Newswise — AUSTIN, Texas — A trio of trailblazing women will act as role models and mentors for startup- minded students at the McCombs School of Business.

Violina Rindova, Zlotnick Family Chair in Entrepreneurship and Herb Kelleher Chair in Entrepreneurship in the McCombs Department of Management, has been appointed as the new director of the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Renewal. Lauranne Jarrett, managing general partner for G-51 Capital Management, LLC, is the incoming entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR) for 2014-2015; and Laura Kilcrease, previous EIR, is returning to further her support for entrepreneurship at the school.

Dr. Rindova has done award-winning research on high-profile start-ups and business model innovators, such as Starbucks, Amazon, Yahoo and Google and has taught nationally and internationally on the topics of value creation, new business models, and dynamic growth strategies. Her pioneering work has been distinguished with the Thought Leadership Award from the Academy of Management Entrepreneurship Division in 2009.

Dr. Rindova is excited to assume this new leadership role, noting that, “The Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship, Growth, and Renewal represents a unique opportunity for McCombs and UT to impart knowledge about entrepreneurship and innovation to an exceptionally broad range of companies looking for new avenues for growth and new value creation.”

As EIR, Jarrett, BBA ’90, MBA ’97, and Texas certified CPA, will serve as a mentor to students looking to launch their own startups. Jarrett has over 20 years of finance and accounting experience working with companies across a variety of industries and market segments, with a focus on startup and high growth firms. Her extensive experience as a VC provides them with an invaluable resource that can give them a head start in their new venture development plans.

“I am excited to return to UT as an entrepreneur-in-residence to be able to provide my view point on the world wide trend towards entrepreneurship,” says Jarrett. “I look forward to working with students, faculty and the Austin Community as a whole to continue the university’s tradition of promoting entrepreneurship in one of the most active start-up cities and states in the nation.”

Kilcrease will continue to moderate the two speaker series featuring guests from the startup and venture communities that she created when servings as EIR from 2012-2013, “Entrepreneurship Live” and “Money Talks,” in addition to developing initiatives that increase the impact and visibility of the Herb Kelleher Center as the focal point of knowledge dissemination on all aspects of entrepreneurship.

Kilcrease, MBA ’92, is a 25-year veteran of the Austin technology scene. She co-developed and launched the Austin Technology Incubator (ATI), one of the country’s first technology incubators, and served as ATI’s founding executive director. In addition, Kilcrease launched the Capital Network, one of the largest “business angel” investor networks in the United States.

“Laura and Lauranne’s impressive experience working in the startup and investment communities, when combined with the outstanding research at this university, offer truly exceptional value for our students,” says Dr. Rindova.

As the final list of guest speakers is assembled, business leaders looking to share their knowledge with young entrepreneurs, as well as all members of the UT community interested in interacting with the two EIRs are asked to contact [email protected]. All entrepreneur-in-residence speaking requests for the fall semester must be submitted by Sept. 12, and by Jan. 31 for the spring semester.