In an effort to educate our community on the importance of recycling, Augusta State University’s Recycling Committee teamed up with the Hull College of Business to recognize the National Recycling Coalition’s America Recycles Day in a program of their fall 2008 MBA Executive Lecture Series.
Dr. Marc Miller, dean of the Hull College of Business, says he and Pamela Jackson, professor of accounting in the Hull College and chair of ASU’s Recycling Committee, saw this as an opportunity to show entrepreneurs how they can use their leadership skills to become caretakers of the Earth.
“I think it is important to have thought leadership in every aspect of our lives,” says Dean Miller. “Pamela and I thought this presentation was a great way to marry the thought of using innovative ideas when it comes to being an entrepreneur and taking care of the environment.”
That idea led to an invitation to Debbie Smith, an Atlanta-based graphic designer and entrepreneur who created eco-friendly, popular toys called Idbids, to present a program in the MBA Executive Lecture Series. Individuals attending the free program in November were asked to bring items to recycle.
Ms. Smith shared with the audience how the idea for her popular toys came about.
“The best ideas come w
hen you see a need,” says Ms. Smith, co-founder of Idbids, LLC. “The idea came when I was walking in my neighborhood one day during Georgia’s drought. I said to myself, ‘There has to be a way to teach my children and others the things they can do to help the environment.’”
It was at that moment, Ms. Smith says, she remembered how she had made toys for her children. With that same concept, she got the idea to design three characters to illustrate the water cycle. Their names were Lola, the flower; Scout, the cloud; and Waverly, the water drop; and together they are called Idbids. With the help of a business partner, Ms. Smith was able to take her idea and develop it into a fun yet educational toy which has been featured on TheWeatherChannel.com, Time.com, and CNNMoney.com.
“Children are social beings and want to be a part of something bigger than them,” says Ms. Smith. “That is why each item in the package is a tool that is geared toward teaching children that iddy biddy steps can make a biggie big difference.”
That same idea was communicated in the program – not only that small steps can make a big difference environmentally, but also in the business world. The MBA Executive Lecture Series, which began in 2006, brings successful business professionals to campus to share their experiences and advice with future business leaders.
Nov 24, 2008
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