Since its founding in 2016 Florida Gulf Coast University’s School of Entrepreneurship has rapidly grown. Its mission is to infuse an entrepreneurial mindset all across the university by offering an interdisciplinary entrepreneurship major, minor, and graduate certificate.
Besides degrees, the School of Entrepreneurship also offers what’s called the Runway Program, which helps students develop business models and viable products while earning their degrees. There is also a Mentor Program, where faculty and outside business experts offer guidance, and a Faculty Fellows Program which integrates an entrepreneurship mindset into academic departments across campus. The School of Entrepreneurship even helps U.S. military veterans develop business plans and get seed funding.
When our guest today came to Florida Gulf Coast University in 2007 the school didn’t even have a minor in entrepreneurship. But she immediately went to work to change that and is still here today working to grow the program. Dr. Sandra Kauanui is now Director of the FGCU School of Entrepreneurship.
She received her Ph.D. from The George Washington University and has an MBA from William & Mary University. She has more than 30 years of professional experience in the field as an entrepreneur, educator, researcher, and consultant.