Global Entrepreneurship Week returns with dozens of events planned in Kansas City

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Missouri Business Alert, a member of the KC Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and The Kansas City Beacon.

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Kansas City’s annual multi-day educational and networking event for entrepreneurs begins Monday.

Global Entrepreneurship Week draws thousands of like-minded individuals to more than 50 events to interact, learn from experts and hear success stories for no cost.

Business professionals will lead sessions on such topics as how to be a “solopreneur,” the importance of personal branding and bookkeeping essentials.

Plexpod Westport at Park 39

The event’s main sessions will be held at Plexpod Westport by Park 39 from Nov. 15 to 17. Other events will take place at various locations around the Kansas City metro area over the course of a week.

Plexpod offers office spaces for entrepreneurs, startups and growth-stage companies of all sizes.

Gerald Smith, founder and CEO of Plexpod, said he is excited that his business was selected as this year’s central location for Global Entrepreneurship Week.

“It’s these types of events that really open you up to things that you wouldn’t experience otherwise,” Smith said.

Smith is a self-described lifelong entrepreneur. He started his career in digital media, working with brands like AMC Theatres and John Deere for 25 years.

“There’s a bit of a pay it forward for my wife and I with Plexpod. I absolutely love being around others that remind me of myself in starting their companies,” Smith said. “Entrepreneurship knows no boundary.”

Jess Dyroff, co-founder of Brightside Creative, plans to attend multiple sessions at Global Entrepreneurship Week. She started the company in April to transform businesses using creative strategy and branding expertise.

Dyroff said she is most interested in hearing the lessons from older entrepreneurs and is excited about the expertise people are showing up with at GEW.

“We’d love to just expand our reach and really put ourselves out there to meet new faces within the small business community,” Dyroff said.

Chris Bohannon, founder of Artist KC, also plans to attend. Bohannon is a retired middle school art teacher who left teaching in 2017 to open her business making custom acrylic paintings of pets.

This will be her fourth consecutive year participating in the event.

“I think the most appealing part of GEW is that everyone on stage presenting is an experienced entrepreneur that is offering you free advice and resources, and nothing beats hearing it from somebody who’s already been there,” Bohannon said.

On top of also attending the events, Madison Clark, founder of Grief Cards, will be leading a session about working with emotions.

“I’m talking about the intersection of where entrepreneurship and grief meet, and how to work with those emotions and build an entrepreneurial life that works with them instead of acting like they don’t exist,” Clark said.

Dr. Shelley Cooper accepts the $25,000 first-place prize at the AltCap pitch competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2022; photo courtesy of Dr. Shelley Cooper