From pitch to possibility: Rowan On, Episode 3 with Jessica Vattima

In Episode 3 of Rowan University’s new podcast, Rowan On, host Karen Holloway chats with Jessica Vattima, director of the Rowan Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship—a campus crossroads where engineers, artists, educators and business majors learn to think like founders (and “intrapreneurs”) long before they print a business card.

Vattima maps the ecosystem: the School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (launched in 2022) anchors majors and certificates inside the Rohrer College of Business, while the Center she leads opens its doors to students from every discipline—coaching them to pitch clearly, spot market gaps and “fail fast” so they can pivot with purpose.

The pipeline is practical and progressive. Early‑stage “Think It, Pitch It” sessions provide a low stakes way for students to practice pitching with 60‑second, no‑slides ideas. The Fall Idea Challenge brings interdisciplinary teams to a campus showcase with non‑equity seed funding. Come spring, the New Venture Expo fills Business Hall with prototypes, brand boards and judges from faculty and the regional innovation community, which provide another on‑ramp for real feedback and resources.

Recorded amid the hands‑on buzz of Studio 231, the episode captures Rowan’s maker space in action: vinyl cutters and printers, quick experiments, and candid critiques that turn concepts into testable prototypes.

Listeners will also learn a bit about Vattima herself. She grew up in Glassboro, but during college had internships with MTV, Nickelodeon and Saturday Night Live, where production management—budgets, schedules, team leadership—became the toolkit she now champions for students. Listen now to find out: Is entrepreneurship a mindset as much as a venture?

Audiences can listen through Spotify, Apple and other podcast platforms or watch each episode on YouTube.