INDIANAPOLIS — One of Indy's all-time favorite Colts players invites you to sign up for a huge upcoming innovation summit which is now going all virtual.
Former Colt's Player Marlin Jackson is one of many speakers lined up to share their personal stories during the InnoPower summit. There are more than 100 speakers and panelists participating in the event.
Organizers tell 13News that going virtual has opened up the free event across the country with people signed up to attend the many panels planned for this year's event.
It was originally scheduled to take place at the University of Indianapolis. But once the pandemic began shutting down in-person events, virtual became the go-to option.
"This makes it even more exciting because I am not sure we would have as many people signed up like we do who would have had to worry about transportation or traveling from out of town to participate," Jackson said.
The founder of the innovation summit, Emil Ekiyor, started it to help level the playing field in the business community, especially for minority owned companies, by learning from other entrepreneurs.
Ekyor also wants to give entrepreneurs opportunities to hear directly from people like Marlin Jackson.
Even after a successful pro football career, Jackson had to redefine his own business ventures with the right moves.
"I will share the challenges of fear when it comes to having your own business. Many people may call what I have done successful but I have had to redefine, and I see myself as still evolving," Jackson said. "Building off of what I have learned, taking those transferable straits that helped me succeed in football and applying them to another field."
Some of the other panelists and speakers on the schedule include Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Taylor Simpson, CEO at The Halo App Sonia Moin who serves as Senior Director for the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, Candy King who is the Diversity & Inclusion Director at Roche and the Co-Founder & CEO of Selflessly Josh Driver.
"Nobody in our community should feel like they don't have access or opportunity doesn't belong to them," Ekiyor said.
Other speakers include Joseph Galvan, Pastor Jeffrey Johnson, Sr., Stephanie Bothun, Arwa Ghalawan, Adell Means, Jake Sappenfield and Cory Wilson.
Registration is free for the innovation summit, which is Friday, Aug. 28, 2020.
