Themes: Management is the number one concern of investors

Alison Gerlach is a successful entrepreneur and business executive with expertise in and passion for building businesses. After doing extensive research in optimizing the business start-up process, Gerlach went on to build businesses in industries including technology, entertainment services, consumer packaged goods, and professional services. Prior to her entrepreneurial endeavors, she was a strategic management consultant and an overseas investment banker.

In addition to building and growing her current venture, "Allie's Edibles", Gerlach spends a great deal of her time teaching, consulting to both start-up and large corporations, and giving lectures to both business and academic audiences on optimizing the business start-up process.

During this lecture to an undergraduate class at Cornell University, Gerlach discusses her decision to become an entrepreneur and shares thoughts on how to successfully navigate the startup process.

Alison Gerlach earned a BA in economics from Cornell University and an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management.