Colorado State University prof lives entrepreneurship

Dawn DeTienne, associate professor in the department of management in the CSU College of Business, is the subject for this month’s installment of meet the professor from Colorado State University.

She is an expert in entrepreneurship. Her Ph.D. is in entrepreneurship and strategy, and she recently co-authored a “Research Handbook of Entrepreneurial Exit.”

DeTienne is the faculty director for CSU’s Institute for Entrepreneurship, which recently co-sponsored the CSU Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge $250,000 business pitch challenge, and teaches entrepreneurship to undergraduate students.

Question: In a single sentence, tell us what you do.

Answer: I live entrepreneurship!

Q. What makes a good entrepreneur?

A: Passion: You need to really want to do this because it’s a lot of work and can challenge you in so many ways. Perseverance: There are times when you want to give up, but if you persevere you will learn something that will help you down the road. Persistence is key. Communication skills: An entrepreneur is always, always selling whether it be themselves or an idea or a product/service to future partners, financiers, customers, future employees. ... The ability to influence others is important. Desire for knowledge: Those individuals who are always learning about anything, everything will be the ones who find the solutions to the really big problems.

Q. Are there differences between male and female entrepreneurs?

A: Yes, some. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, in almost every country in the world men are more likely than women to start a business. In the U.S. it is about 65 percent men, 35 percent women. Women tend also to start smaller ventures.

I have two research publications in this area and we found that women have different “experiences and knowledge” which leads to them identifying different opportunities. We also found that women are more likely than men to “exit” a business.

We argue that this is partially due to the fact that women do not identify as strongly with their business as do men so it is easier for them to leave to do something else, pursue a different opportunity, etc. I don’t buy into the argument that women are disadvantaged; rather they choose to do different things.

I spend a lot of time with the newest generation and I think they are an amazing group of people who will find solutions to all sorts of world problems. They are much more “balanced” than their parents. I honestly think that some young women look at their mothers and think “if that’s what I have to do (work 50 hours a week, take care of family, volunteer, go to school at night, work two jobs, run ourselves ragged, etc.) to have what my parents have (a house, nice cars, vacations, advanced degree, etc.), I don’t want it.” I wish they could see that entrepreneurship, although difficult at the beginning, allows them freedom and flexibility down the road.

Q. Do you have any experience as an entrepreneur yourself?

A: Yes. Prior to pursuing my Ph.D., my husband and I had a couple of small businesses. The longest running venture we had was 15 years and did an acquisition so I could go into the Ph.D. program. We (mostly he) are currently in the process of starting a new venture — a 520-unit self-storage facility west of Greeley.

Q. What has been your biggest challenge to overcome?

A: Probably my recent bout with breast and thyroid cancers for which I did surgery, radiation and chemotherapy in 2014. It took a full year to get through the treatments.

Q. What is the last thing you Googled – and why?

A: How to measure for a road bike. I ride and am thinking of purchasing a bike for my husband.

Q. What is your go-to lunch spot in Fort Collins?

A: McAlister’s Deli.

Q. What is the word you use too often?

A: Amazing.

Q. What are you most proud of?

A: Our children. We have three children and two very special nieces. They are each so different from the other, but each has found (or is finding) their way in the world to be productive and happy people who care about the really important things.