Angela
A. Brown
Angelique X. Irvin
David
Ashley Morrsion
David Niu
TEACHING & LEARNING
Consulting
to Growth Businesses
Opening the Doors to Private Equity
OUTREACH
Wharton West: Back to School
Q&A with The Newly Appointed Director of The Wharton Small Business Development Center
Faces of Wharton Entrepreneurship
RESEARCH
Inside The "War Room"
Her
business is 20 years in the making and includes some memorable "firsts."
Meet alumnae entrepreneur, Angelique X. Irvin.
Personal Information
Angelique
X. Irvin,
President/CEO,
Coviant
Education: MBA, The Wharton School;
BS, Ceramic Engineering, Alfred University
Primary place of residence: Radnor,
Pennsylvania
It would surprise people that I….:
Keep a dog in my office.
P.O.V. (Point of View)
I
became an entrepreneur because…:
It provided
the daily intellectual challenge that I needed for career satisfaction.
Best way to respond to criticism and doubters: …: Don't
give them the satisfaction of a response, spend that energy elsewhere.
Best definition of a successful entrepreneur: Daring visionary
with ability to change direction.
Most challenging part of your job: Creating dramatic growth
with limited resources.
Biggest impact of the Wharton School: The skills to excel and
a few people that believed I could make it happen... oh yes the seed capital
helped too.
Best memory of your Wharton days: Trip with Wharton friends
to the Galapagos & Amazon in Ecuador.
Close calls
How
you started your business: 20 years of preparation,
two years of pure determination and hard work, lots of help from those
who believed in the dream and dedicated their efforts.
Pivotal moment in growing your business: First patent, First
sale, and First shipment.
Most interesting non-entrepreneurial job offer you've declined:
After what I do now, not much else seems that interesting.
Biggest surprise you encountered growing your business: How
very few people can give good advice.
Most difficult decision you're glad you made:
Letting key people go when they don't add value.
Entrepreneur to Entrepreneur
Favorite Web site: www.salesforce.com
Book
that most influenced your thinking: The Entrepreneurial
Mindset by Rita Gunther McGrath & Ian MacMillan
Favorite activity outside of business: Reading novels &
adventure travel (preferably together)
Goal still pursuing: Life balance
Person most influential to your success: Without a doubt ...
my mother
Person you most admire: My husband... unbelievable patience
and vision
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .