[:en]HOW TO IDENTIFY HIGH-POTENTIAL FOUNDERS: INSIGHTS FROM A GLOBAL ACCELERATOR[:]
2023-08-01 11:00 - 12:30 UTC
Event Details
The greatest variable in the success or failure of a startup is the Founder, especially at the earliest stages. Still, most investors and accelerators rely on old-fashioned interviews and ‘gut feeling’ to judge Founders. At this live event, Jonathan Greechan (Co-Founder and CEO of Founder Institute) will share insights from FI’s Entrepreneur DNA Assessment, leveraging 14+ years of data and research of top-tier Founders. If you are interested in learning how your organization can make better investment decisions based on social science, you won’t want want to miss this.

Additional Information
To learn more, visit The Founder Institute website.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in The Founder Institute event.

[:en]Bootstrap Your Business to Success[:]
2023-08-02 11:00 - 12:00
When and where

Date and time

Wednesday, August 2 · 11am – 12pm CDT

Location

Online

About this event

1 hour
Mobile eTicket

For early-stage founders, access to funding is crucial to keep the business operating efficiently. Oftentimes, these founders are more intrigued by investor support than other sources of capital and center their strategic goals around securing that support. The problem is that many founders view raising investment as a way out of their problems instead of as a key driver to scaling their business. Thus, they have forgotten how to play the game of business. That’s where bootstrapping comes in.
The Nasdaq Center is delighted to be joined by Emma Joy Obanye, CEO of OneTech, to cover the key elements and best practices of bootstrapping effectively in 2023. Drawing from her vast experience as a founder, Emma will demonstrate why now is a good time to bootstrap and how evaluating your business like an investor can help you develop an bootstrapping strategy that will sustain your business as it continues to grow. Join us to gain actionable guidance on developing and executing your bootstrapping strategy.
Key Takeaways:

How bootstrapping can be an effective driver for business growth and sustainability
How to evaluate your business like an investor to create a strong bootstrapping strategy
How to execute your bootstrapping strategy with success

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Emma Joy Obanye
CEO – OneTech
Emma Joy Obanye is an entrepreneur, advisor, mentor and tech geek from Hackney (in the UK) and has spent the last 18 years building products and leading teams in tech for both corporates and startups.
On a mission to make the UK tech startup ecosystem more inclusive, diverse and equitable, Emma leads OneTech as CEO, which has supported over 3000 individuals with access to knowledge, networks and funding to start and scale their businesses.
An entrepreneur herself, Emma does this whilst splitting her time between OneTech and her new venture The Startup Game, an app and board game about the journey of entrepreneurship.
Emma previously co-founded and exited the award-winning, music-focused loyalty and influencer platform BuddyBounce. Emma was recognised by the Inclusive Boards and Financial Times as one of The UK’s top 100 black and minority ethnic leaders and most recently startups magazine as one of the most influential women in 2022.

[:en]Capital Raising Readiness[:]
2023-08-09 12:00 - 13:00
When and where

Date and time

Wednesday, August 9 · 12 – 1pm CDT

Location

Online

About this event

1 hour
Mobile eTicket

Investor funding can empower startups with essential resources and strategic guidance, but navigating this complex landscape with so many equity options can present itself with challenges. Thankfully, there are resources to help entrepreneurs make sense of it all. The Center is thrilled to be joined by the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to explore the tools they have created to help early-stage entrepreneurs prepare to raise capital. These resources will help you better understand the fundamentals of raising capital as well as the various regulatory pathways that are available to raise capital from investors. You’ll walk away with insights into where capital is being raised and used, as well as a clear understanding of how your business needs to be registered with the SEC in order to offer or sell securities.
Key Takeaways:

What pathways are available to raise capital from investors
Capital raising challenges
Educational resources to inform each stage of the capital raising journey

For more information, please visit the SEC’s Capital Raising Hub.
OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Julie Zelman Davis
Senior Special Counsel, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation
Julie joined the Office in February 2019 as one of the first team members, overseeing strategic projects and serving as Senior Special Counsel. Prior to joining the Office, Julie served as Senior Special Counsel to the Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, an attorney in the Division’s Office of Small Business Policy, and before that as Deputy Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs at the SEC. Prior to her public service, Julie worked on capital raising transactions at the law firm Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP in Boston, MA.

[:en]Invest in Your Brand with Gwen Murray[:]
2023-08-15 12:00 - 13:00
When and where

Date and time

Tuesday, August 15 · 12 – 1pm CDT

Location

Online

About this event

1 hour
Mobile eTicket

When beginning to think about brand identity, it can be easy for our minds to jump to those visual elements like logo, color palette, and font. While these elements can help support recognition and consistency among brand touchpoints, there’s much more to brand identity than what meets the eye! Identifying and communicating a distinctive and valuable Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is essential to differentiating your brand amidst a crowded market. What can early-stage entrepreneurs do to help their business stand out to the right people?
Join us for a lively conversation with Gwen Murray, Fractional CMO at Up & To The Right Solutions, to explore questions that you can ask yourself as you look to convey your USP and differentiate yourself in the marketplace. Gwen’s experience working with both startups and larger enterprises help to inform a brand strategy that any kind of business can adopt to establish a memorable and competitive presence in the marketplace. You’ll walk away with practical guidance and frameworks on how best to develop your brand identity and create a lasting, emotional connection with your customers.
Key Takeaways:

How investing in your brand now can yield positive outcomes in the future
How to differentiate yourself in today’s crowded market
The crucial elements of brand identity beyond logo, color palette, and fonts

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Gwen Murray
Fractional CMO, Up & To The Right Solutions
Gwen Murray is a Fractional CMO and Marketing Strategist. It can be hard to manage a holistic marketing strategy when things are moving at a fast and furious pace. With executive level marketing experience from Fortune 500’s (Amazon, Staples, L’Oreal) to smaller technology startups, Gwen helps her clients create GTM strategies that result in increased revenue, drive brand awareness, and generate full-funnel engagement. She started her company, Up & To The Right Solutions to help CEO’s and Founders create innovative campaigns that cut through the noise and show traction.

[:en]IMPRESS INVESTORS WITH YOUR PITCH DECK: A STEP BY STEP SYSTEM[:]
2023-08-16 12:00 - 14:00
Event Details
With the fundraising winter upon us, don’t let your pitch deck be an obstacle to your raise. Join us at this interactive webinar to seriously upgrade your pitch deck! In this session, Sam Eisenberg will share 6 steps to a winning pitch deck- a step-by-step system for crerating pitch decks that will help you build efficiently, effectively, and help your deck win investor attention. After the presentation there we will also have a Q&A and networking session where you can connect with other aspiring entrepreneurs.

Additional Information
To learn more, visit The Founder Institute website.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in The Founder Institute event.

[:en]PRE- CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP[:]
2023-08-22 13:00 - 14:00
Event Details
The Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (OMSDC) is one of 23 affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), a nonprofit corporate membership organization that advances business opportunities for its certified Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American business enterprises and connects them to its corporate members. One of the country’s leading corporate membership organizations, NMSDC was chartered in 1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for minority businesses of all sizes.

Additional Information
To learn more, click here.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in MSDC event.

[:en]SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT…PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS AND PEOPLE[:]
2023-08-24 12:00 - 13:00
Event Details
In this interactive workshop, attendees will gain an introduction to risk management and recognizing hazards, resources to protect their interests and mitigate risk and ideas to kick-start their risk management program.

Additional Information
Visit SCORE website, to learn more.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in SCORE event.

[:en]BRAND CLARITY: MAKE YOUR MARKETING EASY & EFFECTIVE[:]
2023-08-29 12:00 - 13:00
Event Details
Find out why branding is relevant for everyone to stand out and survive as an entrepreneur. Understand the steps to the brand strategy process and why you shouldn’t spend a dime on marketing until you get brand clarity.

Additional Information
To learn more, visit SCORE website.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in SCORE event.

[:en]HOW TO USE AI IN YOUR DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGY[:]
2023-09-07 13:00 - 14:30
Event Details
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way businesses determine and execute their marketing strategy. In this webinar, we’ll explain the basics of AI and how it can improve your digital marketing, from helping you find the right audience to optimizing your social media content.

Additional Information
Visit SCORE website to learn more!

[:en]Refine Your Revenue Model[:]
2023-09-08 12:00 - 13:00
About this event

When early-stage entrepreneurs are thinking about strategic planning for their business, it can seem like second-nature to focus on long-term goals and sustainability: ensuring that the business has a clear direction and a solid foundation for growth. You may find yourself asking questions like: What’s the most effective sales channels to reach my target audience? How do I price my product without either leaving money on the table or scaring away potential customers? What if something goes wrong? How can I protect my revenue streams? Thankfully, revenue modeling can help!
Join us for a lively discussion with Stacie Sussman, Chief Revenue Officer at RevUp Advisory, to make sense of the complexities involved with Revenue Modeling. Drawing from her vast experience advising businesses on revenue operations and go-to-market strategy, Stacie will guide you through strategies for mapping out your revenue streams to inform elements of your go-to-market strategy, like your pricing strategy and sales channels. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how you can leverage Revenue Modeling to set your offering up for success at launch and beyond!

Key Takeaways:

Understanding the elements of revenue modeling and why they matter
How your revenue model supports your go-to-market strategy
What processes and systems to implement to execute your revenue model

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Stacie Sussman
CRO, RevUp Advisory
I am a seasoned Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) with an impressive track record of over 25 years in advising Executive Teams and propelling businesses to new heights. As a highly experienced Fractional CRO, I have successfully spearheaded over one hundred GTM Strategy, RevOps, and Sales engagements, specializing in constructing robust operational foundations to fuel revenue growth.
My superpower lies in bridging the gap between strategic vision and day-to-day operations, ensuring flawless execution and tangible results. I thrive in advising Executive Teams by offering invaluable clarity to drive business scalability and achieve key performance indicators (KPIs) and goals.
As a Fractional CRO, I become an indispensable member of my client’s Executive Team, working tirelessly to establish and execute operational goals, enhance customer experiences, and secure long-term, sustainable revenue growth. My advisory expertise, GTM strategy acumen, and operational best practices are essential to business transformation.

[:en]Grant Writing Demystified with Special Guests[:]
2023-09-13 12:00 - 13:00
About this event

For many early-stage entrepreneurs, grants hold great potential as a source of fundraising for their business. Grants not only offer essential financial support to the business but also lend credibility and validation to its innovations. However, navigating the grant writing process continues to be a challenge for entrepreneurs, who often find themselves grappling with the intricacies of formulating a clear and persuasive narrative, conducting thorough research to meet the grant criteria, and effectively addressing the specific expectations of the funding entity. What strategies can early-stage entrepreneurs implement to streamline this process?
Join us for a dynamic discussion where we’ll dive into how best to approach each step of the grant writing process from the perspectives of both entrepreneur and capital provider. We’ll help you determine whether grants are right for you and your business, walk you through the application process, and help you ensure that you have all the necessary files. You’ll walk away with insight into the types of questions you’ll see on applications and how to make yours stand out!
Key Takeaways:

How to prepare for the grant writing process
How to write a grant proposal
What comes after you’ve secured a grant

Shereese Floyd
Founder, AI Consultants for Nonprofits
Shereese Floyd is the founder of AI Consultants for Nonprofits — a communications and messaging firm that specializes in artificial intelligence and organizational thought leadership. She is an executive coach with extensive experience in team building, culture, organization design, and facilitation, Shereese has worked with numerous organizations to help them increase revenue through story-based marketing. Prior to starting her own company, she spent over two decades in nonprofit marketing as the director of communications.
Her emotional branding style and storytelling skills have aided in companies making billions of dollars. Shereese is dedicated to teaching people how to use stories to unite people around a cause and to influence behaviors that move people to action. She is an advocate for social change and believes story is the one thing that truly brings the world together.
She has been featured as a thought-leadership expert for leading nonprofit brands such as CharityHowTo, Bloomerang, Network for Good and Nonprofit Learning Lab. She is also an adjunct professor for the Academy of Nonprofit Excellence.
Shereese is an award-winning TEDx speaker and the organizer of TEDxMintStreet. She is an advocate for social change and believes telling our stories is the one true way to change the world. Her work has been featured in Chief Learning Officer, Essence, TEDx, Forbes Entrepreneur Magazine and CEO World. She was recently named one of 100 Women to KNOW in America.

[:en]PRICING TO MAXIMIZE PROFIT[:]
2023-09-16 08:30 - 11:00
Event Details
In-Person event. Doors open at 9:00 AM.
1. Pricing Strategy Overview
2. Successful Approaches
3. Product Mix and Price
4. Market Channel Pricing
5. Pricing Math
6. Forecasting
Many useful team activities to reinforce the concepts.

Additional Information
To learn more, click here.

[:en]2nd Annual Asian American Pacific Island Business Summit[:]
2023-09-18 09:00 - 16:00
Join Us for the 2nd Annual AAPI Virtual 3D Business Summit. Build your business with skills, tools, and resources. Led by industry experts. Attend workshops and networking sessions.
Here is a list of workshops:

AI Digital Marketing
Social Media Marketing & Management
Cybersecurity: How to avoid being scammed
Credit Preparation for a Bank Loan
Starting Your Small Business
Social Selling & Mindset
Protect Your Customers’ Confidential Data
Customer Service & Culture
SBA Lending and Resources
Government Certifications and Contract Work
Participate in an energy and sound healing session!

For more info and Free Registration visit our website: https://aapibusinesssummit.vfairs.com/en/

[:en]Build Your Ideal GTM Playbook[:]
2023-09-21 13:00 - 14:00
About this event

A modern go-to-market strategy targets customers at scale through aligned and automated sales and marketing outreach. Powered by real-time data, it orchestrates omni-channel engagement to reach the right people at the right time. But achieving this is no easy feat; early-stage entrepreneurs face heavy competition from well-established players in the industry with the means to easily leverage customer insights. What can early-stage entrepreneurs do to stand out and drive growth at launch?
The Nasdaq Center is thrilled to be joined by Ben Salzman, SVP of GTM Strategy at ZoomInfo Labs, who will provide guidance on how to build the ideal GTM playbook. You’ll walk away with the insights to take your approach to timing, targeting, and content to the next level to drive greater effectiveness and efficiency from your GTM playbook, plus how to build a GTM ops function that can serve as a foundation for your team.
Key Takeaways:

How to unlock insights from B2B data that can power true account-based GTM
How to rethink your engagement tech plus tools to modernize your GTM playbook
How to leverage automation and AI to scale your GTM and win faster

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Ben Salzman
SVP, ZoomInfo Labs & GTM Strategy
Ben Salzman, SVP, GTM Strategy and ZI Labs for ZoomInfo (NASDAQ:ZI), is a seasoned Go-to-Market (GTM) executive with two decades of experience in advising enterprise tech companies globally. After a decade leading sales teams at Oracle and Google, in 2016 Ben started Dogpatch Advisors, an advisory and research firm that helped companies rethink GTM programs and help design more impactful, scalable GTM playbooks. In 2022, ZoomInfo acquired Dogpatch Advisors and Ben joined ZoomInfo with a focus on GTM Innovation and GTM strategy.

[:en]Fall M&A Bootcamp: The Ultimate Guide to Mergers & Acquisitions[:]
2023-09-27 11:00 - 13:30
About this event

Interested in understanding current best practices in being acquired or acquiring startups in 2023?
The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and our partners will present an update on the current M&A environment, discuss best practices to position yourself for future M&A opportunities, and explore winning strategies for successful transitions. We are pleased to share insights from our expert partners at KPMG, Wilson Sonsini, Woodruff Sawyer, Bank of the West, and Microsoft Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact who have been spearheading recent negotiations and deals in the current climate.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This M&A Bootcamp is intended for executives who are involved in devising and/or executing acquisitions, from CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CTOs, and vice presidents of business development to leaders and teams responsible for identifying and managing successful M&A transactions.

By joining LIVE, you will be able to get your questions answered by our experts during the webinar!
The same Zoom webinar link will be used across all the sessions.

AGENDA
9:00AM – 9:15AM – Overview of the M&A Market
9:15AM – 10:15AM – M&A Strategy for Early-to-Mid Stage Founders
10:15AM – 10:25AM – BREAK
10:25AM – 11:25AM – Growth Through Acquisition: Buy Side Overview and Insights Panel
11:25AM – 11:30AM Closing Remarks

[:en]Communicate Your Brand with Intention[:]
2023-09-29 12:00 - 13:00
About this event

Communication is central to the brand. When effective, it can help you achieve strategic goals not only for your brand but for your business as a whole. Moreso, it can help you understand people so that you communicate with them in a way that is meaningful to them. What strategies can entrepreneurs implement to communicate their brand with the right people in a way that brings value to both the entrepreneur and the stakeholder?
Join us for a lively session with Maureen Chiana, Neuroleadership Trainer and Coach at The Mindsight Academy, who will teach you how to continuously optimize the way you communicate your brand based on feedback to ensure long-lasting stakeholder engagement. Drawing from her experience in neuroscience and emotional intelligence in leadership, Maureen will provide you with the tools to devise highly influential communication strategies and foster more meaningful relationships through a deeper understanding of needs and motivations.
Key Takeaways:

Developing Persuasion Skills: Entrepreneurs will learn how to subtly apply EQ principles to their communication to enhance their persuasive abilities so that you can build stronger relationships with stakeholders.
Strengthening Personal Branding: Entrepreneurs will gain a deeper understanding of the critical role personal branding plays in entrepreneurial communication and strategies to craft a more powerful and authentic personal brand that truly resonates with stakeholders and inspire action.
Optimizing Communication Strategy: Entrepreneurs will discover the importance of regularly reviewing and adjusting their communication strategies to maintain and improve the effectiveness of your stakeholder engagement over time.

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Maureen Chiana
The Mindsight Academy
Maureen, as the CEO and founder of The Mindsight Academy and the Lead To Excel Podcast host. She’s passionate about helping leaders and their teams to reach peak performance levels by drawing on the fascinating field of NeuroLeadership.
Being a NeuroLeadership Facilitator and a NeuroCoach, Maureen innovatively leverages Performance Enhancement Treatment (PET), to help leaders and entrepreneurs rewire their brains to perform at their optimum..
As a seasoned Corporate Consultant, Maureen specializes in Neuro-Leadership and Emotional Intelligence. She has an award-winning reputation as a speaker and is adept at harnessing Neuroscience insights into her facilitation style. Her focus is on empowering a diverse range of professionals, from leaders and executives to business owners, especially fostering the empowerment of female leaders.
At the heart of Maureen’s distinctive approach is a focus on the human brain, which she likes to refer to as the body’s main control center. She equips leaders with the mental tools to make effective decisions under pressure, thereby enhancing their performance on both a holistic and targeted level.
Maureen’s signature strength lies in her ability to help clients shatter mental, emotional, and confidence blocks. She empowers individuals to overcome their limiting beliefs, distorted perceptions, restrictive thoughts, and unconscious biases.
She is steadfastly committed to a global mission: optimizing individual brains to enable people to thrive and lead limitless lives. Her work transforms complex scientific theories into tangible, easily understood applications in her engaging talks and courses, offering a fascinating glimpse into the intricate brain-mind-body connection.
Her clientele includes leaders from prominent organizations such as the National Health Service (NHS) UK, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Siemens Healthineers, PPD, and BD. Maureen’s global impact is evident in her workshops and speaking engagements spanning across the UK, US, Dubai, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, and Africa.

[:en]FRANCHISING: A BUSINESS STRATEGY FOR CREATING WEALTH[:]
2023-10-02 17:00 - 18:30
Event Details
Are you an entrepreneur? Do you have the power to bet on yourself? Can you get out of your comfort zone and embrace change? We will answer many key questions about Franchising as a business strategy as well as the qualities that are most common to successful entrepreneurs.

Additional Information
Visit SCORE website to learn more!

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in SCORE event.

[:en]LOANS, GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS FOR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN 2023[:]
2023-10-05 12:00 - 13:00
Event Details
Join us for an empowering webinar dedicated to supporting and guiding women entrepreneurs on their journey to securing funding for their businesses.
In this webinar, you’ll learn:

Understanding the different funding pathways
Building a Compelling Funding Pitch
Overcoming Gender-Specific Challenges

Additional Information
Visit SCORE website to learn more!

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in SCORE event.

[:en]Enhance Your PR Outreach to Build Lasting Connections[:]
2023-10-10 10:00 - 11:00
About this event

Public relations is your opportunity as an entrepreneur and a business to build and maintain trust and credibility. But it’s easier said than done. You may ask yourself: How do I define a messaging strategy that will resonate with the right people? How should I initiate and nurture relationships with relevant organizations and media representatives? What can I do to stand out among potential competition?
Join us for an insightful discussion with AirBnB and the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs to learn strategies around outreach, follow-up (and follow-through), and relationship building that you can leverage for public relations success. You’ll walk away with the guidance needed to seamlessly manage your public relations strategy no matter where in your business journey you find yourself.
Key Takeaways:

Outreach — Tailor your outreach messaging and leverage various media channels to connect with organization leaders and media representatives.
Follow-Up (and Follow-Through): Understand best practices and implement a feedback loop in your PR communications to help inform continuous improvement of your offering.
Relationship Building: Foster meaningful engagement long-term and employ continuous learning to improve PR strategy as market landscape evolves.

Special Guests:

James Oliver, Jr.
James Oliver, Jr. is a 3X founder and CEO of Kabila, a co-founder matching app focused on inclusion, and founder of the ParentPreneur Foundation, which empowers Black ParentPreneurs, so they can leave a legacy for their beautiful Black children.

[:en]Market Update: Selling to Enterprise[:]
2023-10-13 12:00 - 13:00
About this event

In 2022, corporations, businesses, investors, and governments realized the recession was going to last longer than expected. As a result, in Q1 2023, you saw massive layoffs of about 15% in order to adjust to inflation, spending, and market conditions. Then, AI sent shockwaves through the market and in Q2 2023 all non-core spending froze as the C-suite restrategized. Today, companies have a rough idea of where they want to go and have the budget to test new tech. How will you and your business respond when selling to enterprise?
The Nasdaq Center is thrilled to welcome back Whitney Sales, Operating Partner at Forum Ventures, Founder, and Creator, to discuss how entrepreneurs selling to enterprise can adjust to changing dynamics, break through the noise, and capture scarce spending from the right customers. You’ll walk away with the insight necessary to make more informed decisions when selling to enterprise given the current market landscape. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to take advantage of the peak in the market!
Key Takeaways:

Key changes that are impacting enterprise decision-making
How to build your budget from nothing
How to map your marketing to your market’s rhythm

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Whitney Sales
Founder & Creator
Whitney is a four-time VP of Sales, all of which were on the INC5000 Fastest Growing Companies List. She is an experienced investor and advisor, with a deep understanding of the B2B SaaS market. Whitney ran Forum Venture’s HQ accelerator in San Francisco for 3, invested in 200+ B2B SaaS companies, and helped raise Forum’s first seed Fund. She has a proven track record of success in leading and managing high-performing sales teams. You might have seen her as a speaker at Saastr, Collision, or LAUNCH. She’s currently working as an operating partner at Forum, mentoring for HBS’s entrepreneurial sales course, and running a GTM advisory practice called The Sales Method.

[:en]PMO Mindset: Become Fulfilled in Your Work[:]
2023-10-18 15:00 - 16:00
About this event

1 hour
Mobile eTicket

Agile, Scrum, Lean: there’s a reason why Project Managers and PMOs implement these practices and so many others into their work each day. The result is a structured and systematic approach that leads to higher-quality outcomes and improved communication. But project management is about more than just results for the business; it’s also about implementing strategies that improve your personal workflow and even bring you joy in your work.
The Nasdaq Center is delighted to be joined by La Juana Chambers Lawson, Founder and CEO at Tacit Growth Strategies, for an uplifting yet practical discussion on the ways entrepreneurs can improve the way they work by implementing a PMO mindset. Drawing from her experience and leadership in the Project Management space as well as her extensive career supporting small businesses, La Juana will illustrate how you and your business can both benefit from implementing project management practices so that you can find greater joy in the work you do.
Key Takeaways:

Actionable insights on ethical decision-making, strategic planning, and Agile project development
Interpersonal skills to address ambiguity and managing ecosystem changes
Deeper understanding of project management, resiliency, values, and philosophies as they each relate to business growth

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

La Juana “The PMO CEO” Chambers Lawson
Founder and CEO, Tacit Growth Strategies
La Juana “The PMO CEO” Chambers Lawson, MPA, PMP, LSSGB, MRP is the Founder and CEO at Tacit Growth Strategies, a leading project management office (PMO) and management consulting firm that specializes in government contracting, grant and proposal writing, impact investment strategy, and comprehensive international business development consulting. La Juana has been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Marquis Who’s Who in America (Texas Business Owners), is a San Antonio Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree (2022), and was a Finalist for the National Association of Women Business Owners San Antonio Chapter’s Women Business Owner Awards (2023). She is international best-selling author of “Master Grant Writing: A Project Manager’s Guide” published by River Walk Publishing, a comprehensive guide from the perspective of a grant writing and project management expert that demonstrates how to build and maintain a successful nonprofit or for-profit impact business. La Juana proudly serves as Vice President of the Fair Contracting Coalition | The Report Card Group, Board Vice President of the Bexar County/City of San Antonio U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Lead Continuum of Care (CoC) Agency the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH), Community Advisory Board Member of the River City Federal Credit Union, Director-General of the Global Alliance for Angel Investor and Venture Capital Networks by the esteemed Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Mentor for Trinity University’s MIT Venture Mentoring Program, Mentor for Nasdaq Foundation’s Entrepreneurial Center. Additionally, La Juana is the co-host of Real Management Talk with LJ and Jocelyn, a podcast that is a one-stop-shop for all things nonprofit organization business. Notably, La Juana is the Former President & Board Chairman of the Alamo Project Management Institute (PMI) and Former President & Board Chairman of the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM). La Juana Chambers Lawson is licensed as a REALTOR® and Military Relocation Professional (MRP) with Phyllis Browning Company, San Antonio’s top luxury real estate agency and affiliate of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. La Juana’s favorite quote is:
“I am deliberate and afraid of nothing.” — Audre Lorde

[:en]Expand Your B2B Offering Globally[:]
2023-10-19 14:00 - 15:00
About this event

Extending the reach of your B2B sales efforts on a global level is a significant step that demands meticulous planning and thoughtful deliberation. Maybe you’ve found validity in product-market fit, and you’ve reached a point of financial stability that allows you to expand or you’ve gained the team and resources necessary for expansion. No matter the circumstances you find yourself in, if you want to share your expertise beyond borders, you want to make sure you do it right.
Join us for an informative and actionable session with Kimberly Daniels, President at Mercantile Logistics & International Trade Inc., who will provide insight into the complications of international trade and how to avoid common pitfalls in export and import compliance. You’ll walk away with a deeper awareness of how to conduct global sales while protecting you and your business from potential issues when scaling up.
Key Takeaways:

Understanding international trade compliance
Best practices for engagement with suppliers and government authorities
Pitfalls to avoid with global sales

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Kimberly Daniels
President, Mercantile Logistics & International Trade Inc
Kimberly Daniels has more than fifteen years of professional experience in international logistics. As CEO of Mercantile Logistics & International Trade, Inc. she assists business owners with the importation and exportation of their goods to various distribution locations, including fulfillment warehouses and foreign trade zones. As a small business owner, she is keenly aware of the needs of other small businesses to operate efficiently and effectively, creating her own program, CargoClear®, which smooths costs for clients in providing required customs services.
• Kim holds a Master’s of Business Administration, a Master’s of Science in Law, a Customs Broker License, and a Certificate in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD) from APICS.
• Kim has provided International Trade webinars through a variety of channels as a subject matter expert
• Mercantile Logistics is a certified Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) and a Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) since 2018.
• Foreign Trade Zone customs broker under contract

[:en]CO-FOUNDERS MATCHMAKING: ONLINE NETWORKING EVENT[:]
2023-10-23 12:00 - 14:00
Event Details
Building a great Co-Founder team is one of the most difficult yet important steps in founding a startup. While many founders may start alone, there are multiple benefits of having a Co-Founder, and taking the time to establish a quality team can mean the difference between failure and success. Join us for this fun and interactive event where you will learn best practices for building and formalizing a Co-Founder relationship. In addition, you will have the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs who are looking for a Co-Founder at virtual tables and speed networking sessions.

Additional Information
To learn more, click here.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in The Founder Institute event.

[:en]Forecasts Aren’t Just for Meteorologists: Why Every Business Needs One![:]
2023-10-26 14:00 - 15:00
About this event

Every entrepreneur hopes their business will succeed, but sometimes it can be difficult to determine what factors will actually support or undermine the longevity of their business. Founders early in their business journey or with limited financial knowledge may wonder: How do I develop realistic budgets? How can I best allocate resources? How do I prepare for potential risks and mitigate their impact?
The Nasdaq Center is thrilled to be joined by Niamh Kristufek, Head of U.S. Business Banking at BMO; and Heather Tuason, CEO at ARENA; During this discussion, we’ll explore the significance of forecasting and the impact it can have on your business. Drawing from their expertise in banking and financial management, our special guests will provide a practical framework for proper forecasting that will allow you to focus more time on strategy.
Key Takeaways:

What a financial forecast really is
Why forecasting is important for every business
How to build your revenue forecast and your expense forecast
Stressing your forecast for good times and bad

Registration for the event enters you for a chance to WIN 3 months of FREE CFO Services with ARENA, subject to the Sweepstakes Official Rules.

OUR SPECIAL GUESTS

Niamh Kristufek
Head of U.S. Business Banking, BMO
Niamh Kristufek is BMO’s Head of U.S. Business Banking, responsible for spearheading the growth of their segment across 32 states as they deliver on their commitment to provide innovative products, digital-first capabilities, and simplified customer experiences to help small businesses make real financial progress. Raised by parents who were small business owners, Niamh has a profound appreciation for the vital role businesses play in a strong economy and thriving communities. Her passion for leadership combined with her commitment to eliminating financial barriers to inclusion has led to the launch of Zero Barriers to Business. The initiative is part of BMO’s EMpower commitment aimed at fostering an inclusive economic recovery for all.With over 25 years of experience in the banking industry, Niamh started her career in credit and commercial lending at LaSalle Bank. In 2011, she joined BMO as Vice President, Special Assets Management, specializing in commercial debt restructuring and reorganization. In 2014, she joined BMO’s Credit Risk team and was promoted to the Head of U.S. Business Banking Credit Risk in 2017. Niamh earned her Masters of Business Administration at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Lake Forest College. She serves on the board of Envision Limited, a Chicago-area non-profit serving adults with disabilities through day programing and housing. Niamh resides in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and three children.

Heather Tuason
Founder and CEO, Arena
Heather is a Stanford grad where she studied product design, she is the founder and CEO of Arena, a fintech aimed at supporting businesses with fractional CFO and accounting services. After spending over 20 years in banking it was clear that businesses needed much more than a bank could offer to succeed and thrive! At Arena clients receive a fractional CFO that they can hire as they grow, accounting professionals and experts in early stage, growth stage and exit stage companies. We pride ourselves in watching our clients achieve the optimal profit margin for their business while proactively managing their finances.
Heather is based in Northern Virginia, has 4 children and likes to spend time outdoors. She also likes to travel and can often be seen working from a new location just about every week.

About Arena:
Arena provides CFO services simplified to businesses across the U.S.! Now any business can operate as efficiently as a large company with our “Tech & Touch” fintech platform. Our mission is to empower businesses to achieve their strategic goals. Providing active management of their finances and regularly measuring performance against their goals. Named for the renowned Teddy Roosevelt speech given in 1910, Arena is built for the entrepreneur – the man in the arena, the doer of deeds – who dares greatly.
Connect with Arena:

Linkedin
Instagram: @arenaroosevelt
Facebook
Youtube

[:en]Boots to Business Reboot for Veterans and Spouses[:]
2023-11-02 08:00 - 16:00 | 424 N. Riverfront Drive Suite 210 Mankato, MN 56001
Event description
Veterans have the character, discipline and skills needed to succeed as small business owners and entrepreneurs. Wondering what it takes and how you can prepare? Enroll in Boots to Business Reboot.
About Boots to Business Reboot
During Reboot, participants are introduced to the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to launch a business, including steps for developing business concepts, how to develop a business plan, and information on SBA resources available to help. The program is facilitated by subject matter experts from the SBA and their extensive network of skilled business advisors.
Participants that complete an in-person or online B2B Reboot course can elect to further their study through one of many B2B online courses, offered at no cost to Service members, Veterans and military spouses.
The U.S. Small Business Administration empowers veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, military spouses, and family members with programs and services to start, grow and expand their small business.

[:en]Leveraging Generative AI to Build Customer Mega-Personas[:]
2023-11-02 15:00 - 16:00
Date and time

Thursday, November 2 · 3 – 4pm CDT

Location

Online

About this event

This session featuring Jacqueline DeStefano-Tangorra, Founder and CEO at Omni Business Intelligence Solutions (OBIS), is designed to give you the tools you need to harness the power of generative AI in your business, focusing specifically on the creation of hyper-accurate customer mega-personas. We’ll also delve into the role of creativity in driving innovation and staying competitive in today’s AI-driven market. You’ll walk away with actionable strategies for prompt engineering, allowing you to interact more effectively with AI tools like ChatGPT and improve your broader communication skills.
Key Takeaways:

Data Utilization for Customer Insights: how generative AI can synthesize customer data to create customer mega-personas for targeted marketing and product development.
Maintaining a Competitive Edge: how creativity can set you apart from competitors who may be using the same technologies.
Effective Communication with AI: how prompt engineering can improve your interactions with AI systems and consequently enhance decision-making and customer engagement.

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Jacqueline DeStefano-Tangorra
CEO & Founder at Omni Business Intelligence Solutions (“OBIS”)
Jacqueline DeStefano-Tangorra started her professional career at the age of twenty-two years old when she became licensed as a certified public accountant in New York State. After spending five years as a financial statement auditor at a big four accounting firm, she switched into technology consulting to align with a growing passion she had for business intelligence, data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and reporting. In switching her career paths, she pursued and received technology certifications with companies such as Tableau, Google, Adobe, Alteryx, and Microsoft. In October of 2022, she resigned from her role in corporate America to launch her own business and technology consulting firm, Omni Business Intelligence Solutions (“OBIS”) , acquiring over 135 clients and 75+ five-star reviews. In early 2023, she chose to further develop her education and enrolled in an Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”). Since then, she has continued to embrace the capabilities of large language model tech and generative AI in her business, finding unique ways to scale revenue and cut costs. In turn, this caught the eye of major media outlets and earned her company a feature in CNBC, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, and LA Weekly. Jacqueline also shares her expertise on global platforms such as Upwork, delivering a webinar “Scaling Freelance Business Leveraging Generative AI” to a registered audience of over 6,500+ registered attendees and is often hired as an AI Expert talent panelist for company webinars. With a potent blend of expertise in both finance and technology, coupled with a proactive approach to lifelong learning and thought leadership, Jacqueline DeStefano-Tangorra continues to redefine what it means to be a versatile entrepreneur in the ever-evolving landscape of business and technology.

[:en]The Pitch Deck Toolbox: How To Influence Your Audience[:]
2023-11-06 12:00 - 14:00
Event Details
Your pitch deck can make or break your ability to captivate your audience. We’re inviting you to a tailored workshop where our guest expert Dorothy Fulop will introduce the essential components of a persuasive pitch and demonstrate how to craft a compelling narrative. Discover the key elements that grab attention, engage investors or stakeholders, and leave a lasting impact. This event will focus on powerful but often overlooked tools to supercharge pitch decks. The main goal is to introduce branding and presentation principles, helping founders master the art of creating impactful pitch decks for greater success.

Additional Information
To learn more, click here.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register for The Founder Institute event.

[:en]How To Start A Business Without Access To Capital[:]
2023-11-09 12:00 - 14:00
Event Details
In this webinar, SCORE Mentor and Executive Consultant Cynthia Rhodes will guide you through the essential steps of starting a business without relying on external funding. You’ll also learn how to craft a business strategy that positions your venture for long-term profitability. Finally, we’ll teach you how to access capital once your business has gained traction.

Additional Information
To learn more, visit SCORE website.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in SCORE event.

[:en]Boost Your Supply Chain Performance[:]
2023-11-14 10:00 - 11:00
Date and time

Tuesday, November 14 · 10 – 11am CST

Location

Online

About this event

Developing a resilient supply chain strategy is crucial for early-stage entrepreneurs developing products as it directly impacts operational efficiency and the sustainability of the business. That’s why it’s important that each aspect of your strategy is well thought-out and planned early on in your business journey to avoid later disruptions.
This session, brought to you by Airbnb and the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, will dive into the key elements to get started building a strong supply chain strategy so that you can set your go-to-market strategy up for long-term success. You’ll walk away with the insight to establish criteria for supplier selection and evaluate market trends and historical data so that your supply chain is complementary to your business efforts.
Key Takeaways:

Supply Selection and Management: identify and evaluate potential suppliers and establish criteria for supplier selection
Demand Forecasting: accurately predict future demand for products/services and assess market trends and historical data to aid decision-making
Inventory and Distribution: determine optimal inventory levels, employ inventory tracking systems, and select appropriate distribution channels

[:en]Navigating The Future Of Entrepreneurship: From 0 To 1 In AI-Native Startups[:]
2023-11-16 11:00 - 12:00
Event Details
Are you interested in learning the emerging trends in Generative AI, and how you can leverage this technology to grow a business? On this live workshop, three experts on technology and startup growth will outline a well-rounded roadmap for success – including customer acquisition strategies that blend AI with sales and marketing, practical steps on building a product, and much more. Don’t miss this opportunity to level up your startup game – register now!

Additional Information
To learn more, click here.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register for The Founder Institute event.
