Tomorrow’s leaders need us to provide ample opportunities

Our community and business leaders have sent the nonprofit organizations of this region a strong message. Because of the downturn in the economy, they can no longer support duplicate organizations that are not meeting the educational and economic needs of the community.

Jeannine Marx
Special to The Spokesman-Review

Consequently, it has become incumbent upon groups working to create opportunities in technology and other fields to re-examine the niche they fill, setting aside agendas, financial turf wars, educational and organizational egos in support of a collective vision. A handful of opportunities will emerge from that exercise, one of them the chance to work with young people bitten by the entrepreneurial bug.

Wanting to participate is half the battle. Which organization provides the resources and who gets credit for the success is not important. Our young innovators and entrepreneurs need encouragement.

Technet was created 13 years ago because no existing organization supported giving the technology industry a voice and a forum for synergy. Tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and innovators need a similar boost. It is one of the many valuable lessons learned from Technet’s series of Entrepreneurial Boot Camps.

Student interaction with entrepreneurs and volunteer consultants during the Boot Camps sparked an interest in technology and innovation. A need exists to fan that creative fire at any early age. Various programs available to teenagers through their junior and senior high schools introduce students to the business world. Business organizations can help them explore it.

An ongoing effort must be made to create opportunities that carry and sustain the entrepreneurial interest of our students through school and beyond. This is where long-term opportunity exists in the Inland Northwest, especially with young girls and minorities. They are a big part of our region’s emerging and future innovators and entrepreneurs.

Support and mentoring programs could target female junior high, high school and college students and graduates to match them with existing women of innovation, industry and influence. This is an opportunity for true collaboration, to better utilize existing resources and meet the region’s needs.

With the cuts in educational budgets it is essential that we work together to garner private and government grants that will be vital to sustaining this model. Development of the model within the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene corridor should be done with an eye toward applying the lessons learned to surrounding Inland Northwest communities to create a wide-reaching regional program.

Significant improvements to K through 20 technology, innovation and entrepreneur educational programs would be the result. Melding the fundamentals taught in school with the practical applications demonstrated by seasoned business executives creates a compelling discovery process for students.

Technet has already begun to lay the groundwork for such an endeavor. Its Women of Innovation series offers student guests mentoring, role models and formal networking. The series, in conjunction with partner National Association of Women Business Owners, will host its next installment on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. at the Spokane Club.

September’s keynote speaker is Bettie Steiger, a 1956 graduate of Washington State University recently recognized as the school’s 2003 Woman of the Year. Steiger, who holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, a master’s degree in secondary education, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, is a futurist with a reputation for developing cutting-edge business models and introducing marketing savvy to successful companies such as Xerox PARC, where she served as a top-level executive for several years.

Exposure to that kind of leadership and experience is powerful for students preparing themselves to enter the work force. By facilitating access, we send a strong message about the considerable possibilities that exist within the region. Each introduction provides our children with another reason to stay in the region after they graduate, prepares them to enter the business world and potentially creates jobs.

Although the target audience is women and minorities, all of our children would be encouraged to participate.

A student-focused support program has a simple basis: If a parent has the opportunity to make a difference in the life of their child or another, they have a responsibility to do so. This is one of those opportunities.

For the concept to be most effective, the vision must be widely shared, and participation and support abundant. If we can demonstrate true collaboration with existing women’s national professional organizations and educational programs, private and federal funding will follow.

And, so too will the opportunities for tomorrow’s entrepreneurs.

Jeannine Marx is president of Technet, a Spokane-based nonprofit organization that promotes education and growth within the Inland Northwest’s technology community.

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=081003&ID=s1392768&cat=section.business