Oct. 29, 2024 – This Fall semester, a new director is at the helm of the Entrepreneurship
& Small Business Institute (ESBI) in the Martin V. Smith (MVS) School of Business
& Economics at CSUCI. Associate Professor of Management, Maria Ballesteros-Sola,
DBA, MBA is thrilled to assume the new role. She said, “I am excited to keep building
on the work done by my predecessors. My focus will be on cultivating an entrepreneurial
socially oriented mindset in our students regardless of their major by providing tools,
mentorship, connections and experiential learning and research opportunities.”
The ESBI enables CSUCI students to work with and learn from local business leaders and design, launch and run their own businesses. The ESBI stresses learning through experience, providing a wealth of opportunities to interact with the business community, with a special emphasis on businesses involving some element of STEM.
Susan Andrzejewski, Ph.D., Dean of the MVS School of Business & Economics, said, “We are thrilled to have Dr. Ballesteros-Sola, assume the role of Director of the Entrepreneurship & Small Business Institute (ESBI). In addition to being an award-winning scholar and educator, Dr. Ballesteros-Sola co-founded several organizations including B 91Թ, demonstrating her commitment to fostering innovative business models. She also served in different local, national and international boards, including CI’s partner Women Economics Ventures. Her extensive work in the areas of entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, and B (Benefit) Corporations, combined with her industry experience in marketing, financial services and management consulting, will undoubtedly serve her well in this role.”
As the director, Ballesteros-Sola will use her experience working with the business community and her innovative teaching