Aspiring entrepreneurs came together to network and brainstorm at the second annual HER Summit October 19. The HER Summit was hosted by the Skandalaris Center and made possible through the Simon Initiative. Many speakers were current students or alums, demonstrating how WashU supports entrepreneurs from seed to tree.
Amanda Zuckerman, alum, Dormify
Amanda Zuckerman (BFA’13) is cofounder and creative director of Dormify. The retail company sells products for dorms and other small living spaces. Zuckerman started Dormify as a WashU student, where she leveraged her social networks to find out what college students wanted in terms of dorm decor. As keynote speaker, Zuckerman shared her entrepreneurial journey with summit attendees.
“Staying humble is the only way customers will stay loyal to your brand and people will invest in you.”
– Amanda Zuckerman
Chandler Malone, alum, entrepreneur and angel investor
Chandler Malone (BA’18) started two ventures while at WashU, including the wildly popular Pyramid Promotions, which plans dance parties and other events for St. Louis college students. He recently founded Underground Ventures, a global venture studio that invests in underrepresented founders in the technology industry. He shared his funding expertise with attendees during the summit’s roundtable discussions.
“A little bit of success fuels you to continue.”
-Chandler Malone
Andrea Simon, corporate anthropologist and donor, Simon Initiative
Andrea Simon is a corporate anthropologist, award-winning author, and president of Simon Associates Management Consultants. Drawing on her backgrounds in anthropology and business , she helps organizations see how they need to change.
“Change is scary and our brains are naturally opposed to it. Change challenges the very essence of who we are.”
-Andi Simon
Andrew Simon, alum and donor, Simon Initiative
Andrew Simon (BA’63) always had an entrepreneurial mindset, even when he was working in-house. Earlier in his career, he launched L’Oreal’s consumer product division and Citi’s electronic banking. Today, he is a partner at Simon Associates Management Consulting where he develops processes to build innovative cultures for organizations that need or want change.
“Always measure yourself against the North Star that is your stretch vision”
-Andrew Simon
Vicky Zhang, student entreprenuer
Zhang is a junior in the Olin Business School. She is co-owner of Bear’s Bikes, a StEP business on the South 40 that coordinates bike rentals, repairs and storage. As the HER Summit’s student speaker, she emphasized the importance of finding a supportive community.
“You need to find the fun in what you do.”
-Vicky Zhang
