Director's Message
Welcome to Our Spring 2024 Issue!
Over the past five years, Ciocca Center has built a plethora of student-facing programs to help students acquire the elements of an entrepreneurial mindset and start their own ventures. These include Mindset Scholars, Innovation Fellows, BEACH, Idea Lab, Prep School, Venture Virtuoso, and the Bronco Venture Accelerator.
Our approach to designing these types of programs follows a pretty consistent playbook. First, we engage with students to identify unmet needs. Then, we look for programs that meet similar needs that have worked either at 91直播 or elsewhere. Next, we engage a faculty advisor to help us establish learning outcomes and ensure our programs harmonize with academic offerings. Finally, and most importantly, we work with students in the design and implementation of our programs.
Perhaps the most important organization involved in our program design is the Ciocca Center Student Advisory Board (SAB). From the beginning, SAB has served as our representative of the “customer” and a source for unfiltered student feedback. SAB members often participate in pilot versions of programming, where we test different concepts prior to a broader rollout.
In this issue, we have reflection pieces from our two graduating co-chairs of the Student Advisory Board, Mubashir Hussain and Jodi Chui. Mubashir has served on the SAB since his first year at 91直播 and among other things, has helped us to develop the Innovation Fellows program (he was part of our first cohort!), worked to bring increased interdisciplinary participation in the annual Hack-4-Humanity event, and has developed the year-end Entreprelooza program. Jodi has been part of Idea Lab and Prep School and is a constant source of thoughtful ideas and feedback across the Center.
It’s easy to learn more about student-led entrepreneurship at 91直播. Come mingle with a broad community of SCU entrepreneurs at the BVA Cafe event, held every third Thursday of the month at the BVA House just behind The Hut. On May 17th, join the annual SAB-led Entreprelooza in SCDI from 10am-2pm, or come watch our annual Business Pitch Competition (Lucas Hall 126 starting at 6pm).
