Executive Director Bruce Leech's Message
Greetings and Happy Fall! As the warm summer weather continues, Fall is just around the corner. This is my favorite time of year with the colors of Northern Michigan, football and being in school last weekend! Yes, I was at Notre Dame last weekend in school with other entrepreneurship educators to share best practices on teaching entrepreneurship. During the conference, I encountered some interesting information:

  1. Over 75% of high school students recently surveyed, said they want to have their own business someday, the demand for entrepreneurship education has never been stronger.
  2. Approximately 85% of startups are survival or lifestyle businesses, managed growth businesses are about 14% and aggressive growth businesses are about 1%. We need to focus and help our students/alumni start and grow basic businesses and not always focus on the potential unicorn, which is extremely rare. 
  3. Entrepreneurship Centers are becoming profit centers for the university, unique in academia. Centers are also very relevant to the local community and making strong connections with alumni.
  4. Entrepreneurship is about competency skills, not just starting a business. Entrepreneurship empowers and transforms students, it is a way of thinking and acting. Having an entrepreneurial mindset is a life skill that will serve you well no matter where you work. 
  5. Entrepreneurship education should focus on competency based learning; opportunity recognition and assessment, risk management/mitigation, conveying a compelling vision, creating problem-solving, tenacity and perseverance, resource leveraging, guerrilla skills, value innovation/creation, maintain focus and adapt, resilience, self-efficacy and building networks.
  6. Every student is an entrepreneur. Students want to be part of something bigger and change the world.
  7. As entrepreneurship educators, we get to encourage students to dream, we get to let them fail and learn and we get to challenge them to do bigger things. 

So, it was a great weekend and I am very thankful to Dr. Michael Morris who developed the Experiential Classroom, as this was the 21st year of his program. After reflecting on this weekend, I am so blessed to be teaching entrepreneurship and supporting our Center with its extra-curricular activities that complement our coursework to empower and transform our students, our alumni and our DePaul community!

CEC Student Video Podcast Assistant

The CEC is looking for a talented, passionate and hard-working student with experience in video recording and editing. CDM students are encouraged to apply. In this role you will be responsible for several video editing and recording projects, including a podcast series and CEC promotional videos and digital media content that highlight various programs. If you're interested in learning more and applying, please visit:https://bit.ly/3uFAaoO.

Media Publications Intern & Podcast Intern

Code B Magazine is seeking two interns to work on media publication and a podcast! They are currently planning to launch their Issue 3 Magazine and need your help. This past year, Code B Magazine covered Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and NYC Fashion Week’s headlined fashion designer. Take a look at their website www.codeblackmag.com and contact them at info@codeblackmag.com to learn more.
Tide Cleaners Brand Ambassador

As a Brand Ambassador for Tide Cleaners, you will be a fundamental part of the sales team and contribute to the growth and development of their brand by acquiring new customers to try their service. In this role, you will set up and host events for local luxury apartment communities and commercial buildings where Tide Cleaners lockers are placed. You will acquire new guests for Tide Cleaners by distributing marketing collateral and demonstrating how to download the Tide Cleaners app and place an order. If you're interested in learning more or applying, please email: ramos.vs@pg.com
The Coleman Entrepreneurship Center has curated a list of external and university-wide resources with the latest events, competitions, programs, incubators and more for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Join 1871 on October 20th from 9-12 pm for their Manager Toolkit Series: Coaching & Communication for Maximized Performance event.

In this program, you will learn how to utilize verbal and nonverbal styles of communication to better coach your teams and achieve the best results.

Join mHUB on October 6th from 1-3pm for their Negotiation Basics for Entrepreneurs event.

During this webinar, Assistant Clinical Professor Emily Underwood of The University of Chicago Law School will provide participants with an entry level primer on negotiation.
2112 is Chicago’s first business incubator focused on the development of entrepreneurs in music, film/video and creative industry-focused technologies.

All DePaul students and faculty have access to our office space and programming at 2112.



ISTC is a member-driven nonprofit organization that cultivates technology-based economic development throughout Illinois, offering mentorship programs and startup challenges for students and entrepreneurs. 

All DePaul students & faculty have access to their programming and events.
Support CEC
Questions? Email us at cec@depaul.edu