WEV CEO talks planning and resilience at Santa Barbara event
How can entrepreneurs thrive in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world?
Women’s Economic Ventures CEO Kathy Odell spoke about thriving in ambiguity at a ticketed event on Sept. 22, hosted in downtown Santa Barbara by the Santa Barbara Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Amid unprecedented change, dealing with an unknown future is a constant in almost every aspect of life. It can be hard to plan, Odell said, when what’s ahead is an unfamiliar occurrence.
“We live in a world where many of the problems that we face today didn’t exist yesterday,” Odell said. “Name one that has a single solution: COVID, climate change and income inequality. Got any solutions for those? … Actually, we probably have many solutions for them, but they just don’t work in isolation anymore.”
Many people feel overwhelmed or have no clue what to do about some situations, and count on others to make a decision during times of uncertainty.
“The first thing we have to do in our personal behavior is accept the world we live in,” Odell said.
About 30 NAWBO members and guests gathered at the Grassini Family Vineyards outdoor patio for the event, which was sponsored by American Riviera Bank. The afternoon began with attendees sipping a complimentary glass of wine, networking and eating appetizers from Santa Barbara-based Pascucci.
Following Odell’s remarks, attendees toured Women’s Economic Venture’s new office at the historic El Centro building on East Canon Perdido Street in Santa Barbara.
