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Women of Distinction

TiE San Diego brings

Global Entrepreneurship

to Our Youth

We recently had very select group of in-
the pleasure of meeting dividuals from a specific
some amazing women area in the world, to one
who are integral parts of the largest non-profit
of the local chapter of a business networking or-
global organization. The ganizations in the world
organization is The In- embracing members
dus Entrepreneurs (TiE), from all over the world.
founded in 1992 in Sili- There are currently
con Valley by a group of 15,000 members (in- Twelve years ago,
successful entrepreneurs, cluding over 3000 char- “TiE’s Young Entrepre-
corporate executives, ter members or mentors) neurs” (TYE) program
and senior professionals in 61 chapters across 14 was created. The mission neurship for high school
with roots in the Indus countries. Their con- of TYE is to help foster age youth. business ideas to meet
region. I came upon ferences have featured the next generation of The 2020 class the current situation we
this organization while keynote speakers such as entrepreneurs. It is a learned firsthand how are all facing. They took
speaking with Merrin Elon Musk, Dr. Sanjay huge mission, but one to generate ideas, solicit ideas that involved face-
Muxlow, their Executive Gupta, Arianna Huff- that they have managed customer feedback, to-face interaction and
Director in San Diego. ington, Deepak Chopra, to successfully create create a lean business were able to revise them
Merrin then introduced and Larry Page, just to and deliver. High school canvas, market prod- to become virtual busi-
me to Deval (“Dev”) name a few. Their global students are taught, ucts and services, and nesses-a clear sign of the
Zaveri who, until re- conferences garner the mentored, and judged by hone their “pitch” skills level of insight possessed
cently, was the Chapter attention of people from successful entrepreneurs over the course of the by these young men and
President of TiE South all over the world and and business profession- program. The culmina- women.
Coast San Diego, and are widely attended each als from TiE, working in tion of the program is The three women
Manisha Phadnis, who is year. Unfortunately, with teams with a mentor to the TYE Business Plan with whom I had the
an extremely dedicated Covid-19, this year’s present their product/ Competition, where pleasure of speaking
volunteer who has gone conference has been service idea to a panel these students pitch their were TiE Chapter
above and beyond to postponed and resched- of judges at the local ideas. The local winner President Dev Zaveri,
make TiE’s youth pro- uled for September, but competition. will then compete in the Executive Director
gram flourish. don’t be too concerned, This year, the San TiE Global competition, Merrin Muxlow, and
The mission of TiE is with the people involved Diego Chapter hosted held virtually this July. Volunteer and Parent,
to Foster Entrepreneur- in TiE there is no doubt their 10th TYE class in Having spent time Manisha Phadnis. As
ship through Mentoring, this year’s event will be partnership with the with some key women with any organization,
Networking, Education, bigger and better than Entrepreneur Academy. in this organization, it is only as strong as
Funding, and Incubation. ever. Before the shift to virtual I learned about the its members and their
With a focus of giving What originally programming, classes incredible business ideas commitment of time
back to the community, caught my eye with this were held on rotating generated by our local to ensure that there is
TiE’s focus is on gen- organization is their de- Saturday mornings at teams. Not knowing growth and success with
erating and nurturing sire to teach our children The Rady School at what would happen with each undertaking. These
the next generation of about the incredible UCSD in La Jolla. The the unexpected turn of three women have some
entrepreneurs. world of entrepreneur- program is run entire- events and the need for incredible stories, which
TiE has grown from ship, and how they too ly by volunteers, with sheltering in place, these seem to be at the core
a great idea for a local can be active partic- members of TiE pro- bright young entrepre- of why they took active
entrepreneurial group ipants in making the viding a comprehensive neurs even managed roles in this outstanding
run and attended by a world a better place. crash course in entrepre- to retool many of their organization.

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