The University of Southern California Iovine and Young Academy (IYA) and Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announce their collaboration to foster inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) within the realm of business, leadership and entrepreneurship.

As part of this collaboration, EY US will connect IYA to a vast network of women entrepreneurs through the firm’s esteemed programs, including Entrepreneur Of The Year®, Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ and the Entrepreneurs Access Network. These programs support and celebrate entrepreneurs, providing them with the resources and recognition needed to help unlock their full potential.

The selected women entrepreneurs from the EY US network will engage in micro-entrepreneur residencies at IYA, beginning with Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters. These residencies will provide a unique opportunity for IYA students to interact with and learn from successful women entrepreneurs, gaining valuable insights and mentorship.

Davina Wolter, Associate Dean, Inclusive Learning and Diverse Excellence and Associate Professor of Practice, Design at the USC Iovine and Young Academy, says:

“This arrangement with EY US will provide our students with unparalleled opportunities to learn from and interact with leading women entrepreneurs. Together, we will inspire and equip the next generation of female leaders to overcome challenges and excel in their careers.”

This collaboration aligns with IYA’s dedication to IDEA and leverages the momentum of the EY US gender-focused programs such as “Women. Fast Forward” and “POWER Up” to support women in the workplace.

Additionally, the collaboration will feature a large-scale POWER Up experience for IYA students and the broader USC community. POWER Up is an interactive event divided into five segments involving short keynotes by accomplished women in business, followed by small group discussions among all participants. The event is designed to springboard women professionals alongside their male allies into deep conversations with one another to determine ways to enhance their performance and accelerate a new narrative of the future of women in their careers.

Cheryl Grise, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP and EY Americas Executive Sponsor of Women. Fast Forward, says:

“We are excited to work with USC Iovine and Young Academy to advance our shared goals of promoting gender equity and empowering women in business. This collaboration embodies our commitment to building a better working world by fostering diverse and inclusive leadership.”

The collaboration underscores the commitment of both IYA and EY US to advancing women in the workplace and helping them overcome limiting behaviors. By providing access to successful role models and fostering an inclusive environment, IYA and EY US aim to create lasting change and elevate women in business and leadership roles.

For more information, please visit ey.com/en_us/women-fast-forward.

The USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation was founded by entrepreneurs Jimmy Iovine and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young. Conceived as an educational startup, the Academy is not just a home for disruptors but a disruptor itself. The Challenge-Based Reflective Learning (CBRL) model of IYA cultivates sociotechnical systems expertise with emphasis on industries at the intersection of technology, design, and business. The model is unique among higher education institutions and achieves exceptional student outcomes that garner recognition from higher education, research, big tech, and the creative industries. The Academy offers a Bachelor of Science in arts, technology, and the business of innovation, and a Master of Science in integrated design, business and technology.

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USC Iovine and Young Academy and Ernst & Young LLP launch an initiative to advance women in business, leadership and entrepreneurship