How Do Underdogs Win?
Real stories of grit, courage, and entrepreneurial mindset inspire action.
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Event Details
Join us for a dynamic, podcast-style webinar that brings to life real, inspiring stories of courage, grit, and tenacity. Through engaging conversations and firsthand accounts, we’ll explore how everyday individuals have accomplished extraordinary feats by harnessing the power of an entrepreneurial mindset.
Whether it's launching a grassroots initiative, overcoming personal adversity, or driving innovation in unexpected places, these stories highlight the mindset shifts and bold actions that lead to meaningful impact. Perfect for aspiring changemakers, entrepreneurs, or anyone seeking inspiration, this session will leave you motivated to embrace challenges, think creatively, and lead with purpose.
Speaker Info:
Ellen Lawson
Ellen Lawson is a dynamic speaker and seasoned communicator with a talent for captivating audiences and delivering critical insights. With a deep passion for connecting people to essential information, Ellen has spent years engaging diverse groups, transforming complex ideas into impactful, actionable knowledge. Known for an energetic and relatable approach, Ellen empowers audiences to stay informed, inspired, and ready to take on new challenges.
Gary Schoeniger
Gary Schoeniger is a globally recognized thought leader in entrepreneurial mindset education. His first book, Who Owns the Ice House?, which he co-authored with Pulitzer nominee Clifton Taulbert, has become an international bestseller. As the founder and CEO of the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative (ELI), Schoeniger also led the development of the Ice House Entrepreneurship Programs. With his focus on the entrepreneurial mindset, Schoeniger’s message has influenced a diverse audience ranging from academic, economic, and workforce development organizations to governments, corporate, and nonprofit leaders worldwide including the South African Department of Education, the Colombian Ministry of Education, the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute, the European Commission, and the US State Department.
Hakeem Croom
Born and raised in the vibrant streets of Harlem, New York City, Hakeem’s early life was marked by significant adversity. Separated from his family as a baby, he was placed in foster care, an experience that instilled in him a profound understanding of resilience and the importance of human connection. Despite these early challenges, Hakeem persevered by taking advantage of an opportunity to attend a military boarding school in Virginia during his junior and senior year of high school. Hakeem’s leap of faith led him to break new ground for his family by becoming a first-generation college student – a testament to his unwavering determination.Tragically, his first day of college brought unimaginable loss with the passing of his mother, a pivotal moment that further shaped his perspective on life, loss, and the pursuit of purpose.
Hakeem received his B.A in Economics from Hampden-Sydney College and his M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Sacramento State University. Hakeem currently serves as the Program Manager for Umoja at Victor Valley College, in Victorville California where his work focuses on increasing outcomes for Black Community College students. Hakeem has had a 13-year career in Higher Education that has equipped him with an expansive skillset as a practitioner. He’s served in roles that have added value to Hampden-Sydney College, University of California Davis, Sacramento State University, and California State University Dominguez Hills respectively.