North Carolina A&T State University
NSF Engineering Research Center + Bioengineering Joint Seminar Series
The High Value of The Entrepreneurial Skill Set
by
Ms. Andrea Wesser
Project Manager
MegaWatt Ventures & Florida Cleantech Acceleration Network
University of Central Florida
11 AM – 11:50 AM – Friday, October 25, 2013
McNair Hall Auditorium – College of Engineering
Abstract:
The road to success - and becoming the next Bill Gates - is certainly not easy. Andrea Wesser, Program Manager (and engineer), University of Central Florida, Office of Research & Commercialization, shares insights on how fascinating the journey of working in an early stage technology company can be. She discusses what skill sets make an entrepreneur, and how the entrepreneurial mindset will help you with your career, no matter what sector you are in!
About the Speaker:
Ms. Wesser graduated with Honors from the University of Central Florida with her Masters and Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering. She started her career in technology commercialization from the inventor’s side, having designed commercial medical and chemical analysis devices in the microscale. She began her technical marketing career at the UCF Venture Lab as an intern. While at the Venture Lab, she assisted dozens of Central Florida companies in investment pitch and commercialization plan coaching, as well as SBIR/STTR and other grant writing. Upon graduation, she assumed the position of Product Line Manager of start-up Planar Energy Devices, an advanced battery company, where she launched aggressive product development and marketing campaigns. These efforts resulted in several prestigious award wins, including most recently, a 2009 R&D 100 and 2009 World Technology Award. She is passionate about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, and has been an active member of the Society of Women Engineers and American Society of Mechanical Engineers for the last decade. Andrea has returned to the Venture Lab as a Business Development Manager.
