Since the beginning, Susan Fiorito has been guided by her passion for entrepreneurship. She began her journey sewing garments at a young age, eventually progressing to owning retail stores. Her path then led her to make history as the inaugural female dean of the first independent College of Entrepreneurship. As one of seven siblings, Susan had to acquire sewing skills early on; she even demonstrated her entrepreneurial spirit by requesting discarded draperies from neighbors to fashion outfits. Entrepreneurs are often born out of necessity, and this is the case with Susan’s experience. After graduating from Florida State University (FSU), she started teaching high school students by day, while by night, running a retail store and manufacturing leather goods. While managing the stores, she introduced a key strategic advantage: complimentary jean hemming for every pair purchased, setting their stores apart from others in the area. This innovation propelled expansion, with three additional locations opening. Susan’s journey continued to FSU where she has taught for over three decades. She eventually rose to the role of Department Chair of Entrepreneurship in the College of Business and with steadfast determination and collaboration, she secured the largest donation in FSU’s history (to date), paving the way for the first school of entrepreneurship. Two years later, her vision evolved further as the school transitioned into the esteemed first College of Entrepreneurship. Seeing an opportunity, taking a risk, and using her talents to help solve a problem has been her life mantra in education and business.
5th PLACE
Americas Most Impactful Leader of the Year Award
Susan Fiorito
5th PLACE Americas Most Impactful Leader of the Year Award
Florida State University - United States
"Advancing entrepreneurial action through interdisciplinary collaboration."
Engage on social media
@jimmorancollege(Official Florida State University, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship Twitter account.)
https://www.linkedin.com/school/jimmorancollege/(Official Florida State University, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship LinkedIn account.)
https://www.instagram.com/jimmorancollege/(Official Florida State University, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship Instagram account.)
https://www.facebook.com/JimMoranCollege/(Official Florida State University, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship Facebook account.)
(Official Florida State University, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship YouTube account.)
Summary
Key People
Mrs. Jan Moran
Chairman and President Founding Director
The Jim Moran Foundation, Inc.
Mrs. Kirsten Harrison
Assistant Dean of Academic and Student Services
Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship,
Florida State University
Dean Emeritus Melvin Stith
Founding Director
The Jim Moran Foundation, Inc
President Emeritus John Thrasher
Former President of Florida State University
Florida State University
Mrs. Kaylee Gray
Director of Marketing and Communications
Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship,
Florida State University
Ms. Wendy Plant
Assistant Dean
Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship,
Florida State University
Mr. Bob Garner
Teaching Faculty
Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship,
Florida State University
Mr. Doug Tatum
Teaching Faculty
Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship,
Florida State University
Mr. John Breed
Teaching Faculty
Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship,
Florida State University
Mr. Lanny Lewis
Teaching Faculty
Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship,
Florida State University
Dr. Eric Liguori
Associate Dean for Research and External Affairs
Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship,
Florida State University
Acknowledgements
Jim Moran Foundation, Inc.
The mission of The Jim Moran Foundation is to improve the quality of life for the youth and families of Florida through the support of innovative programs and opportunities that meet the ever-changing needs of the community.
Images
One of the many outfits Susan designed and fashioned for herself.
Susan in one of the first retail stores she co-owned and managed.
Susan's first retail and leather goods store.
Student competition winner receiving a check from the JMC and Susan.
Mrs. Jan Moran with Susan at the JMC & JMI merger event.
The JMC monthly mentor night event with Susan welcoming all attendees and mentors.
Susan at the ribbon cutting of the Blackstone LaunchPad.
Robert Herjavec and Barbara Corcoran, two sharks from the tv show Shark Tank, participating in a speaker series pitch competition, facilitated by Susan.
Susan mentoring two students.
Susan pictured with a JMC student at a student welcome function.
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
Susan Fiorito’s strategic foresight and dedication to advancing entrepreneurial goals through interdisciplinary collaboration paved the way for the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (JMC) at Florida State University (FSU): the only free-standing College of Entrepreneurship in the nation.
Her commitment to international entrepreneurship is evidenced by her development of a module for the Executive MBA program at the University of Stirling and her involvement in all FSU international study centers and programs.
Susan spearheaded the establishment of a campus-wide Entrepreneur-In-Residence program, and she piloted the creation of 10 interdisciplinary entrepreneurship minors and two interdisciplinary entrepreneurship master’s programs in Hospitality and Creative Arts. She led the development of entrepreneurship graduate degrees in Product Development, Social and Sustainable Enterprises, and Textiles and Apparel. She also facilitated the introduction of undergraduate entrepreneurship degrees in Commercial, STEM, and Retail, showcasing her capacity for innovation and creativity in leadership.
Under Susan’s leadership, JMC has launched an impressive array of interdisciplinary partnerships and programs catering to diverse entrepreneurial interests and industries. These initiatives have been instrumental in bridging the gap between traditional academic disciplines and the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, ensuring that all FSU students are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing landscape.
The world today is interdisciplinary. Within entrepreneurship, versatility is key, requiring skills across various domains. Preparing students to collaborate across disciplines and excel in diverse roles is essential, empowering students from every field to harness entrepreneurial mindsets and skill sets to drive innovation and success.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
What Susan Fiorito has learned in over 50 years in education may appear trite, yet it is profound: she attributes her success to hard work, a commitment to positively impacting people's lives through kindness and understanding, and helping others achieve their goals.
Susan has always said "yes" to every opportunity and loved taking on new challenges. She frequently found herself navigating uncharted territory, whether it was assuming roles like President of the Faculty Senate, serving on the Board of Trustees for a university with over 2,000 faculty and 42,000 students, being the first woman president of a national organization, or establishing an entrepreneurship school from the ground up with a $100 million gift from a donor. In each instance, she confronted uncertainty head-on, taking one step at a time, embracing challenges to pursue her goals.
Over the years, Susan has tried to learn from her mistakes and to ask others for help when she was confounded or lost, and there was always someone there to offer advice. Any success that she has achieved has been because of teamwork.
Growing up as one of seven children, Susan's parents instilled in them the importance of looking out for one another, which permeates her work environment, fostering a culture of camaraderie and collaboration among coworkers. Susan makes an effort to acknowledge and appreciate her colleagues at every opportunity, recognizing that the success of the JMC is the result of the collective efforts of many individuals working together towards a common goal.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
Susan Fiorito, Florida State University (FSU), and the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (JMC) will embark on a bold, comprehensive campaign that will build on existing strengths and develop new ones.
FSU plans to continue to develop and grow a university-wide culture of entrepreneurship, building on the momentum of the college and embedding an entrepreneurial mindset across all its colleges, with the assistance of Dean Fiorito and the JMC. With guidance from Susan and the college, FSU will prioritize collaboration with the community and outside entrepreneurial ventures, with the goal of leveraging FSU’s strengths to address society’s most important challenges. One project on this matter involves the JMC and the Jim Moran Institute at Florida State University working in close partnership with local nonprofit groups, government offices, small businesses, and other university partners across the area seeking to help those in the region and other adjacent communities facing economic or other hardships to start and grow businesses of their own.
The JMC looks to build doctoral programs, the first in the nation in a College of Entrepreneurship. It will be unique, like all of our undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Our doctoral programs will be interdisciplinary, working with several colleges across FSU. The college is working with the Provost and VP for Research to make sure the degree program focuses on translational research and grants. In addition, the JMC will be looking for doctoral students who can also mentor faculty and student businesses as part of their assistantships.
