01
What We Do
The mission of the Northeastern Lab for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (NL4IE) is to contribute to economic development and community resilience by promoting inclusive, equitable innovation and entrepreneurship and assisting small businesses address their technical and managerial challenges.
02
Our Approach
As a University Center designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, NL4IE helps small businesses, particularly ones in the Portland-Boston-Providence Corridor, through two major initiatives: The Inclusive Entrepreneur Fellowship program and business assistance in the form of project-based collaboration with teams of Northeastern students. In addition, a major multi-year grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation supports our research and educational programs promoting supplier diversity in higher education.
03
Our Mission
The NL4IE’s work is grounded in applied research in such areas as economic development, digital technologies, and supply chain management. As part of Northeastern University’s global entrepreneurial ecosystem, NL4IE combines research knowledge, deep experience with hands-on learning, and community-based partnerships. This combination enables us to provide diverse small business owners with the practical skills and supportive networks that drive growth.
Our Team
Francesca Grippa
Professor of Business Innovation & Associate Dean of Research
Lab’s Executive Director
Carl Zangerl
Associate Teaching Professor of Organizational Communication
Lab’s Communication Director
Youngbok Ryu
Associate Teaching Professor of Management
Direct supplier diversity research and programs
Monica Borgida
Associate Teaching Professor of Nonprofit Management
Program Evaluation
Ali Raisi
Postdoctoral Researcher
Aashay Shah
Graduate Research Assistant
Aditya Vikrant
AI/ML Analyst Co-Op
The Phong Justin Ngo
Graduate Research Assistant
Managing Projects and Analyzing data
Our Advisory Council
The members of the Lab’s advisory council reflect the wide range of stakeholders that play a role in promoting supplier diversity in higher education: Small business owners, procurement professionals, and community advocates. The Advisory Council provides feedback and guidance to help the Lab ‘move the needle’ on supplier diversity.
Jerry Epps
Director of Vendor Diversity
Babson College
Daylana Ervin-Parker
Director of Budget and Supplier Diversity
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Margarita Polanco
Regional Supplier Diversity Manager
DPR Construction
Jeffrey Roy
Head of Category Management at Northeastern University
Northeastern University
Tim Singleton
Assistant Vice President of Capital Projects
Northeastern University
Gayl Crump Swaby
President
New Generation Consultants & Associates, LLC
Vamshi Thakkallapalli
President
Terva Corporation
Gordon Thompson
Chief Executive Officer
Westnet
Adriana Vacarro
Founder
Karen Wallace
Executive Vice President of Economic Inclusion
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Our Faculty Affiliates
Xiaomu Zhou
Teaching Professor of Informatics
Roy Anderson
Senior Procurement leader known for transforming procurement organizations
Our Partners
Community Business Clinic
The Community Business Clinic is Northeastern’s primary transactional law clinic.
We offer students real-world experience in providing free, business-related legal services to startups, entrepreneurs and small businesses, especially those in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The clinic’s work aims to support community-led growth.
Students help clients with a wide range of business-related needs, including:
- Incorporation and choice of entity (corporation, limited liability company, etc.)
- Contract negotiation, drafting and review (customer and vendor contracts, waivers, etc.)
- Employment law
- Licenses, permits, zoning
- Intellectual property counseling
- Commercial leases
- Financing
IP CO-LAB
The IP CO-LAB, an intellectual property clinic at Northeastern University School of Law, is here to help. Founded in 2014 to provide legal services to the Northeastern University “entrepreneurial ecosystem,” the clinic offers free assistance to any current or former Northeastern student, faculty or staff member. The clinic routinely provides trademark and copyright services and has a proven track record of success, most notably by protecting brand names and logos. And although not yet actively involved in providing patent assistance, the clinic can help protect trade secrets and advise on steps that may be needed to obtain patent protection. We work closely with Northeastern University’s Mosaic community and, as part of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Law School Clinic Certification Program, we offer IP-related assistance to individuals and entities throughout Massachusetts who cannot otherwise afford legal services.
Women Who Empower
Northeastern University’s Women Who Empower initiative is grounded in the belief that diverse and inclusive communities empower a better world. Our network comprises strong, aspiring, and distinguished individuals dedicated to fostering positive environments, building lasting connections, and providing meaningful experiences where all people thrive.
We aim to inspire and enable future generations to be creative, innovative, and agile as they pursue powerful and transformative positions in the fields of their choice. And we are committed to supporting our community members through events, scholarship support, entrepreneurship, mentorship programs, ambassador opportunities, and more.
Together, we can overcome disparities and biases, connect by sharing inspirational stories, and lead change in our communities and beyond.
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion promotes the University’s commitment to equal opportunity, affirmative action, diversity, and social justice while building a climate of inclusion on and beyond campus.
Our mission is to provide leadership by cultivating an inclusive environment that denounces discrimination through innovation, collaboration and an awareness of global perspectives on social justice. We also promote compliance with relevant federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws.