Entrepreneur Magazine Editor Amy Cosper Delivers President's Lecture
September 26, 2014
Amy Cosper (right) and Lee Entsminger, whose donation has funded a fellowship program for aspiring ODU faculty entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs restore my faith in humanity on a daily basis, and that is no lie," Amy Cosper, journalist and editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, told a crowd of about 300 at Old Dominion University's President's Lecture.
The Thursday, Sept. 25 address was held as part of a week celebrating entrepreneurship at Old Dominion University. The lively, hour-long address and question-and-answer session saw Cosper articulate her vision for entrepreneurship, and why it interests her so much as a journalist.
To explain that, Cosper talked about the way Entrepreneur Magazine used to be, when she was considering an editorial position with the publication. The entrepreneurs spotlighted included a hot tub rental company, guys who sell foam hats, and in one particularly unique issue, tips for setting up a mail-order bride service.
"People used to have a hard time articulating what an entrepreneur was," Cosper told the audience.
When she became editor-in-chief, Cosper insisted that the entrepreneurs featured needed to include individuals like Richard Branson. Putting him on the cover of her first magazine as editor resulted in the largest newsstand sales in the history of Entrepreneur Magazine. "Richard Branson was the turning point in entrepreneurship. He made it cool."
Cosper told the crowd that she was excited to be at Old Dominion University as part of Strome Entrepreneur Week, the week of events culminating with the dedication of the Strome Entrepreneurial Center Thursday afternoon on Kaufman Mall.
The Center was made possible through an $11-million donation by the Strome Family Foundation, led by Mark and Tammy Strome. The Strome Entrepreneurial Center will provide support for student entrepreneurs from the whole campus, with the goal of empowering future business startups and growing the economy.
"You guys are absolutely at the most exciting time. The Strome Center has the potential to change the university," Cosper said.
Cosper's love of the media and publishing started with a fervor for technology. But at WiesnerMedia, Cosper delved into the essence of what it means to be an entrepreneur. As the company's entrepreneur-in-residence, Cosper solicited and evaluated new business plans, ventures and partnerships for a slew of media properties targeting the insurance and financial markets.
Cosper is a media evangelizer throughout the world delving into conference topics such as free economics, web 2.0 and social media optimization, broadcasting, the Internet, media, online profiling and user behaviors and content strategies.
Cosper cut her teeth as a news reporter on assignment in Israel, Norway, Brazil, Luxembourg, Paris and London, covering broadband, broadcasting and satellites. Eventually she became publisher and editor-in-chief for Satellite Broadband magazine at WiesnerMedia, and later she redesigned and directed five award-winning financial magazines.
At Entrepreneur Media, Cosper's breadth of experience and tech savvy infuses cutting-edge ideas into the company with a 34-year legacy of serving the small business market. Her mission? Keep entrepreneurs alert to the network of tools fundamental to launching and growing their businesses - offering advice about people, technologies, funding sources and best practices.
The ODU President's Lecture Series speeches are free and open to the public, and have previously included addresses by scientists, writers, educators, historians and Pulitzer Prize winners.