Rider University students, who are aspiring entrepreneurs, were given a dream trip this past fall, attending the annual Inc. 5000 conference in San Antonio as the guest of well-known serial entrepreneur Norm Brodsky. Brodsky, a Rider alum, has been involved at Rider over the past two years in a number of ways—but this latest endeavor shows Brodsky’s special touch in knowing how to inspire student entrepreneurs.
“He’s showing what it means to be an entrepreneur and what it means to give back,” said Dr. Ron Cook, Associate Dean for Graduate Business at College of Business at Rider and Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the College of Business. ”He’s had a tremendous amount of success in his particular businesses and he likes to be able to share and provide that opportunity to students going forward.”
Brodsky served as a team teacher for a Rider entrepreneurial class this fall, as well as mentoring the students to help them better navigate the business world. This followed his decision to provide a full four year scholarship to the winner of Rider’s annual business plan competition that was renamed, “Norm Brodsky Idea/Business Concept Competition”. The conference trip was intended to give Rider’s most avid student-entrepreneurs direct personal contact with some of the most exciting businesses and their executives.
“As a long-time columnist at Inc. Magazine, he is very familiar with most of the attending company employers and he wanted to provide these seniors the opportunity for an exceptional networking event, as he and his wife Elaine’s special guests,” explained Dr. Ron Cook.
Brodsky made the offer last spring to take six students to the Conference. A competition was run on campus among senior business majors who submitted an essay as to why they should be selected to attend.
Once there, the chosen seniors had the opportunity at various sessions, especially ones hosted by Brodsky on the conference agenda, to be recognized and introduced to the leaders of high growth companies. The students also met with some of the top speakers presenting on the main stage.
“Through Norm’s past and current business ventures, he’s able to show and demonstrate exactly what a successful entrepreneur is. His connection to the university lets him meet with a lot of students—which he really enjoys doing — and engage with young people and the next generation of business leaders,” explained Dr. Cook.
Dr. Cook saw the trip to the Conference as an important growth experience for the students who are committed to careers in business.
“It was an opportunity for some of our best students to really see what it’s like being out there with some of the shining stars of the entrepreneurial world. That opportunity was inspiring about what they each have the potential to do, and they were able to connect, network, and practice those kinds of vital skills that the seniors will need when they graduate and move up in their careers.“
Brodsky was also honored at the event, receiving Inc.’s Lifetime Achievement Award, for his successes, with highlights in a tribute video that featured students and staff from Rider University.
“We were invited to make short video clips of what Norm’s career and mentoring approach means. In the final cut of the video, we were so delighted to see that there were four Rider people picked to make comments about Norm and his career. It was just a wonderful experience to be able to be right there with him and witness that,” said Dr. Cook.
Rahquan King-Stubbs, a senior accounting major who hopes to serve as a role model to inner-city youth for business success and entrepreneurship, attended the conference. “We did a lot of talking to people, which is pivotal in the business world,” said King-Stubbs. “We heard inspirational keynote speakers, such as Brené Brown and Scott Harrison, talk to us about leading and giving back to the world.”
Rachel Samonski, a senior, majoring in marketing and international business, was inspired upon learning that the most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who have values behind them. “I am more motivated than ever to start a venture as a result of this conference,” she noted.
“This kind of experience was so important for our students and we cannot thank Norm and Elaine Brodsky enough for their both generosity and support for making this happen,” Dr. Cook said.
