Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship

Join us for a day of grit, reinvention, and purpose-driven success stories that will challenge your thinking and energize your next move.

Join the Center for Entrepreneurship on  Friday, November 14, for the 23rd Annual Entrepreneur Summit for a full day of insight, connection, and real-world inspiration. After canceling last year’s summit due to Hurricane Helene, we’re back with a renewed sense of purpose and a theme that couldn’t be more timely: Resiliency.

This year’s lineup features Natalie Johnson, Paul Storm, and Gaurav “G” Patel, entrepreneurs and leaders who know firsthand what it means to face setbacks, rethink everything, and come back stronger. Their stories span industries and continents, but all center on the power of staying grounded, thinking boldly, and leading with clarity and conviction.

Whether you're launching your first idea, growing a business, or simply figuring out what’s next, the Summit is your chance to recharge your mindset, grow your network, and gain real tools for the entrepreneurial road ahead.

REGISTER HERE.

Grandfather Mountain Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union | 9:30 a.m. Doors Open (coffee, scones, and networking) | 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Welcome and Speakers

The Energy Shift: Your Competitive Edge in Work and Life

Natalie Johnson knows that in today’s nonstop world, the real competitive edge isn’t time, it’s energy.

Whether you're in business now or a student preparing to launch your own venture, learning to manage and elevate physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual energy is game-changing: it fuels sharper focus, better decisions, and the resilience needed to navigate uncertainty.

This energizing and interactive session challenges the myth that stress and burnout are simply part of the entrepreneurial journey and replaces it with practical tools for showing up with intention, courage and most importantly – energy.  You’ll walk away with fresh insight, science-backed strategies, and a renewed ability to sustain your energy, not just for yourself, but for the teams and businesses you’re building.

Reboot and Reinvent: Scaling Across Disciplines in a Rapidly Changing World

Paul Storm doesn’t just build companies, he builds what’s next.

With a career spanning industrial engineering, cybersecurity, and AI-powered startups, Paul understands the importance of pivoting quickly and scaling effectively. In this talk, he unpacks how to navigate shifting landscapes, lead through technical complexity, and stay resilient when the rules of the game keep changing.

For founders, engineers, and future disruptors alike, this is your front-row seat to entrepreneurial evolution in action.

From Rock Bottom to Real Estate: The Entrepreneurial Power of Starting Over

Gaurav “G” Patel’s story isn’t a highlight reel; it’s a comeback story.

From the depths of personal loss and bankruptcy to building a portfolio of thriving businesses in hospitality, consulting, and real estate, G shares what it really takes to rebuild when everything falls apart. This candid session dives into the mindset shifts, tactical pivots, and daily disciplines that fueled his rise—and offers a blueprint for anyone facing hard resets in life or business.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you can start over, this talk is for you.

Parkway Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union | 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Unlocking the Resilience Superpower Within Student Entrepreneurs

William Lewis brings hard-won lessons and deep insight from decades of work at the intersection of leadership, culture, and belonging. As the founder of WillHouse Global and co-founder of The Intersection, William has guided institutions and businesses through the challenges of creating workplaces where courage, clarity, and community thrive.

In this candid and inspiring luncheon keynote, William explores how resilience isn’t just an individual trait but a collective superpower that student entrepreneurs can unlock to navigate setbacks, adapt to change, and build ventures with staying power. Drawing on real-world, trial-by-fire experience in leadership and culture transformation, he offers practical tools to help the next generation of leaders strengthen their inner resolve while cultivating environments where everyone can excel.

If you’re ready to discover how resilience can shift from buzzword to blueprint, William’s talk will show you the way forward.

Grandfather Mtn. Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union | 2 to 3:30 p.m.  

WORKSHOP: Step Zero with Erich Schlenker, Managing Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship: 

We all have hopes, dreams, and expectations for our life. To achieve our goals, we know we need to plan, prioritize, and work hard. But before all that, we need clarity on who we are and what we want. We need to feel empowered. We need motivation to get us up and moving. That’s where Step 0 comes in.

This workshop has helped nearly 100 students, staff, faculty, and community members begin their journey of setting out to accomplish their own compelling goals!

Parkway Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union | 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

The Big Idea Pitch is an energizing showcase of entrepreneurial thinking at its earliest stage!

Ten student finalists, from any major across campus, will take the stage to pitch creative, scalable ideas in three minutes or less.

Whether they plan to pursue the idea or not, each student will receive feedback from a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs and compete for cash prizes, including an Audience Choice Award!

We’re looking for bold thinkers and creative problem-solvers with ideas worth sharing. Learn more and apply to pitch HERE.