The Center for Free Enterprise Offers Special Programming

Each semester, the Center for Free Enterprise in the College of Business offers students and the community programming that explores the role of enterprise and entrepreneurship in making people’s lives better. CFE events provide participants opportunities to learn about the use of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking in their work, no matter their area of study or career.

The spring 2024 semester line up of programming includes student reading groups, visiting scholars, and the Menard Family Lecture Series. The Center often collaborates with other units in the College of Business, the University, and organizations in the community to bring topics and speakers of interest to the College.

Earlier this month, the Center worked with commercial real estate executives and the CoB Finance department to present a timely panel discussion, Reinventing Downtown Louisville: Exploring Post-Pandemic Commercial Real Estate Opportunities. Coinciding with the launch of a Commercial Real Estate minor in the CoB, this event brought together experts to discuss the changes in downtown Louisville since the pandemic. Widespread business shutdowns necessitated and normalized remote work, causing major changes in workspace needs after shutdowns were lifted. The panel discussed adaptive reuse of downtown buildings, along with opportunities and challenges facing Louisville. The event drew more than 200 interested students, university faculty and staff, as well as a large number of community members and businesspeople.

In February, the Center is teaming up with UofL’s YUM! Center for Global Franchise Excellence to present Investing in Communities Where it Makes a Difference.  In this fireside chat, YCGFE director Kathy Gosser and CFE director Steve Gohmann will be joined by Damien Dwin, founder and CEO of Lafayette Square and Wanda Williams, Head of Global Franchising at Yum! Brands to discuss bringing economic prosperity to underserved communities through franchising opportunities. This event is free and open to all and will be held in the College of Business auditorium on Tuesday, February 13 at 4:30.

MORE INFORMATION

For the final event in the lecture series, the Center proudly hosts a talk by North Korean defector and human rights activist Yeonmi Park. At the age of 13, Yeonmi fled North Korea to China, eventually landing in the United States. She will share her compelling story of strength and survival and share how her search for freedom continues in the US. All are welcome to this exclusive talk by a remarkable young woman. The talk will be held in the College of Business on Tuesday, April 2 at 4:30.

For more information on Center for Free Enterprise programming and events, visit UofLFreeEnterprise.org.