{"id":514730,"date":"2024-11-22T10:12:47","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T15:12:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/?p=514730"},"modified":"2024-12-10T16:20:34","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T21:20:34","slug":"think-and-do-down-under","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/think-and-do-down-under\/","title":{"rendered":"Think and Do Down Under"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-lead\">Faith Williams wanted to get out of her comfort zone when she started college four years ago. Not that she had a choice. Her arrival at NC State coincided with a global pandemic that changed almost everything about higher education. Classes went remote, study abroad trips were canceled and internships dried up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI had a path for myself that was so clear and set in stone,\u201d she says. \u201cBut when I got to NC State, I decided to see what other opportunities had opened up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The biological sciences major found opportunity \u2014 and inspiration \u2014 in a course on business entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMuch of the time I had no idea what the business majors in the class were talking about,\u201d she laughs. \u201cBut I was just kind of enthralled when the professor started talking about leadership and team building. Those were things I talked about all the time. I just didn\u2019t know they played a part in entrepreneurship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the professor divided the students into teams and sent them out to work with different startup companies to solve real-world problems, Williams was hooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNow I was definitely outside my comfort zone,\u201d she says. \u201cBut I also really wanted to understand this. I wanted to go into entrepreneurship. It was like a key in a lock for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-6b-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"Group of male and female students in Australia\" class=\"wp-image-514810\" srcset=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-6b-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-6b-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-6b-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-6b.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">16 NC State students spent six weeks in Adelaide, Australia, soaking up the local culture, immersing themselves in entrepreneurship best-practices and assisting four startups in taking their products or services to the next level.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In May, Williams joined 14 other NC State students for a comfort-zone defying experience of a lifetime: a six-week trip to Adelaide, Australia, where they soaked up the local culture, immersed themselves in entrepreneurship best-practices and assisted four startups in taking their products or services to the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the time the whirlwind excursion was over, Williams and her fellow students were exhausted but proud, calling the trip \u201cincredible,\u201d \u201ceye-opening\u201d and \u201crewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Embedding in a \u2018Startup Ecosystem\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Adelaide trip was offered by the Poole College of Management through Poole Global Programs with support from faculty in the college\u2019s Entrepreneurship Clinic, or eClinic for short. ThincLab \u2014 a business incubator and downtown coworking space operated by the University of Adelaide \u2014 provided classrooms, meeting rooms and other local resources during the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe students were embedded in a startup ecosystem,\u201d says eClinic Director Haley Huie. \u201cThey were learning and practicing at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"has-custombg-six-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">\u201cThe students were embedded in a startup ecosystem. They were learning and practicing at the same time.\u201d<br>\u2013Haley Huie, eClinic Director<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Students completed three courses during the trip, earning nearly a semester\u2019s worth of credit hours in just six weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One course, Doing Business Globally, introduced students to some of the region\u2019s economic drivers such as agritourism, entertainment and the wine industry. It included weekly excursions and meetings with investors, business and nonprofit leaders, and faculty members from the University of Adelaide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another, Introduction to Entrepreneurship, covered some of the key principles of planning and managing an entrepreneurial venture. Lecturer Liz Tracy, an expert in organizational psychology, compressed the curriculum to just three weeks of intensive instruction for the Adelaide trip.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-image-grid\">\n    \n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-image-column\">\n    \n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-9b-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"classroom presentation\" class=\"wp-image-514808\" srcset=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-9b-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-9b-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-9b-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-9b.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Courses included weekly excursions and meetings with investors, business and nonprofit leaders, and faculty members from the University of Adelaide.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-4b-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"Group of students\" class=\"wp-image-514809\" srcset=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-4b-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-4b-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-4b-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-4b.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Huie ticks off a list of concepts covered by the course: \u201cWhat is customer discovery? How do you go out and learn about a market? What skills or abilities do startup founders need to be successful? What does product validation mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That course laid the foundation for Business Opportunity Analysis, a three-week intensive course that divided the students into four teams and assigned them to consult with local startup companies to analyze opportunities and solve real-world problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Williams was assigned to a team working with FreddyMatch, a nonprofit agency that runs an online database for people looking for volunteer opportunities. Founder Roxane Foulser-Piggott asked the students to research a potential expansion opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was a truly international project,\u201d she says. \u201cThey\u2019re students from the U.S. visiting Australia, and I&#8217;m asking them to look at the expansion of an Australian company to the United Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using the tools and techniques they learned earlier in the trip, the students delivered a proposal that identified areas of the U.K. ripe for FreddyMatch\u2019s services, as well as potential government and business partners. They went a step further, suggesting novel ways of engaging volunteers interested in serving Australia\u2019s aboriginal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-1-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Group on a bus\" class=\"wp-image-514748\" srcset=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-1-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-1-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-1-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-1-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tyler Wiersma, Poole College&#8217;s Director of High-Impact Experiences, takes a selfie with the students on a bus excursion. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Foulser-Piggott praised the students\u2019 work, as well as their communication skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey were super engaged and enthusiastic,\u201d she says. \u201cThey had a lot to do in a very short time but they listened to what I wanted and they kept checking in to make sure that their ideas were in line with what I was looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Armed with the students\u2019 research, Foulser-Piggott is preparing to allocate resources for her agency\u2019s expansion to the U.K. \u201cThis is the sort of thing you pay consulting firms to do,\u201d she says. \u201cI was very impressed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u2018Everything is an Experiment\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Foulser-Piggott wasn\u2019t alone. Germin Chan, who came to Australia from his native Singapore in 2019 to earn a degree in computer science, launched a startup called Marsupium two years ago. At its core is a financial literacy app that makes saving money fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The team assigned to work with Chan helped fill in some of the missing elements in his business plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy focus is more on product development, business analysis and financial models,\u201d Chan says. \u201cMarketing is not my forte. The students did quite a bit of market and sales research, including how to engage different influencers to help us promote our product.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their hands-on demonstration of the power of social media left Chan smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI gave them a kangaroo plush toy when we met and they took videos of it all around Melbourne and Sydney promoting my app,\u201d he says, laughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of three weeks, the students presented Chan with a proposed marketing plan that included a budget, time schedule and strategy. He was thrilled.<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"has-custombg-six-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">&#8220;They asked the right questions; they knew what they were doing.\u201d \u2013Germin Chan, startup founder<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy expectations weren\u2019t high at the beginning,\u201d he admits. \u201cI thought they were just coming to Australia to have fun. But I was quite surprised and impressed with the content they delivered. They asked the right questions; they knew what they were doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Huie says building student confidence is one of the goals of the eClinic, which is housed inside a coworking space, Raleigh Founded, in the Glenwood South neighborhood. \u201cWe embed students in the real world,\u201d she says. \u201cIt feels like you&#8217;re going to work versus sitting through a lecture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"has-custombg-six-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">\u201cWe embed students in the real world. It feels like you&#8217;re going to work versus sitting through a lecture.\u201d \u2013Haley Huie, eClinic Director <\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>She and the other instructors brought that philosophy with them on the trip to Adelaide. \u201cWe teach our students that everything is an experiment,\u201d she says. \u201cGo do the experiment. Gather as much data as you can and either poke holes in the hypothesis and fail quickly or come up with credible information that you\u2019re headed in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/Australia-excursion-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"group of students in Adelaide, Australia\" class=\"wp-image-514987\" srcset=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/Australia-excursion-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/Australia-excursion-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/Australia-excursion-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/Australia-excursion.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sight-seeing was also an enriching part of the experience. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Harper Martin, a sophomore in computer engineering with a minor in business entrepreneurship, says his team hit the ground running. They were tasked with helping an app called Cobber raise its profile online. The app helps people buying used furniture connect with local delivery drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Martin says the team played to its strengths, pairing members with tasks they were confident they could complete.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI didn&#8217;t really know what search engine optimization was, but one of my teammates did, so he covered that and I researched how to create quality content,\u201d he explains. \u201cThe other two team members tackled community engagement ideas and other topics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In just three weeks they delivered a tutorial on how to repurpose content from the company\u2019s blog for social media, created a Google business profile, revamped Cobber\u2019s search engine optimization efforts, and fleshed out a marketing plan for the month of July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Leaving Comfort Zones in the Dust<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Zeb Scott, a communications major with a minor in business entrepreneurship, says his team also coalesced quickly. They worked with the founder of Reusably, an app that encourages the reuse of metal cups and bowls at many popular restaurants and coffeehouses in Adelaide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey wanted our perspective on what direction they should go in the future,\u201d Scott says. \u201cShould they stick with the cups and bowls or focus on providing a software platform that other companies could use to track their carbon footprint?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The team did intensive customer discovery, conducting 30 interviews over two weeks. They delivered a set of customer profiles based on three personality types they dubbed \u201cSustainability Sally,\u201d \u201cMiddle-of-the-Road Melvin,\u201d and \u201cDon\u2019t Give a Damn Derek.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They also laid out some business-to-business marketing strategies to help the company target eco-friendly companies that could benefit from their platform.<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"has-custombg-six-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">\u201cIf you&#8217;re able to commit to taking a 25-hour plane flight to the opposite side of the world, you\u2019re going to be up for tackling some challenges.\u201d<br>\u2013Zeb Scott, communications manager<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith only three weeks to do the project, we had to jump in headfirst,\u201d Scott says. \u201cIt was just figuring each other out along the way and learning how to balance each other&#8217;s strengths and weaknesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Much of the time, they were working outside their comfort zone, he says, but that was a feature of the program, not a bug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you&#8217;re able to commit to taking a 25-hour plane flight to the opposite side of the world, you\u2019re going to be up for tackling some challenges,\u201d he says. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be open to things that are difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-magazine-preview  wp-block-ncst-magazine-preview has-custombg-six-background-color\">\n    <h2 class=\"magazine-preview__heading\">More from Poole Business: Fall 2024<\/h2>\n          <p class=\"magazine-preview__teaser\">As North Carolina\u2019s Think and Do business school, we create real value for our graduates \u2014 making a difference not just in their lives, but in businesses and communities across the state.<\/p>\n    \n    <div class=\"magazine-preview__stories-container\">\n      <a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/30-years-and-accounting\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-&lt;img width=&quot;1500&quot; height=&quot;1000&quot; src=&quot;https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/MAC-class-fall2024-1500p.jpg&quot; class=&quot;attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image&quot; alt=&quot;Class&quot; srcset=&quot;https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/MAC-class-fall2024-1500p.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/MAC-class-fall2024-1500p-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/MAC-class-fall2024-1500p-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/MAC-class-fall2024-1500p-768x512.jpg 768w&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px&quot; \/&gt;\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/MAC-class-fall2024-1500p.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n          \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">30 Years and (Ac)Counting<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\"><span class=\"text\">The Jenkins MAC Program\u2019s anniversary celebrates a legacy of impact and innovation \u2014 with excitement for the future.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/thought-leadership-in-review-2\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-&lt;img width=&quot;1500&quot; height=&quot;844&quot; src=&quot;https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/TLR-shutterstock_141377746.jpg&quot; class=&quot;attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image&quot; alt=&quot;Woman on a tablet&quot; srcset=&quot;https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/TLR-shutterstock_141377746.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/TLR-shutterstock_141377746-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/TLR-shutterstock_141377746-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/TLR-shutterstock_141377746-768x432.jpg 768w&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px&quot; \/&gt;\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/TLR-shutterstock_141377746.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n          \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Thought Leadership in Review<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\"><span class=\"text\">This year, Poole faculty experts have captivated a diverse audience by sharing emerging research, exploring trending marketplace topics and addressing national issues and societal challenges.<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/bolstering-the-colleges-ecosystem\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-&lt;img width=&quot;1500&quot; height=&quot;711&quot; src=&quot;https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/donor-hong-1.jpg&quot; class=&quot;attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image&quot; alt=&quot;One male and one female&quot; srcset=&quot;https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/donor-hong-1.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/donor-hong-1-300x142.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/donor-hong-1-1024x485.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/donor-hong-1-768x364.jpg 768w&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px&quot; \/&gt;\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/donor-hong-1.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n          \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Bolstering the College\u2019s \u2018Ecosystem\u2019<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\"><span class=\"text\">The newest Hong family gift to Poole College supports faculty excellence in research.<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/issues\/poole-business-fall-2024\/\" class=\"magazine-preview__link\">\n          <span class=\"text\">See all in current issue<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n","protected":false,"raw":"<!-- wp:ncst\/dynamic-header {\"block\":\"ncst\/default-immersive-post-header\"} -->\n<!-- wp:ncst\/default-immersive-post-header {\"backgroundColor\":\"custombg_six\",\"caption\":\"\",\"displayCategoryID\":46,\"subtitle\":\"Students get real-world experience on the other side of the globe as they apply the principles of entrepreneurship to help startups in Adelaide, Australia\\u003cem\\u003e.\\u003c\/em\\u003e\"} \/-->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/dynamic-header -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"className\":\"is-style-lead\"} -->\n<p class=\"is-style-lead\">Faith Williams wanted to get out of her comfort zone when she started college four years ago. Not that she had a choice. Her arrival at NC State coincided with a global pandemic that changed almost everything about higher education. Classes went remote, study abroad trips were canceled and internships dried up.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI had a path for myself that was so clear and set in stone,\u201d she says. \u201cBut when I got to NC State, I decided to see what other opportunities had opened up.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The biological sciences major found opportunity \u2014 and inspiration \u2014 in a course on business entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cMuch of the time I had no idea what the business majors in the class were talking about,\u201d she laughs. \u201cBut I was just kind of enthralled when the professor started talking about leadership and team building. Those were things I talked about all the time. I just didn\u2019t know they played a part in entrepreneurship.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When the professor divided the students into teams and sent them out to work with different startup companies to solve real-world problems, Williams was hooked.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cNow I was definitely outside my comfort zone,\u201d she says. \u201cBut I also really wanted to understand this. I wanted to go into entrepreneurship. It was like a key in a lock for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":514810,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-6b-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"Group of male and female students in Australia\" class=\"wp-image-514810\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">16 NC State students spent six weeks in Adelaide, Australia, soaking up the local culture, immersing themselves in entrepreneurship best-practices and assisting four startups in taking their products or services to the next level.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In May, Williams joined 14 other NC State students for a comfort-zone defying experience of a lifetime: a six-week trip to Adelaide, Australia, where they soaked up the local culture, immersed themselves in entrepreneurship best-practices and assisted four startups in taking their products or services to the next level.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>By the time the whirlwind excursion was over, Williams and her fellow students were exhausted but proud, calling the trip \u201cincredible,\u201d \u201ceye-opening\u201d and \u201crewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><strong>Embedding in a \u2018Startup Ecosystem\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The Adelaide trip was offered by the Poole College of Management through Poole Global Programs with support from faculty in the college\u2019s Entrepreneurship Clinic, or eClinic for short. ThincLab \u2014 a business incubator and downtown coworking space operated by the University of Adelaide \u2014 provided classrooms, meeting rooms and other local resources during the trip.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cThe students were embedded in a startup ecosystem,\u201d says eClinic Director Haley Huie. \u201cThey were learning and practicing at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"\u201cThe students were embedded in a startup ecosystem. They were learning and practicing at the same time.\u201d\\u003cbr\\u003e\u2013Haley Huie, eClinic Director\",\"textColor\":\"custombg_six\"} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Students completed three courses during the trip, earning nearly a semester\u2019s worth of credit hours in just six weeks.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One course, Doing Business Globally, introduced students to some of the region\u2019s economic drivers such as agritourism, entertainment and the wine industry. It included weekly excursions and meetings with investors, business and nonprofit leaders, and faculty members from the University of Adelaide.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Another, Introduction to Entrepreneurship, covered some of the key principles of planning and managing an entrepreneurial venture. Lecturer Liz Tracy, an expert in organizational psychology, compressed the curriculum to just three weeks of intensive instruction for the Adelaide trip.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/image-grid -->\n<!-- wp:ncst\/image-column -->\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":514808,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-9b-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"classroom presentation\" class=\"wp-image-514808\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Courses included weekly excursions and meetings with investors, business and nonprofit leaders, and faculty members from the University of Adelaide.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":514809,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-4b-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"Group of students\" class=\"wp-image-514809\" \/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/image-column -->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/image-grid -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Huie ticks off a list of concepts covered by the course: \u201cWhat is customer discovery? How do you go out and learn about a market? What skills or abilities do startup founders need to be successful? What does product validation mean?\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>That course laid the foundation for Business Opportunity Analysis, a three-week intensive course that divided the students into four teams and assigned them to consult with local startup companies to analyze opportunities and solve real-world problems.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Williams was assigned to a team working with FreddyMatch, a nonprofit agency that runs an online database for people looking for volunteer opportunities. Founder Roxane Foulser-Piggott asked the students to research a potential expansion opportunity.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIt was a truly international project,\u201d she says. \u201cThey\u2019re students from the U.S. visiting Australia, and I'm asking them to look at the expansion of an Australian company to the United Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Using the tools and techniques they learned earlier in the trip, the students delivered a proposal that identified areas of the U.K. ripe for FreddyMatch\u2019s services, as well as potential government and business partners. They went a step further, suggesting novel ways of engaging volunteers interested in serving Australia\u2019s aboriginal communities.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":514748,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/10\/downunder-1-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Group on a bus\" class=\"wp-image-514748\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tyler Wiersma, Poole College's Director of High-Impact Experiences, takes a selfie with the students on a bus excursion. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Foulser-Piggott praised the students\u2019 work, as well as their communication skills.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cThey were super engaged and enthusiastic,\u201d she says. \u201cThey had a lot to do in a very short time but they listened to what I wanted and they kept checking in to make sure that their ideas were in line with what I was looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Armed with the students\u2019 research, Foulser-Piggott is preparing to allocate resources for her agency\u2019s expansion to the U.K. \u201cThis is the sort of thing you pay consulting firms to do,\u201d she says. \u201cI was very impressed.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><strong>\u2018Everything is an Experiment\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Foulser-Piggott wasn\u2019t alone. Germin Chan, who came to Australia from his native Singapore in 2019 to earn a degree in computer science, launched a startup called Marsupium two years ago. At its core is a financial literacy app that makes saving money fun.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The team assigned to work with Chan helped fill in some of the missing elements in his business plan.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cMy focus is more on product development, business analysis and financial models,\u201d Chan says. \u201cMarketing is not my forte. The students did quite a bit of market and sales research, including how to engage different influencers to help us promote our product.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Their hands-on demonstration of the power of social media left Chan smiling.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI gave them a kangaroo plush toy when we met and they took videos of it all around Melbourne and Sydney promoting my app,\u201d he says, laughing.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>At the end of three weeks, the students presented Chan with a proposed marketing plan that included a budget, time schedule and strategy. He was thrilled.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"\\u0022They asked the right questions; they knew what they were doing.\u201d \u2013Germin Chan, startup founder\",\"textColor\":\"custombg_six\"} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cMy expectations weren\u2019t high at the beginning,\u201d he admits. \u201cI thought they were just coming to Australia to have fun. But I was quite surprised and impressed with the content they delivered. They asked the right questions; they knew what they were doing.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Huie says building student confidence is one of the goals of the eClinic, which is housed inside a coworking space, Raleigh Founded, in the Glenwood South neighborhood. \u201cWe embed students in the real world,\u201d she says. \u201cIt feels like you're going to work versus sitting through a lecture.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"\u201cWe embed students in the real world. It feels like you're going to work versus sitting through a lecture.\u201d \u2013Haley Huie, eClinic Director \",\"textColor\":\"custombg_six\"} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>She and the other instructors brought that philosophy with them on the trip to Adelaide. \u201cWe teach our students that everything is an experiment,\u201d she says. \u201cGo do the experiment. Gather as much data as you can and either poke holes in the hypothesis and fail quickly or come up with credible information that you\u2019re headed in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":514987,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2024\/11\/Australia-excursion-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"group of students in Adelaide, Australia\" class=\"wp-image-514987\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sight-seeing was also an enriching part of the experience. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Harper Martin, a sophomore in computer engineering with a minor in business entrepreneurship, says his team hit the ground running. They were tasked with helping an app called Cobber raise its profile online. The app helps people buying used furniture connect with local delivery drivers.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Martin says the team played to its strengths, pairing members with tasks they were confident they could complete.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI didn't really know what search engine optimization was, but one of my teammates did, so he covered that and I researched how to create quality content,\u201d he explains. \u201cThe other two team members tackled community engagement ideas and other topics.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In just three weeks they delivered a tutorial on how to repurpose content from the company\u2019s blog for social media, created a Google business profile, revamped Cobber\u2019s search engine optimization efforts, and fleshed out a marketing plan for the month of July.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><strong>Leaving Comfort Zones in the Dust<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Zeb Scott, a communications major with a minor in business entrepreneurship, says his team also coalesced quickly. They worked with the founder of Reusably, an app that encourages the reuse of metal cups and bowls at many popular restaurants and coffeehouses in Adelaide.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cThey wanted our perspective on what direction they should go in the future,\u201d Scott says. \u201cShould they stick with the cups and bowls or focus on providing a software platform that other companies could use to track their carbon footprint?\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The team did intensive customer discovery, conducting 30 interviews over two weeks. They delivered a set of customer profiles based on three personality types they dubbed \u201cSustainability Sally,\u201d \u201cMiddle-of-the-Road Melvin,\u201d and \u201cDon\u2019t Give a Damn Derek.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>They also laid out some business-to-business marketing strategies to help the company target eco-friendly companies that could benefit from their platform.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"\u201cIf you're able to commit to taking a 25-hour plane flight to the opposite side of the world, you\u2019re going to be up for tackling some challenges.\u201d\\u003cbr\\u003e\u2013Zeb Scott, communications manager\",\"textColor\":\"custombg_six\"} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cWith only three weeks to do the project, we had to jump in headfirst,\u201d Scott says. \u201cIt was just figuring each other out along the way and learning how to balance each other's strengths and weaknesses.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Much of the time, they were working outside their comfort zone, he says, but that was a feature of the program, not a bug.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIf you're able to commit to taking a 25-hour plane flight to the opposite side of the world, you\u2019re going to be up for tackling some challenges,\u201d he says. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be open to things that are difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/magazine-preview {\"backgroundColor\":\"custombg_six\",\"issueID\":68} \/-->"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Students get real-world experience on the other side of the globe as they apply the principles of entrepreneurship to help startups in Adelaide, Australia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":514741,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"views\/single-immersive.blade.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"David Hunt","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-immersive-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"backgroundColor\":\"custombg_six\",\"caption\":\"\",\"displayCategoryID\":46,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Students get real-world experience on the other side of the globe as they apply the principles of entrepreneurship to help startups in Adelaide, Australia<em>.<\/em>\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[68],"class_list":["post-514730","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-high-impact-experiences"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":46,"name":"High-Impact Experiences","slug":"high-impact-experiences","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":46,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":11,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/514730","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=514730"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/514730\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":515073,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/514730\/revisions\/515073"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/514741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=514730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=514730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=514730"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=514730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}