The Asper School of Business announced today that it has appointed La Royce Batchelor as Director of the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Batchelor’s primary responsibilities will be to develop and manage a suite of programs within the Centre, and strengthen connections between Centre, the Asper School’s academic entrepreneurship program, and community partners and stakeholders. She will serve as a mentor to young entrepreneurs at the University of Manitoba seeking to launch startups and compete in global business venture competitions.

She steps into the role on August 1, 2017.

“La Royce Batchelor’s diverse experience in entrepreneurship, innovation and teaching make her an ideal fit for the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship and the Asper community,” says Gady Jacoby, acting dean of the Asper School of Business.

A self-described “lifetime serial entrepreneur,” Batchelor launched her first startup at age 15. She has coached more than 75 student ventures, and dozens of public ventures, from concept to launch – most from a zero funds startup approach. As an instructor at the University of North Dakota, she created and taught courses in digital entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial communication. Her academic research focuses on pedagogy and intellectual property. Her research garnered her an invitation to teach at the University of Shanghai Science and Technology where she taught Innovation Management.

Batchelor is also a medal- and award-winning Sensei who holds the rank of Sandan in Shotokan Karate.