The University of Texas at Austin has announced the creation of the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute. The WEL Institute, which will open next spring, will serve as a community of diversity, inclusion, and entrepreneurship, empowering women to advocate for themselves and find the space to make their impact.
Kendra Scott is a fashion designer who got her start in Austin and has created a billion-dollar company with retail stores and an extensive online business. Scott has a history of supporting women’s causes.
In announcing the new institute, Scott said that “we are creating a program focused on redefining leadership and entrepreneurship through a gender-enlightened lens. With this institute, we want to create a pipeline of courageous, creative female leaders who will shatter stereotypes of what an entrepreneur should look like, and will challenge the rulebooks that have governed the business world for generations.”
Gregory L. Fenves, president of the University of Texas, added that “we are creating a center where aspiring women leaders can gain knowledge, motivation and experience for their careers and lives after graduation. It is an honor to partner with Kendra Scott — one of the most creative and dynamic entrepreneurs in the country — to empower and inspire the next generation of women CEOs, founders and innovators.”