Wichita
I didn’t know what to expect from my time as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Wichita State. Can I really be considered a “resident” if I am only there for three days?
It turned out to be a thrilling experience that introduced me to a great city full of wonderful people. Wichita residents are proud of their community. The Keeper of the Plains stands where the rivers meet and welcomes you to the city with its hands raised to the sky.
The "Air Capital of the World" has put generations of airplanes into the sky, yet its people are grounded in the best way. Housing is downright cheap. Young families can buy their first homes on tree-lined streets where they can afford a porch, a yard, and a little room to grow. Homeownership here isn't a distant dream. It is a normal part of becoming an adult, the way it was when I was starting out.
There is no shortage of things to do, at least not on a three-day visit. The Wichita Art Museum, Exploration Place, botanical gardens, and a great zoo invite visitors of every age. Old Town hums with music, galleries, and patios, while the festival calendar rivals Telluride in the summer.
Wichita's civic leaders have worked to reinvent the riverfront, revive the historic district, and build corporate partnerships like Wichita State's Innovation Campus. That work connects education, industry, and opportunity. Its leaders believe in the city's future.
The team at the Wichita State Barton School of Business rolled out the red carpet for me. I met students, alumni, faculty, administrators, and community leaders. I got schooled in the gym, recorded a podcast, and enjoyed some really good wine. We had deep conversations about entrepreneurship, the future of higher education, civic renewal, innovation, and how artificial intelligence will shape future career trajectories.
I don’t know when I will return, but something is calling me back. The people at the university turned me into a fan.
Wichita is humble, hardworking, hospitable, and full of heart.
It's a prairie city with wings.
