Sarah Butler is teaching a group of Wofford students what it means to think like an entrepreneur.
Butler, manager of the college’s Launch Program, is leading her first Interim class, “The Entrepreneurial Mindset.” Butler says the primary objective is to teach students that entrepreneurial thinking has less to do with starting a venture than igniting the mind through learning and development.
“They may not start a business, but they will leave knowing that entrepreneurship is within their grasp,” says Butler, who joined Wofford in April 2022. “Students might not realize it, but they are developing competencies that will enable them to be workforce-ready and that will benefit them no matter what they choose to do.”
Butler says the class is designed to benefit any student, regardless of their area of study, and is an extension of the work she is doing within the Launch Program. The program, which is housed in the Career Center in the Mungo Exchange, is focused on providing students with entrepreneurial training and strengthening the community’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“I was looking for something that would be as close to an internship as possible,” says Tunde Balogun ’24, a senior finance major from Lugoff, South Carolina. “This was perfect. I eventually want to own a business, so this is very helpful. We’ve learned a lot about courage and how to handle pressure.”
Butler required students to read “The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact.” This book explores ways for people to create meaningful, memorable moments in their lives.
Students discussed the book during the first week of the class before heading out on “treks” across the Upstate during week two, including a networking event in Spartanburg sponsored by the Black Economic Mobility Coalition, a monthly entrepreneurial empowerment meeting called IGNITE Greer, and a stop at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce.
Participants will work together to brainstorm ideas for passion- or project-based businesses. They will each develop a business plan and pitch their ideas to the class on Feb. 1.
During the final week of class, students will work closely with Butler’s “entrepreneur in residence” Becky Mcleod Connelly ’96, founder of Non Disclosure Apparel, a bra company based in Charleston, South Carolina, known for its bralettes that are sold primarily online and at select boutiques across the Lowcountry and beyond.
Ultimately, students will cultivate the characteristics of an entrepreneur whether they are looking to start a new venture or distinguish themselves as an intrapreneur inside of an organization, Butler says.
Camryn Beaufort ’24, a chemistry major and finance minor from Charleston, South Carolina, hopes to become a doctor. She decided to take the class because she wanted to learn more about the business side of operating a private practice.
“One of the things we’ve talked about is how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, meaning it’s important to be prepared to think and act in situations where you feel like you are out of your comfort zone,” Beaufort says. “This has definitely been a great experience.”