Innovation Conversations

A collaboration between the Werth Institute and the UConn Foundation, Innovation Conversations offers a platform for current students to discuss topics they're passionate about with UConn alum and other industry leaders through talks and panel discussions. 

student holding event pamphlet

Storrs, September 2024

Innovation Conversations at Storrs

Event held at the Student Union Theatre

Speakers:

  • How One Simple Idea of Embracing Discomfort Changed My Life by Brendan Barnett ‘26
  • Becoming a Werth Institute Student Leader Redefined My View of Entrepreneurship by Katherine Bates ‘25
  • If You’re Not Failing, You’re Not Challenging Yourself Enough by Lily Dworak ‘25

Students coached by Jake Winter ‘23, CTO & Co-Founder PatentPlusAI

Panel Speakers

Julia Cirone, Jeffrey Danko, Aime Mulungula

In this photo: Katie Britt, Lily Dworak, Aime Mulungula, Jake Winter, Brendan Barnett, Jeffrey Danko, Lindsay Taylor, Julia Cirone, Katherine Bates
from left: Jake Winter, Aime Mulungula, Julia Cirone, Jeffrey Danko
Brendan Barnett is in this photo

Chicago, November 2022

Speakers:

  • The Art of Leaving Your Comfort Zone by Arav Parikh ‘25
  • Being an Advocate Taught me to Advocate for Myself by Kristina DeMichiel ‘25
  • The Downfall of Architectural Diversity by Jonathan Schoelkopf ‘25
  • What I've Learned from Working in Fast Food by Nathan Catapano ‘25

Students coached by Jake Winter ‘23

Event hosted by Bob ’68 MS, ’72 Ph.D. and Fran Del Boca ’71 (CLAS)

Innovation Conversations | November 2022, Chicago Videos

Nathan Catapano, Jonathan Schoelkopf, Arav Parikh, Kristina DeMichiel
From left: Nathan Catapano, Jonathan Schoelkopf, Arav Parikh, Kristina DeMichiel
Innovation Conversation presentation
Innovation Conversation Networking
Innovation Conversation Group Photo
From Left: Amisha Paul, Sudzy Mallick, Prabhas KC, Zoey England, Nicole Julie Muthoni, and Hritish Bhargava
From Left: Amisha Paul, Sudzy Mallick, Prabhas KC, Zoey England, Nicole Julie Muthoni, and Hritish Bhargava

Boston, March 2022

Innovation Conversations: Ideas UntappedSpeakers:
    • Modernizing Global Health: A Call for Collective Action by Amisha Paul ‘22
    • Embracing the Applicability of the Founder Mindset by Hritish Bhargava ‘24
    • Bridging the Digital Divide in Emergent Nations by Nicole Julie Muthoni ‘23
    • The Principles of Growth by Prabhas KC ’22
    • School Can Be Fun: Embracing Innovation in Education by Sudiksha ‘Sudzy’ Mallick ‘23 and ‘24

    Student speakers coached by Zoey England ‘22

    Innovation Conversations: Ideas Untapped | March 2022 Videos

    Zoey England presenting
    Innovation Conversation networking
    Innovation Conversations students