March 2026: Importance of Creativity - Moving Entrepreneurs from “I” to “Pi”

Dr. Leigh Estabrooks led workshops examining the importance of creativity for entrepreneurs. She introduced students to conceptual models of professional traits and progression from “I-shaped” individuals with deep expertise in a single domain, to “π- shaped” professionals who combine disciplinary depth with broader, cross-functional knowledge, and encouraged them to aspire to a “comb-shaped” profile, characterized by expertise across multiple areas and the capacity to integrate and apply knowledge across domains.

Students reflected on their individual strengths, personal attributes, and areas for development, with particular attention to strategies for diversifying skills and talents to enhance entrepreneurial readiness and long-term professional success.