India: Lessons Learned

February 20, 2011,  2-4 pm

Sachi Wellness Center, West Linn, OR

Speaker: Brenda Eichelberger

Sachi Wellness Center

Brenda traveled to India in December to study Social Enterprise with the Portland State “Magic Bus” tour.  India prides itself in being the largest democracy in the world, yet is also where 40% of the world’s population live on less than $2 per day (the “bottom of the poverty pyramid”).  She will be sharing her photos and experiences in traveling to five local villages and spending time in Hyderabad, the sixth largest city in India.  She will also be sharing her experience in consulting with a private school that provides education for elementary aged children living in poverty (family income of less that Rps. 4500 per month, approximately $125 US  per month for a family of four).  Here is a small excerpt of her travels:

“It is a chaotic, noisy, polluted place.  Yet it has a spirit to it.  Temples, chanting, religious garb of all kinds.  Lots of life and growth, lots of decay and filth.  It’s all side by side, showing some of the best and the hardest aspects of human life.”

Brenda is a full-time business instructor at Portland State University. She has been with PSU since early 1997 and has taught a variety of classes in the Management area (Introduction to Business, Business Environments, Personal Finance, Introduction to Human Resource Management, Small Venture Creation and Entrepreneurship). Prior to PSU Brenda taught at Portland and Clackamas Community College. She has also had the opportunity to teach entrepreneurship in the Far East of Russia and Serbia (formerly Yugoslavia).  Brenda has managed a small private business college and understands the challenges of businesses operating in the State of Oregon. She specializes in assisting small businesses with business planning techniques and is active in her local community.  She has spoken to local businesses regarding women in entrepreneurship, business ethics and has developed an active interest in micro-finance.