Reframe failure: The frame we put around our failures can radically change our ability to be open to learning from it. Is the failure in an unknown space or part of a process that would take even geniuses time to learn? Is the failure an opportunity to move closer toward an outcome we’re trying to achieve?
• Facilitate reflection and analysis: After experiencing failure, take time to let the initial emotions of shame or fear pass. Then, get together a group to reflect on what went wrong, why it happened, and what can be learned from the experience. Encourage different perspectives and honest feedback.

• Iterate and adapt: Iteration is at the heart of all entrepreneurship and innovation endeavors. Take occasional time to look back at how you got to where you are. What setbacks did you experience? How did you react? What did you learn? Seeing how excellence can be borne from failure encourages us to look more closely at our failures today.

 
Failure is a natural and necessary part of the innovation process. Our goal should be to create environments where everyone feels empowered to take risks, experiment and experience intelligent failures. 

Have you ever wondered how research teams come into existence? What necessitates the formation of these teams? 
​
Typically, a university research team consists of a team lead or principal investigator (PI), an academic lead (Co-PI) or field expert, and at least one student, either graduate or undergraduate. Despite the persistent advocacy for interdisciplinary studies by major scientific organizations, funding agencies, and educators over the past two decades, such collaborations remain relatively rare, particularly interdisciplinary research teams.

As an expert in a specific field, others often turn to you for solutions. However, it's not uncommon for years to pass without being approached by individuals from other disciplines seeking your expertise! Why does this happen? Various factors could contribute to this, including but not limited to, fear of rejection, time constraints, a preference for independent work, or prioritization of other projects.
​
Today, there's a growing recognition of the importance of interdisciplinarity in both education and research. Reports from scientific and educational organizations highlight the complexity of nature, society, and the workforce, emphasizing the need for systematic and contextual reasoning. Interdisciplinary team collaboration offers several benefits, for instance:

• Interdisciplinary teams can tackle questions that transcend single disciplines, prompting discussions that challenge societal values and address complex issues.
• ​Interdisciplinary teams can empower integration of knowledge by combining insights from various disciplines, enabling a comprehensive understanding of challenging problems.

​
Who would have anticipated that the observation made in 1946 regarding the orientation of nuclei in a magnetic field would pave the way for modern advancements in nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging? Similarly, the sequencing of the human genome, required collaborative efforts across multiple traditional fields, including physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science. Understanding the health implications of genome sequencing will likely involve further interdisciplinary collaboration, incorporating areas such as mathematics, computer science, and bioinformatics.

In cases where new theory building intersects disciplines, the concept of transdisciplinary research has gained traction. This approach, distinct from interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research, is deemed essential for addressing complex societal issues such as obesity, drug abuse, and violent behavior. Training in behavioral and social sciences is recognized as a crucial component in dealing with these health challenges.

Transitioning to practical examples, the experience of forming an I-Corps research team sheds light on the dynamics of interdisciplinary collaboration. Initially introduced to the concept while applying for the Interdisciplinary Research Initiation Award (IRIA) at UToledo, the process involved reaching out to experts from different departments and fostering collaboration. I learned about I-Corps teams shortly after applying for the IRIA. At that time, I had recently formed a research team comprising three faculty members from the mathematics and statistics department and one from the department of computer science and technology engineering. Despite being new to the math department and having little knowledge of experts in the engineering department, I took a simple approach: I asked around. By knocking on a couple of doors and sending a few emails, I was able to introduce myself and propose the idea of forming a group between our departments, as the project would require all our expertise. Over time, our team grew and adapted, overcoming challenges such as a member's retirement and integrating new graduate students. This experience demonstrated the simplicity and effectiveness of forming interdisciplinary teams.

Written by Hiba Fayoumi
​
​In the fall of 2018, I joined the mathematics and statistics department at the University of Toledo as a Visiting Assistant Professor. After a long break from research, I quickly reacquainted myself with my academic discipline. Weekends transformed into extensions of my workweek as I explored and reviewed past material and developed new ideas. Then, one day in November, a promising interdisciplinary grant opportunity caught my attention, courtesy of the university's research office. With a background spanning in pure mathematics, cryptography, and network security, I quickly gathered two colleagues from the math department and Dr. Weiqing Sun, the director of the cybersecurity master's program from the engineering college, forming our initial team.

In the proceeding months, significant progress was made. My pivotal paper was published, forming the backbone of our security system solution, while Dr. Sun’s graduate student successfully transformed its application into code for his master’s thesis. Consequently, a joint paper was presented at the 8th  International Conference on Information Systems Security and Privacy in 2022. In the spring of 2023, a new team comprised of myself, Dr. Weiqing Sun, and two other graduate students applied once more to the summer I-Corps program and were accepted. Our focus shifted to providing a secure VPN solution for remote workers capable of withstanding the challenges of security in a post-quantum world. 
​Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is the development of cryptographic algorithms that are resistant to attacks from quantum computers. It is also known as quantum-proof, quantum-safe, or quantum-resistant cryptography. The goal of PQC is to develop secure systems that can operate with existing communication and network protocols and are protected against both quantum and classical computers. For more information on PQC, please refer to its Wikipedia page. 

Through our participation in the 7-week customer discovery program, we collected deep insights that reshaped our understanding of our target market and the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Initially, we assumed that our primary clients would be end-users seeking secure communication solutions. Nevertheless, as we conducted interviews and market research, a paradigm shift occurred.

• The program compelled us to reevaluate our assumptions and delve deeper into understanding the needs and preferences of potential customers. Contrary to our initial beliefs, we discovered that our true customers were the intermediaries—those responsible for providing secure communication solutions to end-users. This realization was crucial in guiding our planned direction and refining our value proposition.

 

• By engaging in extensive interviews with various stakeholders, we identified key decision makers and influencers within our target market. Understanding their roles and perspectives enabled us to tailor our messaging and solutions to address their specific pain points and needs.

 

• The customer discovery program introduced us to the concept of business hypotheses—a foundational element in the entrepreneurial journey. We learned the importance of formulating and testing hypotheses to validate our assumptions about market demand, customer behavior, and product-market fit. Through iterative experimentation and feedback loops, we refined our hypotheses and iteratively validated our business model.

 

• In addition to identifying our target customers, the program provided us with invaluable insights into market dynamics, competitive landscapes, and emerging trends. These insights informed our go-to-market strategy, pricing decisions, and product differentiation efforts, empowering us to position our contribution effectively within the market ecosystem.

 

• Perhaps the most significant lesson collected from the customer discovery program was the importance of responsiveness and adaptability in the face of uncertainty. We embraced a mindset of continuous learning, leveraging each interaction and feedback session as an opportunity to iterate, pivot, and evolve our business model. This adaptive approach enabled us to stay alert to market dynamics and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

In summary, the I-Corps 7-week customer discovery program was transformative, arming us with the knowledge, insights, and mindset necessary to navigate the complex area of entrepreneurship effectively. It reinforced the importance of customer-centric, hypothesis-driven experimentation, and relentless iteration—pillars that continue to guide our entrepreneurial journey toward success.

Written By Rachel Wasik

One of the most critical steps in any entrepreneurial journey is finding and understanding your customer. While completing customer interviews can seem like a daunting task, by implementing the following tips, an entrepreneur can extract a ton of useful information.

Avoid mentioning your technology
Many entrepreneurs are very passionate about their discoveries. As a result, they tend to fall into the habit of explaining to their interviewees how their new product or service will benefit them. You end up selling your product to the customer, instead of learning from their experiences. Additionally, this can put your interviewee into a situation where they just agree with you, to avoid conflict. How do you know if this is really the best market for your product, if your interviewee is agreeing out of politeness? Structure your questions to learn more about the habits and experiences of your potential customers and avoid discussing your own solution. This way, your customer can share their thoughts without bias.

Start wide, then narrow
As you structure your questions, start wide and then narrow your questions as you gain a better understanding of your interviewee. This helps you gather context related to the customer’s overall experience of the problem. You need to aim to understand the consumer’s current process before you can understand their struggles. From there you can better quantify the situation. How much time or money is wasted in this process? As you interact with your potential customers, always ask open-ended questions. Leading questions restrict your interviewee from speaking freely, which goes against your overarching goal for a candid interview.

Seek out bad news
A good interview can always shed light on the longevity of your start-up. Are there other competitive products or concerns that could prevent you from taking your product to market? The sooner you understand what kind of “bad news” your product might encounter, the better you will be able to steer the direction of your start-up and future interview questions. Being proactive in this way saves your most valuable resource- your time.

Drill Down
After each interview, review your questions and answers. Was there a certain question that taught you a lot about the customer’s problem or viewpoint? How could you have pushed your interviewee to learn more? Brainstorm with your team on more follow-up questions you could ask next time to find out more information.


Putting in the time and effort to improve your interview techniques not only benefits your company in the “start-up stage”, but throughout the entirety of your career. Customer discovery is a life-long learning experience, a highly revered professional skillset, and the foundation to your business’s success.

Written by Shannon Marshburn

Lately, I have been trying to reduce my screen time throughout my day, but especially in the morning and the hour or two leading up to my bedtime. I find myself scrolling on social media, consuming content that the algorithm throws my way to keep my attention held for just one more minute. Before I know it, what was going to be an early bedtime easily creeps to 1am.  
​
So, I got myself a Valentines day gift of a few new books and very quickly my favorite part of my day is the time I have set aside to read. I am excited to go to bed every night to get up an hour early, make my coffee and bagel, put on my Harry Potter ambiance music, and read! I thought, maybe today I could convince any non-readers to try my new favorite hobby and discover a new part of themselves, like I have these past few weeks. While I am currently reading a book about Faries, I did some searching and made a list of leadership and entrepreneurship focused books that were highly recommended across the board.

Get Inspired 
The stories of entrepreneurs and visionary leaders written in books often serve as great sources of inspiration and motivation. These stories of failures that didn’t keep them down could be the push you need to keep going. 

Exercising Your Mind 
Just like hitting the gym keeps our bodies in shape, reading is like a workout for the mind. It stimulates our brains, fires up our imagination, and keeps those mental muscles flexing. Plus, with endless genres and topics to choose from, there’s always something new to learn and explore. 

Read For Longevity  
A longitudinal study spanning over 12 years, published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, found that adults who read books regularly lived, on average, almost two years longer than non-readers. The study suggests that reading books promotes cognitive engagement, social connections, and a healthier lifestyle, all of which contribute to longevity.
Social Science & Medicine: “A chapter a day: Association of book reading with longevity”
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5105607/


​Reduce Your Screen time 
Unlike electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, or computers, reading physical books does not expose individuals to the stimulating effects of screens, specifically the blue light emitted by our tech devices. Excessive screen time before bed can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle by suppressing the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9424753/


Recommended Reads

“The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries: 
This book introduces the concept of lean methodology, offering insights into building and scaling successful startups. With practical advice and real-world examples, Ries challenges conventional thinking and provides a blueprint for entrepreneurial innovation. 

​“Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” by Daniel H. Pink: 
Dive into the science of motivation, Pink’s work reveals the factors that drive human behavior and performance. By understanding key principles outlined in the book, entrepreneurs and leaders can find the full potential of their teams and organizations. 


“Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Sinek: 
Sinek’s book explores the power of purpose-driven leadership, emphasizing the importance of clarity and vision. By explaining their “why,” leaders can move and inspire their team in a whole new way. 


“Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins: 
Collins identifies and compares the key factors that distinguish great companies from mediocre companies. Through studies and insights, he looks at the principles of strong leadership, disciplined strategy, and sustainable growth. 


Reading is not only a leisurely part of your day, but something that could help you gain personal and professional growth. Whether you join a book club or swap recommendations with friends, reading brings people together in wonderful ways. There’s something special about connecting with others who have been moved or inspired by the same stories that affected you. So, let’s turn the page and discover the adventure in the world of reading. ​