Winterim Bridges the Liberal Arts and Entrepreneurship
From January 11 through January 15, 21 Lewis & Clark students will immerse themselves in the study of entrepreneurship and leadership through Winterim. Winterim is a fast-paced and supportive experience where students collaborate in small groups to research, create, develop, and pitch a venture. Students learn entrepreneurial and life-skills from inspirational speakers, mentors, and leaders in the for-profit and nonprofit professional community. Over 50 professionals – including a number of Lewis & Clark alumni – serve as speakers, mentors and judges for our 21 students during the weeklong program.
As this year’s Winterim will be entirely virtual, organizers are excited to be able to open up six talks to the broader Lewis & Clark community, including alumni, parents, and friends. To learn more about and register for these special open sessions, visit the registration page.
One of the open sessions, The Farmer’s Advocate, features a talk by, and discussion with Beth Ford, President and CEO of the Fortune 200 brand, Land O’Lakes, Inc. The $14 billion company is a nearly century-old farmer-owned cooperative that believes closing the growing rural-urban divide should matter to everyone. This virtual fireside chat will be moderated by student-athlete and Pamplin Society Fellow Qwynci Bowman ’23. The conversation will focus on the importance of innovative thinking and immediate action in ensuring our rural communities can connect, thrive and continue to provide a safe and affordable food supply for a growing world population.
Led by Professor of Psychology Brian Detweiler-Bedell, the John E. and Susan S. Bates Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership is designed to help students translate their liberal arts training to be leaders for impact. It is open to all years and all majors, regardless of prior participation in programming and classes. And last spring, the College approved the creation of a minor in entrepreneurial leadership and innovation. Students interested in pursuing a minor in entrepreneurship will need to complete required and elective coursework and one internship or pre-professional practicum experience. Courses explore innovation, design thinking; leadership, and sustainability and entrepreneurship.
“The Bates Center provides skill sets, context, a network, and experiential opportunities so that students proactively learn to translate their liberal arts skills as they prepare for post-college life,” said Bates Center Associate Director Chrys Hutchings. “We believe the entrepreneurial mindset, grounded in the critical thinking, analysis, and cultural empathy of liberal arts, is not only helpful to a changing world and economy, but is an imperative.”
