Page 3 - Spring 2019

FEA TURED S T ORIES

FACULTY PROVIDING THE INSIDE
SCOOP ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP

continued fr om cover
When Nicole Wilde, marketing instructor, is
not teaching, she’s often working on her own
Educating students to think like entrepreneurs has
business—Love Creamery.
been an active and growing focus for LSBE. Since the
inception of the school’s entrepreneurship major and
She also melds the two, using her own business
minor in 2014, 32 students have graduated with the
experiences in her marketing classes. “I am very
entrepreneurship major and nine with the minor.
open about my business—both the good and the
bad. I believe that sharing real-world experiences
The entrepreneurship program combines a cross
helps students grasp concepts more easily. I can
section of core business foundations that are applicable
use my business as a bridge between theory and
in most business careers—management, marketing,
real life application.”
finance, business law, and, of course, entrepreneurship.
Love Creamery—an ice cream company that
Entrepreneurship students have ample opportunity
creates varieties, including vegan and dairy free,
to bring the classroom to life through a vast variety
using local and sustainability sourced ingredients—
of mediums. Students can help plan the UMD
was an idea early on in Wilde’s life.
Entrepreneurship Conference—an entirely student-
run initiative, which brings established entrepreneurs
“I have always wanted my own company—one
to campus to share experience and insight. Another
that could make an impact in some small way
student-run endeavor is a business plan competition
beyond just making money,” Wilde said. “My first
where budding entrepreneurs work with a mentor
job was at a custard store, so I was introduced to
and pitch their business idea or product to the pros.
the ice cream business at an early age. Also, I’m
Additionally, the Student-to-Business initiative connects
passionate about food and farming.
students with local businesses where the students
apply classroom knowledge to help solve real issues
“I researched a lot of business ideas but landed on
affecting businesses. Direct contact and interaction with
ice cream based on these personal aspects, the fact
entrepreneurs is a priority in LSBE.
that ice cream is a beloved American treat, and that
I could make it from local ingredients.”
To further these types of opportunities for both budding
entrepreneurs and intrepreneurs, LSBE is planning the
Four years of extensive planning led Nicole to sell
creation of an Entrepreneurship Center.
her first scoop in 2014 out of a small dipping cart
made by a friend. She now owns a retail store in
“The center would allow us to pull our many successful
Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, has wholesale
entrepreneurial initiatives together under one roof and
customers, and still sells out of a dipping cart.
implement even more that would enhance our students’
participation in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem,”
said Amy Hietapelto, LSBE dean.
Through LSBE’s commitment to entrepreneurship
with qualified faculty, enhanced experiential
learning opportunities, and contact with established
entrepreneurs—the quantity and quality of
entrepreneurs and intrepreneurs continues to grow.

Please visit the back page of this newsletter
to learn how you can partner with us on the
Nicole Wilde (right) dishing up ice cream in Love Creamery
creation of our Entrepreneurship Center.

PG. 3
UMD LABO VITZ SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS PG. 3