Dare to Be Confident - Women’s Entrepreneurship Week at Seton Hall
Thursday, September 30, 2021
"A successful woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the brick that others have thrown at her." – Anonymous
These wise words are in the heart of every woman entrepreneur as she continues to pursue her passions and forge her own path.
Three amazing women innovators and changemakers will share their experiences and their journeys to success at Seton Hall's annual recognition and celebration of Women's Entrepreneurship Week. The virtual panel discussion is sponsored by Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute. The event is also sponsored by the Women in Business and Entrepreneurship student clubs. These incredible women overcame obstacles and faced many challenges while establishing themselves as formidable forces in the business world. They rose to the occasion and shattered the glass ceiling, paving a way for other future women entrepreneurs. The women are at different stages in their careers and have much insight to share. Though their experiences have been different, each of these women has one common trait – perseverance.
The Dare to Be Confident – Women's Entrepreneurship Week lecture event will be held on Thursday, October 21, 7 - 8:30 p.m. The session will be moderated by two Seton Hall student entrepreneurs, Faith Akinlade and Belen Gamarra. All are welcome to attend what will be an informative and engaging panel discussion.
Meet the Panelists
Beatriz Manetta emigrated from Argentina to Elizabeth, New Jersey, when she was a
young girl. Manetta earned both of her degrees while maintaining a full-time job.
She has a bachelor's degree in marketing and accounting from Rutgers University and
holds a Master of Science in International Studies from Seton Hall University. She
worked in corporate America for 20 years. The knowledge, skills, training and assignments
in human resources, sales, technical support, quality management and her focus on
both national and international assignments were great tools for an entrepreneur.
In addition, Manetta credits key personal networks and relationships as being a critical element in helping to create and shape Argent Associates Inc. and Asociar LLC. Argent Associates was launched in 1998, where Manetta is president & CEO. In 2012, she launched Asociar LLC where she is now partner & COO. Manetta has built an impeccable reputation and is known for her ability to create technologies that will be the infrastructure for edge computing and IoT implementations.
This is a critical element in being able to grow and sustain a business. Manetta's success is interdependent with the success of the communities. Social responsibility is taken seriously, and Manetta has been awarded numerous awards from local, state, federal, corporate and nonprofit organizations for her leadership and commitment to the community. She is also a former member of the Seton Hall University Board of Regents.
Manetta lives by her quote, "Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don't strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt."
Pravina Raghavan began her career as an entrepreneur, then switched gears to become
an innovative "intrapreneur" in both the corporate and government sectors. As the
executive vice president, Division of Small Business and Technology Development for
Empire State Development (ESD), Raghavan oversees more than 30 programs to support
entrepreneurs and small business owners. The programs focus on providing support to
small businesses by increasing access to capital, assisting in entrepreneurial development,
including commercialization and technology assistance. The programs are geared to
businesses with fewer than 100 employees.
Prior to joining ESD, Raghavan was the senior advisor to the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, deputy associate administrator of Investment and Innovation at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the district director for SBA's New York District Office. Before joining the federal government, Raghavan was a vice president with MTV and BET Networks, an owner and partner of a strategic advisory firm and business development director for Misys PLC, one of the world's largest banking software companies. She was also an associate at Broadview International, a London investment bank, and worked at AT&T in several finance and management roles, including her last five years as the M&A director for Europe & Asia. Raghavan has an M.B.A. in finance from Seton Hall University and a B.S. in finance from The Pennsylvania State University. Raghavan is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Erin Miu is a recent M.B.A. graduate of Syracuse's Whitman School of Management and
has been an accountant at her family's firm, Miu & Company for over seven years. Miu
consults with business and individual clients primarily in tax and financial planning.
Prior to that, she worked in the fashion industry, managing global designer Vivienne
Tam's flagship boutique and helping to host events and fashion shows during New York
Fashion Week. A 2011 graduate of the Stillman School of Business, she followed in
her father's footsteps and attended Seton Hall and found her home away from home.
Miu earned a Bachelor of Science in Management, with a minor in French and a Certificate
in Entrepreneurship. She gained many important and lasting relationships throughout
her years at The Hall. In her spare time, Miu enjoys traveling, watching Formula
1 racing and is currently pursuing a master's degree in accounting.
Meet the Moderators
Belen Gamarra is a first-generation Colombian American who is passionate about her
colorful heritage. She also serves as the president for Women in Business and is
passionate about empowering women to bridge gender gaps that exist in the workforce.
She is a member of the Class of 2022 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
Faith Akinlade is a member of the Class of 2022 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science
in Physics and Mechanical Engineering. She is also a student researcher for the Advanced
Material Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory. Notably, Akinlade is currently
pursuing a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Seton Hall.
Registration is now open. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from three amazing women innovators and changemakers.
Categories: Business
