Mona Anita Olsen

Assistant Professor and Associate Academic Director of the Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship, School of Hotel Administration (SHA), Cornell University

As an assistant professor, Olsen developed and currently teaches courses focused on entrepreneurship theory and practice. She is the recipient of a Small Private Online Class (SPOC) grant from the Office of the Vice Provost to create HADM 4180x MAD Clouds: Making a Difference with Cloud-Based Technology in Entrepreneurial Business Planning, the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies Small Grant for the course development of Global Conversations with Entrepreneurs, and the Luigi Einaudi Chair Innovation Grant for the International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP) Norway, where she serves as Cornell’s representative.

Since 2013, Olsen has been leading initiatives to expand and enrich the Pillsbury Institute’s multifaceted work on entrepreneurship education. She has engaged partners at all levels to integrate the work of the Pillsbury Institute into ongoing efforts within SHA, Cornell University more broadly, and internationally, including engagement with entrepreneurs at all stages, Cornell alumni, entrepreneurs in residence, academics, and corporate affiliates.

Prior to joining the SHA faculty, Olsen was a U.S. Fulbright Grantee to Norway, awarded by the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Olsen embraced her experience in Norway, where she focused on growing iMADdu, the educational nonprofit she founded in 2010. iMADdu stands for “I Make A Difference, Do you?” and empowers young entrepreneurs through mentoring and participation in its Student Apprenticeship Program.