Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

We welcomed Sara Zucker ‘07, Freelance Digital Marketing Strategist, Archives Support at the American Museum of Natural History & current MS Student at Pratt Institute, to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders🚀 For the last alumni chat of the semester, we had the pleasure of speaking with Sara Zucker! Sara shared her inspiring career journey with us, highlighting the different jobs she has held across top brands like Glossier, NARS Cosmetics, and more. She highlighted the importance of networking, pursuing work that you are passionate about, and not being afraid to ask questions when you need help. Student Chaeyun Moon ‘28 said, “I really liked how passionate she was about her career. I also liked her quote "being open minded is key" because I really think no matter how confident you are with work, skills, or anything else, being open minded truly helps people to immerse themselves in the environment! I will definitely keep this quote in mind.” As this was the last alumni visit of the semester, we wanted to take a moment to extend our gratitude to all alumni that spoke with our classes this year. Your support and guidance means more than you know! Julie Gehring Avery Sparks Mia Meccia Ian Bender

We welcomed Eileen Crossin ‘04, Founder & CEO of Quantum Potential, to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders 🚀 Eileen graduated from UConn in 2004 with a B.A. in Mass Communication/Media Studies. During our alumni chat, Eileen encouraged students to put themselves out there and take chances – especially when it comes to networking. She emphasized that her ability to build connections was a key factor in her success. Eileen’s main takeaway was that even if it feels intimidating, making new connections and keeping an open mind can open doors to unexpected opportunities. Student Bhavya Salhi Sahli ‘28 said, “Ms. Crossin was very influential and her emphasis on networking definitely stood out. While living in so many cities throughout her life, she had a core strength of being able to network. This networking strength attributed to her success, and helped get her to where she is today as Founder and CEO of Quantum Potential.” Julie Gehring Ian Bender Avery Sparks Mia Meccia

We welcomed Liz James ‘08, Senior Vice President of Media and Tech Sales at Ipsos, to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders 🚀 Liz graduated from UConn in 2008 with a B.S. in Marketing. She reminded us how important it is to be adaptable and step out of your comfort zone. Liz also talked about the value of being open to new experiences and constantly seeking growth. She discussed how taking every opportunity to connect with others, whether through a quick conversation or a new experience, can lead to unexpected learning and future opportunities. A big takeaway from Liz was that you should never stop putting yourself out there; embracing open doors instead of closing them can make all the difference in your personal and professional growth. Student Gabriella Cunha ‘28 said, “I learned that keeping in touch with professors and over the years asking for advice and getting ideas can be very beneficial for being successful in big decisions. I also learned the importance of allowing yourself to think bigger and not to limit yourself nor your opportunities.” Ian Bender Avery Sparks Julie Gehring Mia Meccia

Werth Community, UConn Gives 2025 ends Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.! We kicked things off with incredible energy, celebrating the powerful network of students, alumni, mentors, and supporters who are the backbone of the Werth Institute. Today, we want to shine a light on more of the amazing talent your support empowers. Get a glimpse into the journey of Werth Innovators Juliana and Lakshita and Werth Student Admin Assistant Lindsay in their inspiring video: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eXhN-JfJ Please consider supporting Werth with our site below. Click: Give Now and under area of support, type in "Werth Institute" so we may receive credit. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eS2QtBAG #UConnGives

Let's keep the energy building, Werth Community! Every gift, no matter the size, directly impacts the innovative spirit of the Werth Institute and provides vital resources and mentorship that empower the next generation of leaders, like Abigail, Jordan and Makaela. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/efrJX8xt (select Werth Institute Support) Time is ticking! We have until tomorrow, April 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. to reach our UConn Gives goals. Let's come together and fuel the future! #UConnGives #WerthInstitute #Innovation #StudentSuccess #MakeADifference #GivingBack #UConn Video Production: Evan Elmore https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ehj6-xam

Today marks the start of UConn's Giving Day, and we're rallying the pack to support the next generation of innovators. Our goal is to raise $20,000 and secure participation from 120 passionate individuals like you. Jennifer Gearin and Maryanne Pepin, two incredible student innovators, have dropped a must-see video to kick off the Werth Institute and Innovation's Giving Day campaign! Click Here to Give: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eK5D8yyN #UConnGives #WerthInstitute #StudentInnovation Video and Production Credit: Evan Elmore https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/edxj7xJY

Hey Huskies! Get ready – UConn Gives kicks off in just one week! Mark your calendars for April 21st at 7 AM. For 36 hours, we'll come together to fuel incredible things happening at UConn. Want to make a real difference for students? Your gift, any size at all, will directly support the amazing programming at The Werth Institute. Curious about the impact? Hear from Brooke Foti Gemmell '15, '21, Design Technologist at Greenhouse Studios UConn, about her experience as a NetWerx mentor.  

We welcomed Mike Parker ‘01, CEO & Creative Director of Lowbrow Studios and Dorkly, to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders 🚀 Mike graduated from UConn with a B.S. in Graphic Design & Illustration in 2001. He provided numerous invaluable insights during our alumni chat, sharing countless stories and advice with students. Mike emphasized the idea that burnout is natural and how important it is to give yourself time to rest. He also reminded students to take advantage of every opportunity available to them, as well as finding what they love to do and making a career out of it. Student Ava Halovatch ‘28 said, “I learned that I shouldn't be overly stressed about where I am going to end up. It is important to think about now, but now is also the time for me to try new things and experiences and learn about what I want. So even if I don't know exactly what I want now, I will get there.” Ian Bender Avery Sparks Mia Meccia Julie Gehring

Werth Community, Beginning April 21st, The Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation will be participating in UConn Gives, a 36-hour fundraiser dedicated to raising money for The Werth Institute and its entrepreneurial programming. During these 36 hours, your support, no matter how big or small, will go a long way in supporting students gain valuable professional skills and support their entrepreneurial and innovative goals. Listen to student Mia Meccia, Physiology and Neurobiology '27 share her story on how one of The Werth Institute's signature programs, NetWerx, helped her forge a connection that has set her up for future success.

We welcomed Hemal Shah ‘12, VP Product, Head of Growth & Monetization at Atlassian, to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders🚀 During our alumni chat, Hemal shared invaluable advice with students. Hemal graduated from UConn in 2012 with a B.S. in Computer Science & Computer Engineering, Mathematics, and Business Administration. Hemal discussed the importance of creating genuine connections with people and not being transactional in your relationships. He emphasized that you shouldn’t be afraid of failure and to always pick yourself back up and keep going. We greatly appreciate his time and advice dedicated to our class. Student Bhavya Salhi ‘28 said, “Mr. Shah was extremely inspiring and his emphasis on in-person networking definitely stood out. He talked about how crucial it is to network and find connections because most of the time people won't bless you with opportunities. You have to be adamant and determined to find something that can benefit your future and you owe it to yourself to try.” Julie Gehring Ian Bender Avery Sparks Mia Meccia