Find Your Fit - Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin

Are you interested in finding out where your goals fit at KS WELI and what entrepreneurship means for you? KS WELI is the space for you to Find Your Fit!

KS WELI equips and empowers the next generation of courageous and creative leaders who will change the world- in business and beyond. KS WELI is open to all and is a place for you to figure out what entrepreneurship might mean for you. Whether you're a freelancer, a creative, a scientist, a business major, or have a side hustle, KS WELI is here to support you. With resources, events, and marketing, we have several ways you can get involved and tap into our community.

Join us for KS WELI for curated content designed to inspire and equip you in your entrepreneurial leadership journey and build your community along the way. The majority of our programming is open to the public - come and join us! Open to all.

Empower Hours

Empower Hours are hosted once a month and strive to equip the next generation of leaders through tangible takeaways. Vetted experienced speakers are invited to host Empower Hours on a topic related to being a leader or entrepreneur. Check out past Empower Hours in our Content Library!

Empower Hours are open to the public.

Register for an Upcoming Event

Signature Events

Throughout the year KS WELI brings our core community together for invite only Signature Events such as International Women’s Day, Senior Celebration and other larger events that are open to the public like Women’s Summit. Keep an eye out for public opportunities on our Upcoming Events page, and join the KS WELI community for the opportunity to attend other exclusive events!

Register for an Upcoming Event

Learn more about the new Women in Entrepreneurship specialization and KS WELI-sponsored courses that offer interdisciplinary opportunities to study entrepreneurship.

FA 355 // Women in Entrepreneurship

This class, co-taught by entrepreneurs / UT faculty members Jan Ryan and Kendra Scott, will immerse students in the core tenets of creating a new business. The course is designed to provide hands-on, tangible tools to equip and empower all entrepreneurs. Using a “live” case study of Kendra Scott, LLC, and with a blend of lectures, experiential exercises, guest speakers, and a 5-week sprint, the class will expose women's obstacles in contemporary society, with strategies to overcome.

Learn More About Courses

A group of students posing for a photo with Kendra Scott at the KS WELI

MAN 347P // Entrepreneurship Practicum: Passion Industries

Many new ventures are born out of the personal passions of an entrepreneur, often in high-wattage industries like sports and entertainment. This class is designed to enable students to develop the critical thinking and skills necessary to succeed in entrepreneurial pursuits throughout their lives by exploring their passion areas, utilizing self-reflection and honing a tactical process that can be applied over and over.

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TXA 341E / MAN 337 // Accessory Design, Development and Merchandising

From beyond the walls of the classroom and into a real-life creative studio, this hands-on experiential course will walk students through the steps of designing a jewelry collection through the Kendra Scott, LLC lens. The semester will end with a virtual student exhibition in partnership with the Kendra Scott, LLC team where one piece may be chosen for distribution in selected Kendra Scott stores.

Learn More About Courses

Become part of our flourishing and supportive community for leadership development, mentorship, and exclusive opportunities for the core KS WELI community.

Student Board - General Membership

The Student Board (SB) constitutes the student voice of KS WELI and implements initiatives and programs to continue KS WELI's mission across the 40 Acres. Anyone can join as a General Member and can apply to serve on one of the SB's 10 committees. Applications are open at the beginning of each semester; you don’t want to miss it!

Learn more about the KS WELI Sponsored Organizations

Whether you’re in your ideation phase with a pitch deck or have a flourishing business you’re looking to grow, KS WELI’s Founder Program is here to meet you where you’re at and help you take your business to the next level.

Inside the KS WELI Founder Program

KS WELI Founders get access to an immersive library of content as well as specialized workshops and panels created with each cohort in mind. With a mix of live workshops, in-person panels, peer-to-peer mentorship, and curated content from our video and article library, our KS WELI Founder can find what they need to support their growing business. KS WELI Founder get access to grant and funding opportunities through our partnership with the Jessica Vollman Foundation as well as opportunities to pitch in a Shark Tank-style Pitch Showcase in front of Kendra Scott and a team of judges. KS WELI Founder can collaborate with their cohort, program alumni, and mentors through online networking and in-person events.

Learn more about Founders

Founder Opportunities

KS WELI Founders get access to unique opportunities to share their own entrepreneurial journey. Through KS WELI’s Founder Panels, Founder are able to contribute their own knowledge on a specific topic to further support their own cohort as well as the greater KS WELI community. Additionally, KS WELI Founder provide their own experiences and expertise to partnership groups such as Texas Global, YSEALI, Ukrainian Business Leaders, and beyond. KS WELI Founder have presented their businesses at SXSW and at Kendra Scott, LLC Stores and events.

Learn more about FoundHERs

Interest & Nominations

By filling out this Interest Form, you or the founder you nominated will be contacted and encouraged to apply when applications open.

Founder Program Criteria:
- Open to all
- A participant in the UT Austin-Ecosystem, including (undergraduate student, grad student/postdoc, UT faculty/staff, alumni).

- Ideally within the first 0-3 years of their business

- Must have one pager or pitch deck

Interest & Nomination Form

Two women discussing the FoundHER program

Connect with KS WELI

Connect with KS WELI Content

SHEspeaks

Starting a CPG Business from the Ground Up with Nicole Cardone from SorBabes

Founder Panel

Lessons in Building Community to Grow Your Business

EmBOLDen Blog

The 3 Free Things I Did in College to Prepare Myself for a Professional Photography Career

EmBOLDen Blog

20 Things I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me in College

Founding Fearless Podcast

Natalie Holloway: Building a Brand, Taking Risks, & Securing a Shark Tank Deal With Co-Founder of Bala:

Founding Fearless Podcast

Dean Lillian Mills: Advice on Imposter Syndrome, Presentation Tips & Tricks, and Being the First Woman Dean of McCombs School of Business:

Explore Our Content Library

“My mission is to show women everywhere that success does not always look the way you expect it to. Women are strong, and are capable of achieving their dream. But we are so much stronger when we stand together.”Kendra Scott, Founder & Executive Chairwoman, Kendra Scott, LLC

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Learn more about how we are #empoweringwomentolead and #encouragingtheworldtofollow

Start a Conversation

Empower Hours

Signature Events

FA 355 // Women in Entrepreneurship

MAN 347P // Entrepreneurship Practicum: Passion Industries

TXA 341E / MAN 337 // Accessory Design, Development and Merchandising

Student Board - General Membership

Student Board - Executive Committee

Alumni Board

Inside the KS WELI Founder Program

Founder Opportunities

Interest & Nominations

Connect with KS WELI

Follow

Read

Subscribe

Listen

Join

Connect with KS WELI Content

SHEspeaks

Founder Panel

EmBOLDen Blog

EmBOLDen Blog

Founding Fearless Podcast

Founding Fearless Podcast

Join Our KS WELI Newsletter