A photo of Brie Thompson, 2015 Entrepreneur Day keynote speakerThe co-founder of Olivelle will deliver a keynote lecture, “The Power of Confidence: Recognize, Adapt, Overcome,” at the 12th annual Montana State University Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship Entrepreneur Day, set for Monday, Nov. 9. The lecture will be held from 1-2 p.m. in SUB Ballroom A and is free and open to the public.

During the lecture, Brie Thompson will share the story of how she became an entrepreneur and the skills needed to be successful in business and in life. Entrepreneur Day is sponsored in part by Boeing.

Thompson, an MSU business alumna, is expected to discuss how entrepreneurship becomes possible when one understands what she calls the power of confidence and recognizes that every problem, no matter how difficult, has a solution. Thompson will also share how her methods to recognize, adapt, and overcome challenges are not only valuable skills in business, but relevant to all aspects of life. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

Thompson started Olivelle in 2009. Then 22, she had just completed a bachelor’s degree and had no professional experience. Since then, Olivelle has grown from a single retail store into an expansive food manufacturing and distribution operation that imports, exports, consults, wholesales and ultimately seeks to change the way people think about oil and vinegar. Olivelle currently has exclusive supply agreements with more than 30 independent retail shops spanning the country from New York to Alaska and recently opened its first oil and vinegar bar in Canada.

In 2015, Thompson was recognized in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle’s 20 Under 40 awards, has been a featured speaker in Prospera Business Network’s leadership mentoring series and most recently became one of only 15 certified olive oil savants in the world, which is similar to being a wine sommelier.

The MSU Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship hosts Entrepreneur Day as part of its commitment to enhance entrepreneurial spirit and education in the area, as well as improve the economic development of the state. In addition to the keynote lecture, college faculty and current business students will facilitate group workshops during Entrepreneur Day that are designed for high school students interested in business and entrepreneurship.

For more information, contact Linda Ward at (406) 994-1995 or lward@montana.edu.

This event is on the MSU Calendar: https://www.montana.edu/calendar/events/16278