Director's Message
Welcome to Ciocca Center at Santa Clara University! Ciocca Center is an interdisciplinary center with a mission to encourage and teach an entrepreneurial mindset.
This inaugural issue of The Mindset highlights the importance of empathy, one of the basic tenets of an entrepreneurial mindset. We offer faculty and student viewpoints on the role of empathy in our Perspectives section. In our alumni section, entitled Broncos, Actually, we showcase two alumni who have achieved a level of self-actualization to which we should all aspire! Student Stories brings forward some of the great work being done by our students and introduces our student advisors. Finally, we close with A Well Lighted Place, where we introduce the faculty who direct our efforts and unveil some recent research projects.
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We are excited to bring you these stories and we welcome your feedback.
Keep reading,
Chris Norris, Executive Director
Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
 | As an engineer, Mariah Manzano '20 Web Design & Computer Engineering is accustomed to creating solutions. She has realized that to ideate, design, and implement a solution effectively, each step must be linked to real needs and not assumptions. Read the article here. |
Broncos, Actually  | While attending Santa Clara University and living on campus, double Bronco Aleisha Nelson '17 CS, '19 MSE loved to decorate her dorm room with her own artwork. Her friends began asking her to create customized pieces for them, and Art by Aleisha became an official business. Watch the interview here. |
 | After winning the Crossfit Games in 2008, Jason Khalipa '08 Management saw an opportunity to improve his community through fitness. Jason turned his passion into NCFIT, a global fitness business. Watch the interview here. |
Student Stories  | Ciocca Center recently launched Club Navigator, a platform that helps students find a club or RSO on campus. The platform came out of Ciocca Center's "You Are Here" initiative, where students collaborate on creating meaningful resources for SCU students. Graduate student, and Ciocca Center intern Elita Liu '21 M.S. Engineering Management, manages this project. |
 | Ciocca Center relies on the perspectives of students to ensure our programs and initiatives reflect interdisciplinary interests. Our Student Advisory Board consists of over 20 students from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. This year's board is co-chaired by Sameehah Hussain '21 MIS and Steven Bucher '21 COEN. Learn more here. |
A Well Lighted Place  | Ciocca Center is guided by a diverse faculty advisory board, chaired by our Faculty Director Professor Christopher Kitts, Associate Dean in the School of Engineering. Members of the board come from the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Education & Counseling Psychology, and Leavey School of Business. Learn more here. |
Upcoming Events
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Spring Idea Lab!
10:00am - 2:30pm Be Empowered through Design Thinking @ Idea Lab - the SCU Community of graduate and undergraduate students, alumni, faculty and staff are ALL Invited to attend Bronco Ventures Idea Lab, an experiential no-cost program focused on the core concepts of design thinking, customer-centered problem analysis to Ideation and the Pitch!
For Spring quarter, Idea Lab is offering its Power of the Pitch module. Connect and Discover how to story tell with excitement and passion to attract visibility, interest and bring your idea to life!
Saturday, April 22, 2023 - 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Upon completion, attendees will receive a digital certificate and badge. The program is free and lunch will be provided.
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Business Pitch Competition
All Day
Ciocca Center’s Business Pitch Competition takes place each spring! SCU students of all majors are encouraged to apply for a spot in the competition!
There is a virtual round which happens during the month of April, then a face to face round for those who are selected on May 12th. Here is the general information website for Business Pitch Competition.
Students who are interested in registering for the Business Pitch Competition can do so here! |
Follow us on social media!
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Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Santa Clara University
Lucas Hall Suite 109
cioccacenter@scu.edu |
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