Liza Cirlot Looser Named Incoming Chair of Ole Miss Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisory Board

OXFORD, Miss. (Sept. 17, 2019) — Liza Cirlot Looser, founder and CEO of The Cirlot Agency, was recently appointed incoming Chair of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Advisory Board at The University of Mississippi. Hosted by the Ole Miss School of Business, the influential program was founded to inspire students at The University of Mississippi to create valuable new businesses and enhance the economic value of all businesses in the state of Mississippi through excellent teaching, exceptional service, and world-class research. 
 
“The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisory Board is lucky to have Liza coming in as Chair,” said Johnny Maloney, principal operator of Cowboy Maloney’s appliance chain and acting CIE Chair for 2017-2018. “With Liza’s experience—and what she has already done with CIE and the School of Business—the sky is the limit.”

An inductee of the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame, Cirlot Looser established the CIE REDe Summit, designed for students to hear success stories and engage with global leaders. Shiza Shahid, co-founder of the Malala Fund, founder of Now Ventures, and best known for her global philanthropy and activism for international women’s education, served as the keynote speaker for the inaugural event in 2018.  

“Working with Liza and The Cirlot Agency’s team on the inaugural 2018 REDe Summit, we were impressed with her desire to create an annual signature event highlighting Ole Miss entrepreneurs and bringing global entrepreneurship thought-leaders to the UM campus,” said Dr. Clay Dibrell, co-director of CIE and professor of management at Ole Miss. “Due to her leadership and generosity, we enjoyed tremendous attendance and increased awareness among our stakeholders. The experience and leadership exhibited by our dedicated board members are exactly what CIE needs to grow our national award-winning programs, and to enable future Ole Miss students to become successful entrepreneurs.” 

Cirlot Looser, an alumnus of Mississippi University for Women and Harvard Business School, founded The Cirlot Agency, Inc., in 1984. Under her leadership, the agency has grown into a multimillion-dollar global branding firm that specializes in aerospace and defense. 

 “Given her strong background in entrepreneurship as a founder and CEO of The Cirlot Agency, we are excited to have Liza as the Chair of the University of Mississippi CIE Advisory Board,” continued Dibrell. “Liza embodies what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur through her creativity, seeing opportunities where others do not, amazing work ethic, and resilience in the face of adversity. We look forward to her sharing her knowledge, time, and leadership with our student entrepreneurs, faculty, and Advisory Board.” 

“It is a distinct honor to hold this position in such a vital program,” said Cirlot Looser. “CIE gives motivated future entrepreneurs the chance to present their ideas, polish them, and receive feedback from industry experts. I am delighted to have this opportunity, and I have no doubt that our students will exceed our expectations in the coming year.”

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