Mills ready to empower future entrepreneurs

Monique Mills is aiming to help University of North Georgia (UNG) students figure out how they can bring their creative business ideas to life and think like an entrepreneur regardless of the industry they enter.

Mills is the new director of UNG's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Mike Cottrell College of Business (MCCB).

"We are so excited to have Monique's expertise in the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Her vision for how the center can support entrepreneurship in north Georgia is exactly what we need now. She brings a unique perspective that matches the character of our communities with the opportunities for growth," said Dr. Rachel Clapp-Smith, MCCB dean. "The process of entrepreneurship is ever-evolving, and Monique is right on the forefront of that evolution. This provides insight that helps our students see entrepreneurship as a viable career path and removes much of the mystery in becoming an entrepreneur and innovator."

Mills is a degreed engineer turned serial entrepreneur with experience building ventures, advising startups and small and midsize businesses on strategy, innovation and growth. She has also helped organizations execute economic development initiatives. Mills currently serves as president of Focused Innovation Group and founder and chief innovation strategist of TPM Focus. She previously served as a visiting lecturer of entrepreneurship and innovation at Georgia State University.

"Everyone in this tech-centered, AI-driven society must understand how business creates and delivers value and have entrepreneurial skills," Mills said. "You have to be entrepreneurially minded even if you aren't starting a business or running a business yourself."

This mindset came naturally to Mills, who earned her Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering technology from Rochester Institute of Technology before later adding a Master of Business Administration from Georgia Tech.

"Engineering trains you to be a problem-solver, and that's what entrepreneurship is in a nutshell," Mills said. "The more you execute, the more confidence you gain."

She knows firsthand the joys and the frustrations of being a business innovator.

"My goal is to make the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation an accessible, student-centered resource across UNG's five campuses where students from all disciplines will be able to explore CEI's four pathways: starting a business, buying an existing business (entrepreneurship through acquisition), operating a family business (entrepreneurship through succession), and innovating within an existing company as an employee (intrapreneurship)," Mills said. "They will also have opportunities to engage in experiential learning, build professional networks, and develop and test their ideas."

While her experience will be a valuable asset for students, she is approaching her new role with an open mind to what these future innovators want to pursue.

"We want students from every discipline to recognize opportunities, test their ideas, build meaningful relationships, and develop the confidence to create value wherever their careers take them," Mills said. "Whether they launch or acquire a business, lead a family enterprise, or innovate within an established company, entrepreneurial thinking will give them options."