Entrepreneur-in-Residence Jeanne Callahan to speak April 16
Jeanne Callahan, an entrepreneur, strategist, business development professional and
owner of Social Enterprise Hub, will serve as the Montana State University (MSU) Jake
Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship (JJCBE)’s spring Entrepreneur-in-Residence.
As part of this event, Callahan will give a free public lecture at 6:15 p.m., Wednesday,
April 16, in Reid Hall 108.
In her presentation, “More Than Luck: Why Becoming an Entrepreneur is Not About Winning the Lottery,” Callahan will discuss how people can create a focused approach for becoming an entrepreneur, even while a student. She will also discuss possible career paths that can lead to entrepreneurial opportunities, the benefits of adopting an entrepreneurial attitude, and will dispel the myth of being “lucky” with career choices and opportunities.
As Entrepreneur-In-Residence for the week of April 14, Callahan will also visit business classes throughout the week and meet with students in the entrepreneurship program.
Callahan has experience working in the private, public and non-profit sectors across a wide range of industries. For the first part of her career, she worked for The Walt Disney Company, Fox Sports Net, AT&T and several software startup entities, with an emphasis in developing sales and marketing strategies and writing business plans. While she credits the Fortune 500 companies with teaching her business planning skills and marketing savvy, she learned how to buy, sell, expand and wind down small businesses through trial and error.
While living in Denver between 1996 and 2012, she owned and operated a number of businesses, either on her own or in partnership with others. The businesses included a real estate development and construction company, a retail liquor store, a specialty metal fabrication shop, a landscape design and construction business and a cabinetry business.
Under the auspices of a federal grant from the Economic Development Administration, Callahan designed and launched a women’s entrepreneurship center at the University of Denver Women’s College in 2011. The center became a physical and virtual hub for women-owned businesses in the Denver metro area. She later served as an Executive Business Mentor in the Real Business Experience program at Butler University while living in Indianapolis.
Callahan has an MBA from Columbia University in New York City and a B.A. in International Studies from Miami University of Ohio. She grew up in Erie, Pa., and has lived in Chattanooga, Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, Denver and Indianapolis.
