University Of Pittsburgh Launches Center For Women In Business

Yesterday it was announced that the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence at University of Pittsburgh is launching the Center for Women in Business. They will be featuring programs that were previously a part of PowerLink. With this switch PowerLink will remain a nonprofit but it will become inactive reports the Pittsburgh Business Times.

“Women start companies at a rate equal to men, but still today women tend not to grow their companies as large and as quickly as male-owned firms,” said Lee Anne Munger, director of the new center. “There is still opportunity for growth of these businesses here and nationwide.”

Since the new center is adopting the PowerLink programs, it is not starting from scratch and in fact has eight PowerLink Advisory Boards currently running, Munger said. The advisory board provides established women in business a customized board of advisors comprised of volunteer professionals for a one year time period.

In addition to Muger, the center’s staff will consist of others already working for the Institute of Entrepreneurial Excellence. Funding will come from program fees and corporate and foundation support, Munger said, and new funding opportunities may open up as new programs are developed. It’s still too early to outline what these new programs will look like, but Munger said any added services will be the result of extensive outreach to past PowerLink clients, members of the institute and women business owners to “develop quality programs in response to what they need.”

In a written statement, Ann Dugan, founder and associate dean at the institute, said the center will capitalize on the established programs that are brought on board to expand the institute’s portfolio.

“Women entrepreneurs play a crucial role in our region’s economic vitality, and we recognize the need for more tools, resources and support designed to meet their distinct needs,” she said.

Screenshot from the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence

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