Business leaders and entrepreneurs invited to participate in social enterprise event

Northwestern College’s Center for Innovation & Leadership and Department of Biblical and Theological Studies are co-sponsoring a webinar and networking event, “Social Enterprise: Entrepreneurship and the Common Good,” on Friday, April 14.

The event will begin with a Zoom panel at 9 a.m. providing an overview of social enterprise—the intersection of business, entrepreneurship and theology. The second Zoom panel, at 10 a.m., will focus on social enterprise and the common good, with entrepreneurs exploring how social enterprise provides a way for individuals and communities to work for transformation and the flourishing of all creation.

Among the webinar’s panelists will be Dr. Jim Kucher, associate professor of social innovation in the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, Baltimore; Baylee Eby, co-founder of Dreamer & Co, a social impact jewelry company that seeks to help young women in the Horn of Africa flourish; and Kenny Clewett, executive director of Hello Europe, which provides resources and leadership to accelerators around Europe as well as the European Migration Summit.

Participants will have the opportunity to network over free food from noon to 1 p.m. at Maria Magdalena Reformed Church, 305 N. Main Ave. in Sioux Center. The purpose of the gathering is to connect business leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs with resources, such as accountants, bankers, lawyers and financial advisers.

“Our goal is to help people understand what social enterprise is, learn how entrepreneurship with mission is happening around the world, and why Northwestern College is now involved in this space with a social enterprise major,” says Dr. Erica Vonk, director of the Center for Innovation & Leadership.

Admission to the webinar and networking event is free. Translation services will be available. For more information and to register, visit nwciowa.edu/social-enterprise-event.

Northwestern’s social enterprise major will empower you for a career that invests in communities and makes a difference, helping you grow as a Christian, leader and entrepreneur. In addition to learning the basics of nonprofit operations, you’ll practice key business skills, like working with balance sheets and employee management. You’ll learn from faculty in a wide variety of disciplines—including profs who have served as ministry leaders, project managers and social researchers.