2014 EI FORUM
RECAP

On May 30-31st, the Center for Faith & Work hosted the ninth annual Entrepreneurship & Innovation Forum. Started in 2006, the Forum has served as a launching pad for a growing vision of entrepreneurship that “seeks the peace and prosperity of the city.”

This year’s forum, held at the Center for Social Innovation, focused on the theme of Disruption as a powerful occasion of grace. Disruption can provide the needed impetus to wrestle with the deeper drives that govern our motives.

The Friday evening plenary kicked off with a presentation from this year’s EI Business Plan Competition winners. Livia Beasley of Mud Puddle Productions, Nena Ugwuomo of Student Dream, and Ben Midberry of ChinaVision each presented their business models and engaged in a Q &A session. Michael Lindsay, President of Gordon College and author of View from the Top, followed with a keynote address on how high profile leaders’ responses to crisis situations lead to renewal at individual and organizational levels. “Great leaders are great maximizers,” Lindsay said, “Out of failure, greatness can emerge.” Friday evening ended with a BPC venture showcase and reception.

Saturday morning’s session began with Rev. David H. Kim, Executive Director of the Center for Faith & Work, considering the Biblical passage of Isaiah 6 and how God’s holiness is expressed in his glory. Kim addressed the importance of keeping our vision focused on God’s work in the world through humanity and how our work concretely displays his glory. “When we create things with our hands, they are the tangible expression of God’s glory,” said Kim.

After Kim’s keynote, Angela Bullock, Co-founder of 100cameras, shared her story of how disruption in her own life has been instrumental to her work. This was followed by a practical session led by Lois Kehelenbrink, counselor at Redeemer Counseling services, where a self-counseling tool was introduced to help participants process how the gospel changes our responses to disruption.

A Collaborative Competition panel was held in the afternoon plenary that featured Hunter Bell of Hunter Bell NYC, Joel Montgomery of Secret Sauce, and Jim Kim of Formation 8.  The trio discussed how entrepreneurs can creatively respond to competition with a changed perspective through the lens of the gospel. Participants then selected workshops from 11 that were offered on topics that included pitch design, leadership, building a brand, and raising seed for startups.

The day closed with a conversation between Catherine Wood, founder and CEO of ARK Investment Management, LLC, and David H. Kim. Wood discussed how disruption had become a key concept in her approach to investing. David H. Kim then commissioned all participants to go into the city and create and innovate for God’s glory and his kingdom.
Photos of the EI Forum HERE.