Local leaders share first-hand business tips as DWU celebrates entrepreneurs

MITCHELL — When it comes to entrepreneurship, the first thing many people would think of is starting up a business.

That is truly part of the concept, but it’s also much more than just that, according to leaders at Dakota Wesleyan University. That was part of the message Friday afternoon at the Pratt Room at the DWU School of Business, Innovation and Leadership, where local entrepreneurs and civic leaders spoke about the challenges, triumphs and benefits that come with having an entrepreneurial mindset.

“Rather than focusing on helping young people start businesses, while we support that, we’ve shifted our focus to creativity, problem-solving and innovation in the workforce, whether as an entrepreneur, as a contributor or where you are in the organization,” said Diana Goldammer, director for the Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship and MBA program director at DWU. “That’s where we’re at with our students, because our students are not the typical age of an entrepreneur. A typical entrepreneur is 45, and our students are 18 to 22.”

The gathering was the first time the school was formally celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week, which celebrates and empowers entrepreneurs in every country and community around the world, especially those individuals who face structural barriers or may have never considered the idea of launching a startup, according to the website for DECA, an organization focused on preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for college and careers.

The lessons learned through the Kelley Center can help interested individuals in their efforts to start a business, but they can also be applied anywhere the student happens to find themselves in the workforce, Goldammer said.

“We are meeting them where they are, which is in learning how to be creative, innovative and problem solvers within the organizations they hope to join,” Goldammer said. “That’s what we’re really working on, and we’re publicizing that effort, as well.”

Dozens of Dakota Wesleyan students and members of the public gathered on campus to hear from a number of presenters, including business owners Shelly Selland, Emily Hohn and Allison Russell, all of whom shared stories about the trials and successes they experienced in getting their own startup off the ground.

Moderated by Ashley Kingdon-Reese, the 2024 Kelley Center Entrepreneur in Residence, the trio covered a wide array of topics, including their backgrounds and advice for students thinking toward the future. There was a bit of advice on business partnerships, seizing opportunity when it presents itself and understanding that owning and operating a business is difficult, especially in the beginning.

Later in the panel, Kingdon-Reese asked the three what kind of advice they would give the students in the room, based on their past experiences.

Selland, who owns Tailored To You Medical Aesthetics, stressed the importance of a positive mindset, which she said holds true as an employee as much as a business owner.

“Going into the workforce, you first need to look at being very positive in your role. Instead of going to your managers with negative things, what will set you apart is being someone who is going to them with how you’re going to solve a problem that you see or perceive,” Selland said. “It’s just a lot easier for a manager to help you through that transition if they can understand what your concerns are.”

Hohn owns Anytime Fitness outlets in Mitchell and Madison after having previous dreams of being a college softball coach. She had perspective on the challenges of working with business partners and mentorship, both of which she had gained in her role as a business owner.

Finding the right people to support you is vital to business success, and furthermore, job satisfaction.

“Pay attention to who you surround yourself with,” Hohn said. “Audit your friends and coworkers. Who you surround yourself with is a direct reflection of your character, and that will directly reflect in the workplace for you too.”

Russell, who owns Twisted Wire Design, stressed that a student’s viewpoint will likely change as they get older and gain more experience in the workplace. Life immediately after college graduation is stressful, with pressure to find a job and social life.

Having a clear vision of what one wants to accomplish in a career can make work more satisfying and, in the long run, successful. The worries about paying for a car or house will fade as the vision becomes more clear, she said.

“After I had worked with multiple companies and been an entrepreneur, I actually find that what has guided me the most is what kind of person I want to be, regardless of what role I’m in, if it’s in work or the community, or in my parenting life. And then, what kind of impact can I leave?” Russell said. “And if you do those things, you’re going to work harder. You’ll be proud of what you’ve done and commit to excellence. … In the end, what makes the difference is whether you feel good about what you’re doing in life.”

The afternoon also featured comments from Jordan Hanson, mayor of Mitchell, and Dan Kittle, president of Dakota Wesleyan.

“(Failure) is not always a bad thing. You don’t know what you don’t know until you try it. I make a ton of mistakes, but at that point you have two options. Either pull back, or you push forward. And I’m the kind of guy that pushes forward and makes sure that the next event or whatever I do in the future goes better,” Hanson said.

For Kingdon-Reese, the gathering and the week of celebration was a chance to reflect on her own experiences and the role that Dakota Wesleyan University played in her own rise in business. She said she was making a $5,000 donation to the Kelley Center as a way to give back, something she challenged others to do as they saw fit, as well.

Dakota Wesleyan continues to think outside the box when it comes to developing young members of the workforce and future entrepreneurs, and that is to be valued, she said.

“When you get to a point of giving back and appreciating those who supported you, remember Dakota Wesleyan. I’m so proud to see this institution go beyond and start to look at innovation and entrepreneurism in a broader spectrum,” Kingdon-Reese said. “What can we do to support businesses? What are you looking at for the workforce? What can we focus on in our grads to make them well-suited? Because in South Dakota, we don’t want to just grow them, we want to keep them. And DWU does a really good job of laying that foundation.”

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