Dear friends,
In today’s fast-changing business environment, entrepreneurial knowledge and skills are an important part of our students’ professional preparation. In this issue of eDividend, we highlight how the Carson College prepares students for entrepreneurial success through hands-on education, global collaboration, and research that translates into real-world impact.
One of our strategies to encourage students’ entrepreneurial spirit is to bring in successful entrepreneurs like former NFL quarterback Steve Young to share their personal career insights. In this issue, Young shares how an entrepreneurial mindset helped shape his work both on and off the field, offering students practical lessons that apply across industries.
Another important tool for encouraging students’ entrepreneurial growth is our annual Business Plan Competition, where students from WSU, other universities, and Washington state high schools compete for cash and in-kind prizes totaling more than $61,000. Participants build ventures, forge partnerships, and gain experience they will carry with them in future careers. Our coverage includes profiles of standout teams and a look at how their ventures and professional paths have benefited from the competition.
Our feature on Braydon Morgan, student coordinator for the Center for Entrepreneurship, showcases the impact of cross-disciplinary learning. Morgan, an advertising student earning a business minor and professional sales certificate through the Carson College, is an outspoken advocate for the broad relevance of entrepreneurial thinking. Crediting the sales program in particular as a transformative learning experience, Morgan is a powerful example of the value the Carson College brings to WSU students system-wide.
In an exciting international collaboration, student teams from CamEd Business School in Cambodia traveled to Pullman to present their ventures at the Department of Marketing and International Business’s annual Marketing Symposium. Their participation underscores the value of cross-cultural learning and the role of global partnerships in enriching the student experience.
One of our alumni spotlights features Jeff Browne, a veteran and hospitality industry professional who earned his MBA through Carson College while cofounding Heartwork Brewing in Bloomington, Indiana. Browne credits the MBA program with helping him sharpen his operational and leadership skills—contributions that helped his award-winning brewery succeed in a competitive field.
Finally, we include recent research from the college that examines the tradeoffs of exaggerated language in digital business listings. The study, coauthored by Assistant Professor Chase Potter and doctoral student Zhonghua Zhang, finds that while eye-catching descriptions may reduce the time it takes to make a sale, they can come at the cost of a lower final selling price.
Together, these stories underscore our commitment to equipping students and professionals with the tools to lead, innovate, and adapt in a constantly evolving business landscape.
Warm regards,
Debbie Compeau,
Phyllis J. Campbell Endowed Dean