N.J. Officials Honor Montclair State For ‘Women Entrepreneurship Week’ Movement

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The state of New Jersey has officially proclaimed the week of Oct. 15 to 22 as Women Entrepreneurship Week in honor of the global movement started on the Montclair State University campus.

The New Jersey Executive Department recently issued a letter to MSU administrators that credited the university with creating and organizing the first-ever Women Entrepreneurship Week in 2014.

“Since women are under-represented as entrepreneurs, it is important to nurture, motivate and encourage women entrepreneurs in an attempt to close this gender gap both in New Jersey and beyond,” the proclamation states.

But the university isn’t stopping there.

According to MSU officials, the 2016 Women Entrepreneurship Week (WEW) - celebrated around the world - will include events on 36 college and university campuses in countries for 2016, including the Dominican Republic and Australia.

In the United States, participating institutions will include Montclair State University, Princeton, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Cornell University and the University of Iowa.

"We are thrilled to have the state of New Jersey officially proclaim Oct. 15-22 as Women Entrepreneurship Week," says Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship Program Manager Sharon Waters. "Women Entrepreneurship Week has become an international movement with events being held this year on every continent except Antarctica, but WEW will always be something with Jersey roots. We love that the largest number of celebrations will be in the Garden State, where nearly 20 universities and nonprofits are holding WEW events."

A pair of events highlight the Montclair State schedule for the initiative, including an Oct. 18 panel discussion titled “Power Play: What Makes Great Women Leaders” featuring Community FoodBank of New Jersey CEO Debra Vizzi, Adenah Bayoh and Companies CEO Adenah Bayoh, Zinn Graves & Field President Ruthi Byrne and Wyndham Destination Network President and CEO Gail Mandel.

A full-day conference on Oct. 19, will feature guest speakers including New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, VP of ADP Client Experience Debbie Dyson, Bedtime Math Foundation Founder and President Laura Overdeck and Turtle & Hughes Inc. CEO Jayne Millard.

The day of events will also feature keynote speaker and professional juggler Jen Slaw, who will deliver a presentation titled “Women: The Master Jugglers! How to Build a Fulfilling and Balanced Life.”

For a full schedule and more information, click here.

Photo: Montclair State University

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