Should Your Idea Be a Business? with Julann Jactzak – 2-14-15
February 6, 2015
You might have a great idea or skill for a product or service, but should you turn that idea into a business? Starting and sustaining a business takes a specific skill set and commitment. Is it the best fit for you to see your idea become a reality? Our guest this week has advised and guided many entrepreneurs on this important decision and she will share her insights and advice.
Julann Jatczak develops and manages strategic initiatives for The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC). She champions projects designed to increase WWBIC’s program efficiency, brand awareness, outreach, and ability to exceed client expectations. She is well known for developing business workshops for micro-businesses, especially targeting women and low-income individuals. Julann also leads WWBIC’s consulting services and social entrepreneurship initiatives.
Julann has co-authored three publications on business planning, money management and social entrepreneurship. Additionally, she regularly provides consultation to nonprofits and emerging business centers nationally and internationally. In 2008, Julann was recognized with two major distinctions for her work in small business development. Locally, she was honored as the Dane County Small Business Advocate of the Year. And nationally, Julann was selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as their “Women’s Business Champion.”
She serves on the national Board of the Center for Social Enterprise Accreditation and several other leadership teams including the FEED Kitchens Advisory Council. She formerly served as the local Wisconsin Coordinator for the “Make Mine a $Million Business” campaign for Count Me In.
Before joining WWBIC in 1996, Julann was a business development consultant for Runzheimer International where she worked with noted Fortune 500 companies. Prior to that, her background was in advertising, marketing and public relations in Milwaukee and New York. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.
For more about Julann and WWBIC, go to www.wwbic.com.
( WWBIC is a nonprofit economic development corporation providing quality business education, one-on-one coaching, financial capability programs, and access to capital to Wisconsin entrepreneurs and small business owners. Each year, WWBIC works with more than 3,000 people through their programs. As the state’s largest micro-lender, WWBIC has loaned more than $39 million to businesses (average loan size of $35,000) since 1987. )
