The Ohio State University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship recently celebrated leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship at the first-ever Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Leadership Summit event, which was held in The Flats of downtown Cleveland.

The two-day event commenced with a kickoff dinner followed by a conference that showcased leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship from the private sector and academia. The summit provided attendees with valuable insights about the importance of entrepreneurship in fostering a robust business climate.

In addition to presentations from established business leaders, two Fisher MBA students pitched their own entrepreneurial ideas to attendees. Zeenia Kaul, of ReHeva LLC, spoke about her venture’s goal of fighting cancer; and Zach Kitzmiller, of Queue, discussed his venture’s new approach to helping students better manage their time. Both students have been positively impacted by the Wolsteins’ ongoing support of entrepreneurial opportunities outside the classroom.

The Ohio State University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship works to facilitate entrepreneurial and innovation-based learning and experiences that will impact the global economy by assisting in new company formation and the development of new products and services within existing businesses.

“The Wolstein Leadership Summit was a terrific success,” said Paul Reeder, executive director of The Ohio State University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “It was exciting to see so many business leaders and entrepreneurs together to network and share information. And it was particularly gratifying to see two Fisher MBA candidates speak to the group about their big ideas.”

The summit was supported by the Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative Fund, which was created in 2013 thanks to a generous $3.4 million gift to Fisher College of Business from the Bertram L. and Iris S. Wolstein Foundation.

The fund also supports the Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Seminar in Entrepreneurial Leadership, a capstone course for high-achieving Ohio State students from across multiple academic disciplines that incorporates lessons learned from Mr. Wolstein’s autobiography, Crossing the Road to Entrepreneurship; and the Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Internship Program, a summer internship program that provides academic-based internship opportunities for Ohio State students.