Haley Huie: Empowering the Next Generation of Women Entrepreneurs

When the Meredith College Entrepreneurship Challenge needed an insightful judge who could inspire and guide aspiring women entrepreneurs, Haley Huie stepped up with enthusiasm and wisdom. Her involvement not only elevated the event but also demonstrated her deep commitment to fostering entrepreneurial mindsets in women.

"Even if 90% of the students don't do anything with this idea six months from now, the skills and the mindsets that they were able to use this weekend—those are the things that last over the course of a career."

-Haley Huie

Meet Haley Huie: Entrepreneur, Educator, and Mentor

Haley Huie generously volunteered her time and expertise as a judge for the Meredith College Entrepreneurship Challenge. With more than a decade of professional experience spanning higher education, the private sector, and non-profit organizations, she has become a respected voice in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of North Carolina.

What makes Haley particularly valuable as a mentor is her own non-linear path to entrepreneurship. "The word entrepreneurship was never said to me when I was on campus as an undergraduate student," Haley shared during our recent conversation. Her journey included corporate work and strategy consulting before eventually returning to NC State to help build signature programs for early-stage founders.

"My journey to entrepreneurship was not a straight path. There are a lot of twists and turns," she reflected. This perspective gives her a unique ability to connect with students who may not yet see themselves as entrepreneurs but have the potential to become innovative business leaders.

Bringing Fresh Eyes to the Challenge

As a judge for the Meredith College Entrepreneurship Challenge, Haley arrived with "fresh eyes" to evaluate what the participants had developed within just 24 hours. She was immediately impressed by the creativity and diverse approaches students had taken to address significant social issues.

"Given the same prompt and the same time and the same resources, there was such a wide spectrum of quality ideas that came up," Haley noted, highlighting how participants had identified different target markets and solutions. Her ability to appreciate this diversity of thought speaks to her inclusive approach to entrepreneurship education.

The Value of Real-World Challenges

One aspect of the Challenge that particularly resonated with Haley was its focus on tackling meaningful social issues rather than starting with a blank slate. "I think tackling a major social issue can be a really helpful lens to consider how they can impact change in their communities," she observed.

This approach aligns perfectly with Haley's teaching philosophy. Rather than encouraging students to pursue arbitrary ideas like "alcohol delivery services" or "I'll do your laundry for you," she believes in connecting entrepreneurial thinking to substantial community needs. This grounding in real-world impact makes the learning experience more meaningful and lasting.

Building Lasting Skills

While impressed by the immediate outcomes of the Challenge, Haley emphasized the long-term value for participants: "Even if 90% of them don't do anything with this idea six months from now, the skills and the mindsets that they were able to use this weekend—those are the things that last over the course of a career."

Her parting advice to participants reflected this forward-thinking approach: "Go talk to your target market. Go talk to your customers to figure out if this is real world." This focus on validation and customer discovery demonstrates Haley's commitment to practical entrepreneurship education that extends far beyond theoretical concepts.

Navigating Multiple Roles with Grace

Like many of the women entrepreneurs she mentors, Haley understands the complexity of balancing multiple roles. "There is a daily exercise of figuring out which hat to wear," she shared, describing the challenge of simultaneously being a mom, an educator, and a business partner.

She spoke candidly about the "mental load" of coordinating family responsibilities while pursuing professional ambitions—a reality many female entrepreneurs recognize. This authentic acknowledgment of the challenges women face in entrepreneurship makes her guidance all the more valuable.

Advocating for Women Entrepreneurs

Beyond time management, Haley identified another common challenge for women in business: self-advocacy. "I commonly chat with female founders about self-advocacy or how to assert themselves whether they're talking to an investor or a partner or client," she shared.

This insight reveals why Haley is such an important mentor and role model. She doesn't just teach business concepts—she helps women navigate the unique social and professional landscapes they'll encounter as entrepreneurs.

Envisioning the Future for Women in Business

When asked about sustaining entrepreneurial momentum at Meredith College, Haley shared a vision that could transform how we develop the next generation of women business leaders. Drawing from her success building NC State's Living Learning Village from a small group to over 200 participants, she offered a blueprint for creating vibrant, student-led communities.

"Activating the student audience to be co-creators is one of the most important things," Haley advised. Rather than creating programs where students are merely participants, she envisions a world where they become co-founders of their own entrepreneurial experience. In this model, educators provide resources, guidance, and remove obstacles, while students drive innovation and community-building.

This approach doesn't require massive infrastructure or funding to start—it begins with empowering students to take ownership, connecting them with mentors, and creating touchpoints like office hours and small campus competitions that build toward something greater. For institutions like Meredith College with its unique focus on developing women leaders, this student-led model could become a powerful incubator for tomorrow's business innovators.

The Power of Community Connection

The collaboration between Meredith College and professionals like Haley from NC State exemplifies the "cross-pollination" that strengthens the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem. As Haley noted, these connections across institutional boundaries create valuable opportunities for women entrepreneurs throughout the region.

Her willingness to participate, despite her busy schedule and family commitments, demonstrates her genuine dedication to supporting women in business. As she shared, "Sarah Glova gave me this advice about not saying yes to everything and that I needed to set clear boundaries about how many things like nights and weekends I would do... So it's got to be something that I really feel passionate about, and this is one of those things."

A Continuing Commitment

Haley's involvement with the Meredith College Entrepreneurship Challenge represents just one aspect of her ongoing commitment to fostering women's entrepreneurship. Her closing message to participants—encouraging them to validate their ideas in the real world and apply their newfound skills—encapsulates her practical, impactful approach to entrepreneurship education.

As Meredith College continues to build its entrepreneurship programs, Haley Huie's insights, experience, and collaborative spirit will undoubtedly remain a valuable resource. Her dedication to empowering the next generation of women entrepreneurs makes her not just an outstanding educator and entrepreneur, but a true champion for women in business.

Haley Huie serves as an educator, entrepreneur, venture coach, and strategy consultant at the NC State Entrepreneurship Clinic, where she helps early-stage founders and builds signature programs that foster innovation across North Carolina. Drawing from her diverse background spanning higher education, the private sector, and non-profit organizations, Haley brings practical business experience as a partner and owner in local businesses to her mentorship of aspiring entrepreneurs. Known for her passion for creative, mission-driven organizations, Haley focuses on developing strategies that promote learning and create opportunities for leaders, making her an invaluable resource for students navigating their own entrepreneurial journeys.