By Amber Kennedy
Inside Business included Nancy Grden, associate vice president of ODU's Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, in its "Women in Business" issue released Dec. 13.
The annual issue, now in its 19th year, celebrates "women who have been successful in their businesses and careers, contribute to the community and serve as an example to others."
In her role at ODU, Grden oversees the University's programs to support and expand entrepreneurship and innovation at ODU and in the community. She serves as the inaugural executive director of the Hampton Roads Maritime Collaborative for Growth & Innovation (HRMC); under her leadership, HRMC and ODU announced the ODU Maritime Initiative in November.
As executive director of ODU's Strome Entrepreneurial Center, Grden mentors aspiring business owners or entrepreneurs looking for help with growing or scaling their business. Grden devotes her professional and spare time to cultivating entrepreneurship and innovation in the community, serving in advisory and board roles with 757 Collab, 757 Angels, the Norfolk Innovation Corridor, StartWheel, 757 Accelerate, Envision Lead Grow, Women in Venture, Kempsville High School Entrepreneurship & Business Academy, The Norfolk Forum, Healthier 757 and others outside the region.
In her profile, Grden encourages women in business to "lean in." "Take every opportunity to try a new skill, meet diverse people, test your leadership abilities," she told the publication. "My career has been built on health care and biotech innovation, yet I jumped at the chance to lead the maritime initiatives in the region and ODU, translating parallel experience plus 'connecting the dots' across an array of ideas and people."
She hopes to see Hampton Roads embrace and market its largest natural asset - water. "As I say every day, no region in the country has our unique mix of assets and opportunities to drive economic development for our region, commonwealth and country," she wrote.
Read the full profile here.
