NEXT Innovation Scholars shape UC grad’s global aspirations

This spring, Entsuah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, an achievement he attributes significantly to his involvement in the university’s NEXT Innovation Scholars (NIS) program.

Entsuah's journey to UC was largely a result of encouragement from one of his closest friends. “My friend Noah convinced me to join UC for its renowned business co-op program,” Entsuah said. This decision set the stage for an academic career that would see him embrace innovation and leadership in ways he hadn’t initially imagined.

The turning point came the moment Entsuah joined the inaugural cohort of the NIS program, a choice inspired by his desire to be part of something new and impactful. “Throughout my time at UC, I discovered [that] I like to be a part of new programs, teams and initiatives,” he said. “When I saw how the NIS Program was focused on innovation and design thinking, I realized that was right up my alley.”

“Lance has inspired all of us in NIS with the way he boldly takes on new challenges and seeks out opportunities literally across the world,” said Aaron Bradley, director of UC’s NEXT Innovation Scholars program. “He sets the bar high for himself and inspires others to do the same as he leads by example.”

NIS, designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, allowed Entsuah to interact with students from diverse fields such as engineering, theater, fine arts and industrial design, broadening his mindset about different perspectives.

“NIS showed me that there is not one standard route of doing things. It helped me see different ways of thinking and shaped not only what I wanted to do but also what is possible,” he said.

Entsuah’s NIS talents were honed during a 2022 trip to Tanzania with the Village Life Outreach Project, a corporate partner of UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub. While on the trip, he and several NIS members learned about water, nutrition, health and educational issues in four remote villages.

"Traveling to Tanzania and communicating with local villagers opened my eyes to how different communities adapt to living conditions depending on their circumstances," Entsuah said. He credits the trip with cementing a desire to return to his birth country in the future to implement sustainable business practices.

“We assume things are possible only when we have seen it, but once we are exposed to new ways of thinking ... you start to expand your horizons on what is actually possible and what we are capable of doing,” Entsuah said.

Soon enough, Entsuah had signed up for a trip to the United Arab Emirates to explore the intersection of business, innovation and culture in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“My time in Dubai was eye-opening,” Entsuah said. “Being able to witness how a country built in a desert less than 60 years ago has now become a major hub for aviation with Emirates, supply chain logistics with the Jebel Ali port, hospitality and innovation gives me hope that the same levels of success can be achieved in Africa and inspires me to work toward that vision.”

Having a mother with a career in hotel management, catering and hospitality was key to Entsuah’s fascination with the tourism sector and its impact on local economies. He’s traveled to destinations such as Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Paris and Sydney during his time at UC, learning valuable lessons from each trip.

Co-founding and leading student venture fund Bearcat Ventures proved pivotal in redirecting Entsuah’s career aspirations from corporate law toward innovation and entrepreneurship. “Leading Bearcat Ventures made me realize that if I can co-lead a venture fund here, I can create my own venture fund in real life,” Entsuah said.

In addition, Entsuah became the first UC student to join Bridging the Gap, a diverse business fellows organization. “We ... meet at national conferences and attend a variety of events that companies host, making it an awesome network for top business talent,” he said.

Entsuah’s involvement with UC’s Business Fellows program, particularly his mentorship by 2022 graduate Nonso Okonji, proved his most vital connection at UC. “Nonso really helped me get on the right track to do amazing things, from securing the best co-ops to becoming a student orientation leader,” Entsuah said.

During his college career, Entsuah completed nine co-ops and internships in industries ranging from management consulting to aviation and law. His visibility as a member of the Homecoming Court and as recipient of UC's 2024 Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence further amplified the impact of NIS and other programs that contributed to his achievements.

Continuing his global aspirations, Entsuah recently earned the nationally competitive Schwarzman Scholars award — a program designed to identify and hone the talents of young leaders in hopes of building a bridge between China and the global community.

After spending the fully funded year earning a master’s degree in global affairs from Tsinghua University’s Schwarzman College in Beijing, Entsuah looks forward to completing the program in London to work in finance before returning to the United States.

Entsuah’s adventurous spirit, rooted in childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut, has seen him travel to six continents during his time at UC. "Exploring has become a integral piece of me," he said. "I always wanted to see what's beyond where I am."

As Entsuah prepares for his next adventure, the foundation laid by UC and the NIS program continues to guide his path forward.

“My long-term vision is to address global issues through international business, with a particular focus on Ghana and the Middle East,” Entsuah said. “I want to eventually give back to my homeland and hopefully change lives there someday.”

Featured image at top: Lance Entsuah speaking at a UC NIS event. Photo provided