Westminster University & TheirStory Webinar

This webinar outlines an innovative course at Westminster University aimed at integrating oral history into teaching entrepreneurial mindset.

Dax Jacobson, Charlie Warner, Taylor Smith, Zack Ellis

This webinar outlines an innovative course at Westminster University aimed at integrating oral history into teaching entrepreneurial mindset. Key participants include Dax Jacobsen, Charlie Warner, and a student, Taylor Smith, who shared their experiences. The course explored the intersection of oral history and entrepreneurship by having students engage with everyday entrepreneurs, capturing and archiving their stories. They emphasized the importance of storytelling as a pedagogical tool, offering students practical insights into the entrepreneurial mindset beyond traditional business skills. Charlie detailed the flexible yet structured course modules, which guided students in developing empathetic listening and narrative skills, critical during uncertain ventures like cold-calling and conducting interviews. The course allowed for a fluid, real-world experience that mirrored entrepreneurial challenges, ultimately fostering deeper community connections and mentorship opportunities for students, bringing valuable insights to the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Utah. Technological tools, specifically the TheirStory platform, played a crucial role by providing streamlined processes for recording and managing interviews, thus enhancing the overall educational experience. Looking forward, the project aims to further solidify its curriculum, encouraging a broader adoption across similar institutions. The initiative cultivates an archive rich with diverse entrepreneurial narratives, reinforcing community ties and contributing to academic and practical knowledge on entrepreneurship's varied and intricate landscapes.