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‘GEWKC is a testament to the entrepreneurial ecosystem we’re building here in Kansas City’

Erika Noguera, Dr. Burns-Wallace, and Victoria Campbell Osborne at GEWKC
Erika Noguera, owner of Doña Fina Imports, left, and Victoria Campbell Osborne, co-founder and owner of The Scented Webb, right, joined Dr. Burns-Wallace at 1 Million Cups during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Dr. Burns-Wallace celebrates Global Entrepreneurship Week with Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Written by Julie Scheidegger

Here at the Kauffman Foundation, Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is a big deal. While the celebration has spread to countries near and far, GEW started with the Kauffman Foundation in partnership with Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) right here in Kansas City in 2008.

This year, GEW Kansas City is packed with a schedule of more than 110 in-person and virtual events centered at Plexpod Westport during Nov. 15-17. KC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is showing up en masse including Kauffman President and CEO DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed.D.

“The energy felt around GEWKC is a testament to the entrepreneurial ecosystem we’re building here in Kansas City,” Dr. Burns-Wallace said. “Entrepreneurs – even those in the early stages who are dreaming of taking the calculated risk of starting a business – are not alone in KC. There is a community of support ready to meet them at whatever stage they’re at.”

Click through the photo slideshow below and get to know GEWKC >

DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed.D., president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, chats with community members during a GEWKC event in Kansas City, Missouri.
DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed.D., president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, chats with community members during a GEWKC event in Kansas City, Missouri.
Dr. Burns-Wallace and Steven Anthony at GEWKC
Dr. Burns-Wallace talked with Theodis Watson, director of community development CrossFirst Bank and national vice president of Urban Financial Services Coalition.
Theodis Watson, Dr. Burns-Wallace, and Shakia Webb at GEWKC
Steven Anthony, senior executive director, business development, with the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, MO, Dr. Burns-Wallace, and Kauffman Program Office Shakia Webb took time for a selfie.
Callie England, Dr. Burns-Wallace, and Maria Meyers at GEWKC
Amidst all the business of running GEWKC, Maria Meyers, founder of SourceLink and executive director of the UMKC Innovation Center, and Callie England, marketing director at the UMKC Innovation Center, got together with Dr. Burns-Wallace to commemorate her first Global Entrepreneurship Week at the helm of the Kauffman Foundation.
Daniel Smith and Dr. Burns-Wallace at GEWKC.
Dr. Burns-Wallace talked with Daniel Smith, co-founder of The Porter House KC. Porter House is a member of the Capital Access Task Force.
Daniel Smith and Dr. Burns-Wallace at GEWKC.
Dr. Burns-Wallace talked with Daniel Smith, co-founder of The Porter House KC. Porter House is a member of the Capital Access Task Force.
Dr. Burns-Wallace speaks at GEWKC.
Kauffman President and CEO DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed.D., kicked-off Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City celebrating entrepreneurial support organizations at the ESO Day event, connecting with people who are not only dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs in our community, but who are dedicated to growing a stronger, equitable, vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in our neighborhoods and across our region.
Dr. Burns-Wallace speaks at a podium at GEWKC
Kauffman President and CEO DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed.D., kicked-off Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City celebrating entrepreneurial support organizations at the ESO Day event, connecting with people who are not only dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs in our community, but who are dedicated to growing a stronger, equitable, vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in our neighborhoods and across our region.
Tim Holverson, Dr. Burns-Wallace, and David Dyer at GEWKC
Tim Holverson, vice president of economic development and entrepreneurship at the Overland Park, Kansas, Chamber of Commerce, left, and David Dyer, membership director at the Overland Park Chamber, joined Dr. Burns-Wallace and the 1 Million Cups community for 1MC presentations the Wednesday of Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City.
Erika Noguera, Dr. Burns-Wallace, and Victoria Campbell Osborne at GEWKC
Erika Noguera, owner of Doña Fina Imports, left, and Victoria Campbell Osborne, co-founder and owner of The Scented Webb, right, joined Dr. Burns-Wallace at 1MC.
Dr. Burns-Wallace and Ben Molina at GEWKC
Dr. Burns-Wallace met Ben Molina, who drove in from St. Louis, Missouri, for GEWKC. Molina is Entrepreneurship Program Manager at Cortex Innovation District in St. Louis, which is a grantee of the Foundation.
Dr. Burns-Wallace and Michael Carmona at 1 Million Cups during GEWKC
Both at 1 Million Cups Wednesday morning of GEWKC, was Dr. Burns-Wallace and Michael Carmona, senior director of regional Ecosystem development at KC Source Link.
Shakia Webb, AJ Taylor, and Alayna Smith at 1 Million Cups during GEWKC
Kauffman Foundation associates Shakia Webb and Alayna Smith connected with 1 Million Cups presenter AJ Taylor. Taylor is the creator of the card game, “Bankrupt,” which puts players on an entrepreneurial journey to collect all five assets to build a business without going bankrupt.
Lauren Aleshire, Shakia Webb, Dr. Klusmeier, Dr. Burns-Wallace, Alayna Smith, Meredith Walrafen, and Olatunji Ajani at 1 Million Cups during GEWKC.
Kauffman associates Lauren Aleshire, Shakia Webb, Dr. Susan Klusmeier, Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Alayna Smith, Meredith Walrafen, and Olatunji Ajani joined Kansas City entrepreneurial ecosystem at 1 Million Cups Wednesday morning of Global Entrepreneurship Week.
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