Jenny Al Bahrani gets off to a bright start as first director of TMU Gembrod Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

In just three months as inaugural directors, Jenny Al Bahrani ’05, Thomas More University’s Dr. Anthony ’65 and Geraldine ’66 Zembrod Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Launch Several Initiatives to Prepare Students for Successful Futures Are.

Established to foster academic excellence and innovation, the center emerged from a goal in TMU’s five-year strategic plan: Lighting the Way. The new initiative leverages entrepreneurial ability related to student success both in the classroom and post-graduate from Thomas More University.

While fostering community involvement, the Center welcomes alumni and community leaders to engage with current students, providing them with real-world experience.

Jenny Al Bahrani

In March 2023, a group of students visited the Urbana Cafe in Cincinnati to hear from founder and Thomas More alum Daniel Noguera ’06/’09. Noguera shared his start-up story and answered questions about student entrepreneurial ideas.

Another opportunity for students to connect with community business leaders comes in April 2023, when Blue North Executive Director David Knox visits campus to share information about the entrepreneurship support system in Northern Kentucky.

Ensuring Thomas More’s position as an innovation destination for young entrepreneurs, the center acquires future participants in Square1’s Next program through scholarships awarded to high school students. In March, Square1 held its annual Next High School Final Pitch event on campus. Earning first place was team BLK Beauty from Walnut Hills High School, which included students Sydney Emery, Hannah Ware, Jada Scott, Sydney Brown and Bene Gyan. Everyone receives a full-tuition scholarship at Thomas More University, with their pitch detailing an innovative hair company design.

In a pitch event geared toward Thomas More students, the center will host the 2023 Roebling Capital Saints Shark Challenge on May 3 at Thomas More. The objective of this pitch competition is to promote entrepreneurship among college students by providing them a platform to showcase their innovative business ideas. It’s the result of a semester-long entrepreneurship class taught by local entrepreneur and Thomas More alumnus John Cioffi III ’96.

Students from across the university compete for cash prizes judged by a panel of experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Al Bahrani adds, “We are excited to host the 2023 Roebling Capital Cents Shark Challenge and give our students the opportunity to share their entrepreneurial ideas with industry experts.” “We hope this competition encourages and inspires students to pursue entrepreneurship and helps build a stronger culture of innovation in our community.”

The university’s Business Society is also now housed under the Zembrodt Center, with Al Bahrani serving as an advisor.

The Society, now named the Business Innovation Society, serves all Thomas More students to develop and advance business and entrepreneurial experiences on campus and in the community.

Al Bahrani also created a new entrepreneurship class, Entrepreneurial Mindset, to teach students from all majors how to see problems as opportunities and create innovative solutions. That course launches in the fall of 2023.

Bruce Rosenthal, Ph.D. D., Thomas More’s Robert W. Dean of Plaster College of Business.

“Programming through the Dr. Anthony ’65 and Geraldine ’66 Zembrod Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation will inspire students to discover their passions, hone their strategic skills, and become more!”

Thomas More University

Source: www.nkytribune.com