The members of RCIE's new student entrepreneurship panel. - Photo via RCIE
The Rowan Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RCIE) launched a Student Entrepreneurship Advisory Council (SEAC) composed of 11 students from different colleges and backgrounds. The goal of the SEAC is to introduce the entrepreneurial mindset and spirit to students outside of the Rohrer College of Business. The representatives will be responsible for hosting one entrepreneurship-based event in their respective colleges per semester, starting in the fall of 2025.
The current colleges represented by the members are the College of Business, School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, College of Performing Arts, the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, the Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts, College of Education, College of Science and Mathematics, and the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering.
According to Rowan’s website, “Members work to inspire their peers, host meaningful programming within their colleges, and promote opportunities that help students engage with Rowan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, think creatively, act boldly, and turn ideas into action. These student leaders are dedicated to making entrepreneurship accessible, inclusive, and relevant to all students—regardless of background or field of study.”
Sukhmun Bains, a freshman finance major at Rowan, wants students to know that they can be an entrepreneur in any major.
“[We want] to go against the belief that entrepreneurship is only business majors, for business majors, about business majors, and we’re trying to bring it to the entire school,” said Bains.
Bains first got involved in the program with her friend Samantha Tamtama, who both went to Clearview High School. Tamtama is a freshman entrepreneurship major and runs her own chicken sandwich and sauce business, Sammi’s Sandwiches. Bains was a part of Tamtama’s team in the Idea Challenge held last semester.
“That was something I had never imagined I’d ever want to do. So if I didn’t go to those events, I would never have known that. When it came around that they were looking for people to kind of spread entrepreneurship and the mindset to the rest of the campus, I was all for it,” said Bains.
Although Bains doesn’t have her own business, but she is passionate about the message and wants to inspire other students. Some day she would like to open a bookstore and cafe, and is inspired by other entrepreneurs to pursue this.
One of her biggest inspirations is Tamtama, who she saw start her business in high school and get to where it is now.
Tamtama is the chair of the SEAC. She works as the in-between for the members of the council and advisors of the entrepreneurship program, as well leading the meetings and events.
When she got to Rowan, she formed a close relationship with Jessica Vattima, the director of the RCIE, who introduced her to a world of opportunities.
“Entrepreneurship means [to me] my future and also my passion. I think it allows me to be creative and to really put out my personality into a business,” said Tamtama.
Tamtama recently won first place in the New Venture Expo, and plans to expand her sauce and sandwich business into the world of e-commerce.
As a freshman in college, as well as a small business owner, Tamtama said her biggest challenge is time management.
“Pick a day and just get everything done. Also give yourself days where you could rest and have these for yourself so you don’t get overly burnt out,” said Tamtama.
In her role at the SEAC, she hopes to spread awareness throughout campus about entrepreneurship and the opportunities available.
“A lot of students don’t know that there’s competitions like this. There’s a lot of education, educational events like this that can help them with their career. I think it’s important to spread entrepreneurship throughout campus so that kids can allow themselves to be creative, to be innovative, and you never know where it’ll bring you,” said Tamtama.
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