By Lacie Blankenship
Stacie Pawlicki (BA’08) has been named the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship (the C4E).
Stacie Pawlicki
Pawlicki will work with Faculty Director Michael Burcham to advance the C4E’s mission to grow a productive entrepreneurial ecosystem conducive to creating new and innovative businesses.
“There’s tremendous opportunity to build upon the foundation that’s been created at the C4E, from supporting current students to being a resource for alumni wanting to start a business, to those who have started businesses, and the Vanderbilt investment network,” says Pawlicki.
Pawlicki graduated from Vanderbilt in 2008 with a major in sociology. She found her passion for building business after working at a startup out of undergrad. She returned to Vanderbilt for the Vanderbilt Accelerator Program, which gave her more opportunities and tools to build her entrepreneurial career.
“I loved getting real-life consulting experience, working on teams, and being hands-on with startups; Accelerator launched my passion for entrepreneurship,” says Pawlicki.
Pawlicki has worked with several startups and growth-stage companies in senior capacities, including InQuicker and Healthcare Bluebook. Most recently, she received her coaching certification and founded Nessa Leaders, where she coaches and trains ambitious executives and teams in growing their leadership and company culture.
The new director is easing into her role with optimism and the intention to build on the origins of the center. “My goal coming in is to listen first and gain an understanding of what has been successful in the past and where the center has opportunities to expand,” she says.
The Center for Entrepreneurship was created in 2016 after a generous gift from Jack and Carolyn Long (both MBA‘83). The C4E offers programs and resources for student entrepreneurs ranging from scholarships and grants to alumni connections and educational opportunities, including the annual Vanderbilt Entrepreneurship Conference.
Pawlicki is excited to take on her new role with a collaborative attitude and believes the center’s future includes trans-institutional work that reaches beyond the campus community.
“What’s amazing with Vanderbilt is that the community spans beyond just Nashville; so we will ask how we can build amazing things with the community in Nashville but also outside, to help our students and alumni as they venture into the startup and investment space,” says Pawlicki.
Pawlicki notes that she is “excited to work with students and alumni to support their ideas and dreams. I’m ready to help them see what they need and how the C4E can support them to make it happen.”
She wants the Vanderbilt community to know that the C4E is “a place where someone can access the resources and expertise to build, grow, and move businesses forward. We’ve got some exciting ideas so stay tuned for what’s to come.”
If you are a Vanderbilt student or alumni interested in the startup and venture capital space, please reach out to the C4E at c4e@vanderbilt.edu. To stay in the loop on all things C4E, please follow our social channels on LinkedIn and Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter at https://vanderbiltc4e.com/.
