More information about Liz Ngonzi: http://lizngonzi.squarespace.com/

1. Presentationto Conversations with Entrepreneurs Speakers Series Participants Presented by Elizabeth Ngonzi Founder / CEO Amazing Taste, LLC

2. Presentation Overview Firm Profile Career Advice Questions and Answers

3. Firm Profile: Entrepreneurial Journey 2001-2002 2004-2006 2006-2008 2008-2010 2010-? 2002-2004 SHA Mentors: Tom Pedulla, Sherri Kimes, Giuseppe Pezzotti, Barbara Lang, Cathy Enz; & Rupert Spies.

4. Firm Profile: Value Proposition Values-led Consulting Firm: Dedicated to helping clients achieve strategic objectives through High-Impact Marketing Campaigns, High-Profile Events and Ground-Breaking Educational Programs demonstrating a commitment to Global Sustainability, Social Impact and Community Investment. Realization that the clients we serve, the vendors with whom we partners, and individuals that form our team are inextricably linked and must therefore align to produce effective solutions. Leverage a vast international network that enables our team to provide clients with cutting-edge ideas and unique perspectives and globally-relevant solutions.

5. Firm Profile: Size and Scope Events have ranged in size from intimate groups to 10,000 attendees Flexible team of high-quality consultants, interns and vendor partners Services include: Conference & Major Special Event Concept Development & Organization Fundraising & Cause Marketing Campaign Development & Management Program Development & Execution Strategic Alliance Development & Management VIP and Dignitary Protocol Management Executive Lifestyle Management

6. Firm Profile: Representative Clients Global Reach: Action Against Hunger DKNY Misnomer Dance Theater The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation The Loomba Foundation United Nations United Nations Development Programme United Nations International School Womensphere Interactive Networks Yale University National / Regional / Local Reach: Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City Communities In Schools of New Jersey Gilda’s Club of South Jersey Metropolitan Exposition Services The North Jersey Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure National Eating Disorders Association The Committee to Elect Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. The Newgrange School of Princeton

7. Thinking back to your college days, what experiences, courses and/or networks that you developed then have helped you become successful today? Relationships with professors and older alums Developing knife skills in Banfi’s Kitchen that enabled me to qualify for course at CIA Greystone Consumer’s View of Dining Experience, Catering & Special Events, Graduate Quantitative Methods, Cultures & Cuisines, Guest Chefs, Organizational Behavior, Information Technology for Managers HEC, Cornell Dining Club, NSMH

8. Do you think entrepreneurs are born or made? One has to be born with an innate tolerance for uncertainty, creativity, curiosity and spirit for adventure One has to have a good training in one’s craft, ability to manage all facets of a business or access to talent that can do so One has to be willing to make the venture a core part of who they are so as to maximize the potential number of opportunities coming to them

9. Everyone loves to talk about entrepreneurship, but the truth is the pathway is littered with those who have not made it. In your journey, what have been the top 1-2 challenges and how have you overcome them? Cash Flow Management Constant focus on bottom-line Obsessive focus on future business opportunities Remaining Relevant in the Ever-changing Marketplace Education / Training Innovation Listening to ideas of team and vendor partners

10. If you think about your mindset during your college years and then compare it to what you have experienced in your entrepreneurial adventures, what do you think has taken you most by surprise? In other words, what is the gap between what you imagined your entrepreneurial life would be and what it is in reality? You being the super kid versus making the client shine Reward for showing how smart you are as a student Vs Humbling yourself to making your client feel they’re the smart one

11. Leaders often say that they learn the most from their failures, but everyone is reluctant to discuss them. Could you share at least one specific failure, and what you learned from it? How did you become resilient to such experiences? Getting too caught up in deal heat to notice that an opportunity was not the right one Financially and emotionally costly Client’s values were not aligned with our values Now evaluate opportunities based on: Financial / marketing value Alignment with our values Scope of work required and potential for success

12. People issues seem to plague small and large businesses. What advice do you have for entrepreneurial students about how to develop their “softer skills” relating to recruiting, retaining, managing and leading the best people? Very important to recruit for skill and experience, but equally if not more important to look for attitude, vision and alignment with company values Need to understand where team members want to go and find projects and experiences that will enable them to fulfill their dreams Need to serve also as a mentor to help them grow Need to be flexible when life just happens and they can’t fulfill their roles (within reason) Need to make them understand the importance of their contributions to overall efforts

13. Choose one to three of the following statements/questions and tell us your reactions, insights (rebuttals?) on the topic, including examples that help the audience to understand your points: Cash flow is king. - YES Customer service: is the customer always right? – NOT REALLY Be sure to get funding from the right sources at the right time. - YES Choose your partnerships carefully. - YES In times of economic stress, look for opportunities. - YES Figure out your value proposition and test it constantly with the market. - YES Know your brand and stay true to it. – YES to the core Figure out your exit strategy from day one. - MAYBE Ethics is about what you do when nobody is looking. - YES Growing a company is a different job than starting it. - YES

14. Is it important to have an entrepreneurial culture? If not, what is the downside to an entrepreneurial culture? If so, how do you maintain an entrepreneurial culture in your company? Very important Invest in training / education and exposure Encourage input into problem solving Reward for game changing ideas Recognize the potential all team-members bring

15. THANK YOU…QUESTIONS?Elizabeth NgonziFounder / CEOAmazing-Taste.com973-327-4225Ngonzi@Amazing-Taste.comwww.Amazing-Taste.com