Theory meets practice at the Poole College of Management, where real-world entrepreneurship experiences intersect with academic knowledge. Recently, Jeffrey Pollack, Lynn T. Clark II Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship, engaged in a conversation with Haley Huie, director of the NC State Entrepreneurship Clinic, and Lynn Clark, a Poole College graduate and entrepreneur. The discussion delved into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on entrepreneurship, essential skills for founders, and insights into Huie and Clark’s entrepreneurial ventures.
Lynn Clark, a Poole College alumnus, shared his journey of launching a new venture, Clark Outdoor Billboards, alongside his role as vice president of Guy M. Turner Inc. He emphasized the importance of timing and experience in pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors, highlighting the need to first establish a strong foundation in one’s primary business before venturing into new opportunities. Clark stressed the significance of sales skills in entrepreneurship, noting that the ability to sell and market products is essential for generating revenue and building successful ventures.
In contrast, Haley Huie discussed the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship post-Covid, focusing on access to funding and the impact of remote work on talent acquisition. Huie emphasized the importance of sales as a fundamental skill for all professionals, regardless of their industry or career path. She highlighted the TED Talk “What I learned from a hundred days of rejection” as a valuable resource for developing resilience in the face of rejection and honing sales abilities.
The conversation also touched on the shift towards remote work and its implications for talent recruitment and customer access. Both Huie and Clark acknowledged the benefits of a distributed workforce in expanding talent networks and enhancing work-life balance. They emphasized the value of human-to-human connections in business relationships, underscoring the importance of face-to-face interactions in building trust and rapport with clients and partners.
Overall, the dialogue between Pollack, Huie, and Clark exemplified the intersection of theory and practice in the field of entrepreneurship. By sharing their insights and experiences, they provided valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and business professionals. The Poole College of Management continues to foster a culture of innovation and experiential learning, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application in the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship.
