Highlights from the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program

In May 2004, Gonzaga University will graduate the first class of the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. Nineteen students will emerge from the program with a newfound perspective and respect for the entrepreneur. In our studies of entrepreneurship, we have heard stories of both great success and frustrating failure. However, we are optimistic, determined, and ready to confront the challenges ahead.

ByGonzaga student Brittiny Carter in The Innovator

The Hogan Program has bridged students from the university to the community. Over thirty organizations have opened their doors to Hogan Program student interns and given us our first taste of entrepreneurial organizations. INTEC, Next IT, SIRTI, GenPrime, PC Open, and Conover Bond are a few organizations that have welcomed interns and played an invaluable role in our education. Nearly 50 mentor relationships have also been established between Hogan students and community leaders that provide students with valuable networking opportunities and credible guidance from experienced mentors.

A key component of the program is the senior incubation project. Over the course of two semesters, we undergo the process of transforming an innovative idea into a working business plan. Ultimately, the goal of the project is to secure funding for these new ventures and put the plan into action. The diversity in the projects demonstrates the variety of interests among the senior class, though all of the projects have a technology focus. The project has also served as a powerful tool to realize the importance of collaborative group work. In order to produce a successful business plan, we must utilize each team member’s individual assets and work together to produce a strong and meaningful plan. Some of these projects involve collaboration between local entrepreneurs, multiple departments at GU, and students in other programs.

It is through our internship experiences, the New Venture Lab, incubation projects, and mentor relationships that we discover many critical lessons that are not found in textbooks. We have learned the importance of networking and the added value these relationships can provide both on a business and personal level. We have begun to understand the sheer amount of work that comes with the interminably busy lifestyle of the entrepreneur. We realize the value of service and giving back to the community and have spent countless hours volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and Junior Achievement. We have also experienced the unique atmosphere and energy that surrounds an entrepreneurial organization. It is this energy that inspires us to remain involved with new venture creation well into the future.

The Hogan Program is a tremendous asset for students and for Spokane. Reflecting on the program, senior Sarah Taylor says “As a member of the first class of the program, my peers and I have helped pave the way for what will be a very successful addition to Gonzaga and the Spokane community. The curriculum, professors, internship opportunities, and networking capabilities have granted me skills that I will take with me into future careers, and for that I am eternally grateful.” Through the program, not only have we honed our business skills through practical applications in the community, we have developed relationships that will last long after graduation. Among our classmates, we have a built-in network of resources at our disposal that will prove invaluable in the future. The Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program will continue to foster the entrepreneurial spirit of many Gonzaga students and provide us with the tools to achieve our goals.

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