A Discussion on Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Change in 2025

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

4:00PM-6:00PM

UCSB Campus, Henley Hall Lecture Auditorium (Room 1010)

As markets shift and federal funding evolves, we have entered a period of extreme unpredictability and uncertainty impacting our startup and research communities. How can leaders effectively navigate an ever-changing landscape? How can young companies prepare and insulate themselves in the face of uncertainty? How do you assess when to pivot and when to “wait and see”?

In 2020, businesses nationwide faced unprecedented challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. From full closures to safety measures, industries had to pivot quickly to survive. In a matter of days, the food and hospitality industry saw almost their entire business model shuttered, and an era of ever-shifting safety and quarantine regulations ensued.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Sherry Villanueva, Founder and Managing Partner of Acme Hospitality, and one of the region’s most accomplished business leaders and restaurateurs. Sherry will share her experience leading teams through uncertainty and overcoming significant challenges in the restaurant industry during the pandemic. She will provide invaluable insights on resilience, strategic decision-making, and leadership in complex business environments.