On Friday April 22 Penrose Academy President Jill Kohler had the honor of guest lecturing at Arizona State University. Jill spoke with junior and senior students of the W.P. Carey School of Business. The students attend 3 different sections of Dr. Christopher Necks Introduction to Management and Leadership (MGT300) course.
Jill was able to share her journey as an entrepreneur and how the idea of Penrose Academy came about. During her lecture Jill touched on how she was not uniquely qualified to start a business in the professional beauty industry or higher education, but that for 13 years she saw a disconnect between beauty schools and salons.
Penrose Academy all started with an idea that a void needed to be filled in the professional beauty industry with an academy that not only trained in technical skill but also shared best business practices allowing the graduate to have a full knowledge of the industry they were entering, no matter what path they choose to take post graduation. She spoke on the importance of creating a culture, how the Penrose Academy Faculty and Staff “grew” a mission statement, critical thinking, unexpected challenges and unanticipated joys of being an entrepreneur, and a day in the life of a beauty school owner. The students were all ears listening to Jill speak of the trials and tribulations of running a business, from starting the day with student meetings, going through an un-anticipated name change after years in business, and being honored with multiple awards.
Jill left the students of Management 300 with a quote that Penrose Academy students and alumni know very well…
“The Dream is Free. The Hustle is Sold Separately.”
