TEDxClemsonU: Two business faculty members attend TEDx

Download image

December 10, 2024 December 10, 2024

This August, two faculty members from Wilbur O. College and the Ann Powers College of Business gave presentations at TEDxClemsonU. TEDx is a global grassroots initiative that brings TED’s mission to share ideas worth spreading with local communities through independently organized events featuring live speakers and recorded TED Talks. This year’s event, held on August 24, 2024 in the Strom Thurmond Institute Auditorium, was titled “Improving Through Innovation.” During the presentations, Elliott Davis Associate Professor Katherine Kiszka-Schultz spoke about the power of personal innovation and joy, and Assistant Professor of Management Lori Tribble Trudell spoke about the importance of community building.

The Power of Joy, Kathryn Kiszka-Schultz

On January 28, 2017, Kiska Schulze’s life changed forever. On her birthday, she lost her brother Kevin. That moment marked the beginning of a difficult season in her life. She was grieving the loss of her brother while also dealing with other difficult life events. It became impossible for her to find joy.

The combination of stress and sadness soon caused her to fall into a deep depression. Her turning point came about 10 months after Kevin’s death, when she went Christmas shopping with her daughter, Ivy. While searching the local store for a gift, Ivy finds a diary and presents it to her mother.

Ivy explained to her mother that Kiska-Schultz was very unhappy and that writing might help her feel better.

“Never underestimate the actions of young people. At that moment I realized that I had hit rock bottom. My children were the true witnesses of my suffering and pain. , tried to help me in the only way she knew how.”

Kisska-Schulze accepted her daughter’s suggestion and purchased the magazine. The diary sat unused for weeks, but eventually Kiskaschulze made a New Year’s resolution to write down one joy each day for the next year. No matter how trivial or how bad the day was, she always thought about and recorded at least one moment of joy that she wanted to cherish.

She accepted the challenge and by the end of 2018 had captured and recorded 365 moments of joy. Those moments were the first cup of coffee in the morning, hearing my mother’s voice on the phone, the unexpected “I love you” from Ivy, hitting my younger daughter Sierra in the card game Uno, and the unexpected surprise from my mother. It included notes, etc. I was a student and visited my brother’s grave.

Kiska-Schulze liked the process so much that she decided to do it again on January 1, 2019. In fact, as of August 24, 2024, she has recorded 2,424 moments of joy in her life. Through this practice, she learned two profound lessons.

Not every day is joyful, but if you look closely, there is at least one moment of joy every 24 hours. Reflecting on joy will not make life’s challenges disappear or disappear, but it will solve them and change your perspective. Reflect on the joys of your life.

As Kisska-Schulze says, “Joy journaling saved my life. Through the process, I not only recognized the existence of joy, but also the ability to express joy, not only to myself, but to others.” I have become a more understanding and empathetic person.”

As a first-generation college student from a small rural town in Georgia, Lori Trudell understands the importance of community. Growing up in a town of about 1,000 people, she learned that nothing is more important than a supportive and vibrant community, especially when starting a business.

“Where I lived, people basically supported each other. They had to be entrepreneurial and self-motivated to survive.”

Trudel shared a compelling example of entrepreneurship from her own life: her father’s story. With no formal education or training, he taught himself how to raise and sell catfish, relying on determination and a little help along the way to make his vision a reality. In their community, he earned a reputation as the go-to “fishmonger” and fostered relationships that went beyond simple transactions. . Trudel describes this dynamic as a true symbiosis, a mutually beneficial relationship that exhibits an entrepreneurial spirit.

“My father gave back to the community and helped anyone who asked him to. More than that, he gave his time and expertise to those who needed it. ” she explains. “You know, it takes a community to build a community. In my hometown, I had to do it on my own, at least with a little help from friends. I’ve had to do it on my own, at least with a little help from friends. Entrepreneurs need communities like this to lift them up.”

Now, as a professor of entrepreneurship at Clemson University, Trudel studies entrepreneurial ecosystems and, like the town where she grew up, believes the key to an entrepreneur’s success is a supportive community. He says he found out that. Strong leadership, collaboration, communication, and experimentation are the biggest factors that contribute to fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

She says everyone, entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs alike, can benefit from community building, and it’s important for three main reasons.

It fosters innovation. When people collaborate and share resources, entire communities are inspired to think creatively and pursue bold solutions to challenges. Start-up companies in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and innovative technologies often emerge in these environments. That promotes economic growth. It creates job opportunities, retains small businesses, and even attracts large companies and their headquarters to the region. It builds resilience. Entrepreneurs thrive when they have a network of support, guidance, and knowledge sharing. Just like her father’s community comes together to support each other. Modern entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive when people collaborate and unite toward a common goal.

Mr. Trudel’s closing words encouraged others to begin building closer community ties. “Let’s come together and be a creative, collaborative, innovative community that builds success. Let’s build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that uplifts everyone. Let’s be a community that builds community.”