Merrick Speaker Series: Deborah Piscione, Author of Secrets of Silicon Valley, April 10

Newswise — Author and entrepreneur Deborah Perry Piscione, whose new book Secrets of Silicon Valley: What Everyone Else Can Learn From the Innovation Capital of the World makes the case that the valley's longstanding culture of meritocracy, collaboration and transparency are drivers for a more prosperous future for the nation and beyond, will visit the University of Baltimore on Wednesday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. as the next guest of the Merrick School of Business Speaker Series. Piscione, the creator of Alley to the Valley, an organization that networks the world's most influential women for dealmaking, and a commentator for national media outlets including CNN and NPR, will speak in the UB Student Center, 21 W. Mt. Royal Ave. Details for the event are listed below. A former congressional and White House staffer, Piscione relocated from the East Coast to Silicon Valley, where she built up three companies in six years; her BettyConfidential is a leader in the content and e-commerce space, while Chump Genius is an educational gaming company for children. In Secrets of Silicon Valley, Piscione takes readers behind the scenes to reveal the factors underlying the remarkable success of Silicon Valley, and explores how other communities and businesses can achieve a similar alchemy. Along the way, she describes 10 distinctive characteristics of the region's ecosystem for business and development, among them:> how Silicon Valley adapts through continuous cycles of innovation;> why the high tolerance for risk, as well as failure, is a huge competitive advantage;> how the Silicon Valley business model, including generous and flexible employee benefits, contributes to the robustness of the industries based there;> why venture capital has grown significantly there, while it languishes in other major metropolitan cities;> what traits set the Silicon Valley entrepreneur apart from others. Piscione has appeared on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, Fox News, PBS and NPR programs, as well as in The New York Times and Forbes. She has won numerous awards, including the 2009 Silicon Valley Women Business Owner of the Year, a Gracie Allen Award for her participation in a debate for NPR's Justice Talking, and a distinguished award from The White House Project. She has been featured in leading magazines such as Ladies' Home Journal, and in newspapers including The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Dallas Morning News. Piscione lives in Silicon Valley, California. As part of this Merrick School of Business Speaker Series event, the school will showcase its new graduate degree program in Innovation Management and Technology Commercialization. Take-home materials will be available to prospective students, and experts will be on hand to discuss the merits of this academic program. Learn more about the M.S. in Innovation Management and Technology Commercialization. Get ticket information and additional details about Piscione's appearance at UB. Learn more about the Speaker Series. The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Public Affairs and the Merrick School of Business.