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Starting a business isn't easy. You need an idea. A plan. Funding. Passion and sweat equity. These challenges are heightened for women entrepreneurs--a growing force in business. More than 9.4 million firms are now owned by women, employing nearly 7.9 million people, and generating $1.5 trillion in sales as of 2015, according to the National Association of Women Business Owners. 

On Feb. 21, 2018, host Chris Farrell was joined by three women entrepreneurs at the Schultz School of Entrepreneurship at The University of St. Thomas to hear their insights gained building their businesses.   

Jasmine Russell Founder & CEO, Monicat Data

M.B.A, Kelley School of Business, Marketing, Indiana University. B.A., Psychology, Purdue University.

Jasmine Russell Founder, CEO of Monicat Data--a strategic agency providing data management and technology solutions for the creative economy, holds nine years of experience within quantitative and qualitative market research and digital analytics across markets of: creative, retail, consumer products, healthcare, service and technology industries. Art has set the foundation of her perspective in viewing data and Monicat Data seeks to broaden the creative community's perspective of data usage to elevate understandings of their craft and work.

Jasmine additionally works to develop technology and art supporting concepts as Co-Founder of The Fourth Wall MSP (Co-working building development campaign), Board Member of GiveMN and community organizer in the development, awareness and support for People of Color (POC) in technology.

Juhi Gupta Gulati Founder & CEO, Frego Food Storage Solutions

Juhi Gupta, CEO and Founder of Frego, moved to the Twin Cities after getting married in 1997. She worked at the Pillsbury company as a Sr. Financial Analyst in their International division and later with General Mills before becoming a full-time Mom in 2004. 

In 2012 Ms. Gupta, took her passion for the environment and frustrations surrounding healthy eating on the go for her family to market. The product line she developed in 2010 and launched in 2012, sold over 30,000 units in major national retailers including Crate and Barrel and The Container Store and received the highest industry honors by winning the 2013 IHA Finalist Award for Innovation and becoming a Semi-Finalist for MN Cup 2015.

She lives in the Twin Cities area with her husband, an attorney with General Mills, and their two teenage sons.

Susan Wuollett, Co-Founder & President, Protege Biomedical

Susan Wuollett is an inventor, entrepreneur, and mother. She is the current co-founder and President of Protege Biomedical, a medical device company she founded with her husband, after they developed and patented a life-saving blood-stopping technology. Their device platform, Ionic Hemostatic Mineral (IHM) Technology is currently sold on the animal market, and they are working with the FDA to gain clearance for human use.
 
Susan has four issued patents (US, China, Mexico, Singapore) and others pending.
 
She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Northwestern and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
 
Prior to co-founding Protege Biomedical, Susan worked for nearly 10 years at Wells Fargo, most recently as a Marketing Program Manager for Wells Fargo Enterprise Marketing.
 
Susan and her husband live in Chanhassen MN and have a 5-year-old son, a 1-year-old daughter, and two spoiled Golden Retrievers. 

About Conversations on the Creative Economy

Conversations on the Creative Economy is Minnesota Public Radio's showcase event to highlight the region's most intriguing and inspiring stories of entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity. Senior economics contributor and host Chris Farrell holds an in-depth conversations with his guest in front of an audience. 

Reserve tickets to the next Conversations on the Creative Economy with Michael Happe, CEO of Winnebago on March 21st.

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Female leadership is growing in the world of business. Three CEOs talked about the knowledge they've gained running their own businesses.

Conversations on the Creative Economy: Women leaders in business

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