Cheyanne Gerlach is a senior Integrated Science major in the Engler Entrepreneurship program. Gerlach has worked on five different businesses throughout her experience as an entrepreneur, many of which evolved into other business ideas.

 

“My first business that I started in the Engler program is ‘Giving Gloves’ and I started that in Enlger 101 and for every pair of gloves that we sold we donated a pair to the People City Mission,” Gerlach said. “Since then I’ve pivoted that into a full time business... we sell travel apparel for women and I’m hoping to get into travel-esque home decor also.”

 

Throughout her experience working on her own businesses, Gerlach found the most difficult part was finding out who she was as a person, and overcoming her resistance. 

 

“Resistance is different for every entrepreneur. It's the voice in the back of your head that says, ‘You're not ready,’ ‘You're not qualified,’ ‘You can't do this,’ When you start a business these voices tend to be amplified and multiplied,” Gerlach said.

 

With guidance from the Engler program, Gerlach solidified who she was as a person and who she wants to be.

 

“Engler helped me grow a foundation for myself as an individual. I think that before you're able to launch a business you have to be pretty solid with who you are and I really found that in Engler,” Gerlach said.

 

As a woman in entrepreneurship, Gerlach has had to learn how to take risks despite dealing with Imposter Syndrome. 

 

“I've realized that both men and women experience and struggle with Imposter Syndrome, I think it's the outcome that differs. Women tend to take the ‘security’ role, it's not really in our biology to take risks. Whereas in men's biology they'll will take any risk to avoid looking weak, historically. They feel more comfortable in the "providing" role. Women entrepreneurs challenge this biology,” Gerlach said.

 

With women in entrepreneurship facing challenges like this, the Engler program has provided Gerlach with much support and mentorship.

 

“Engler has grown one of the most faithful and loving communities for women leaders I have ever experienced,” Gerlach said.  “I am a part of the lead of the Women's Initiative in our program and we focus both on professional and personal development as entrepreneurs. A surprising pivot I didn't expect is our unnerving emphasis on the strength in vulnerability.”