Commentary

A Commentary provides thoughtful and insightful opinions or perspectives on events, policies or situations of interest to business owners, startups, educators, investors and policymakers. These should be short, readable, timely, interesting pieces that address current topics of interest, discussion or dispute.

Length: <1,000 words

Reviewed by Senior Editors


The Cowboy Advantage: What Rural Culture Teaches Entrepreneurs

Stephenville, Texas, shows how tight relationships, resource constraints, deep customer knowledge, and a culture of self-reliance can create entrepreneurial strengths that urban founders should Read More...

Category: Commentary

Authors: Jamie D. Collins and Bill Leaverton

The Business Case for Disability Inclusion in Small Companies

Disability inclusion is more than a legal obligation. Well-designed accommodation systems can strengthen employee trust, reduce costly turnover, and preserve knowledge inside small firms. Workers Read More...

Category: Commentary

Author: Rebecca Davies

Why Rural Entrepreneurs Need a Different Business Playbook

Business advice designed for urban startups often fails rural entrepreneurs. Here's how educators, mentors, and policymakers can help. There is a quiet assumption embedded in most entrepreneurship Read More...

Category: Commentary

Authors: Jamie D. Collins and Bill Leaverton

Why Your First Hire Can Shape Your Startup’s Culture for Decades

Character, work ethic, and cultural fit matter as much as skill when building a startup team, especially in public-facing businesses. EDITOR’S NOTE: Larry O’Toole is the founder and chairman of Read More...

Category: Commentary

Author: Larry O'Toole

Lessons in Bootstrapping and Lean Startup From a Nonprofit

How Give n' Glow grew -- from a Northeastern University dorm room to a thriving regional charity -- provides lessons for enterprises launching on a shoestring. Samantha Asprelli’s first Read More...

Category: Commentary

Author: Kimberly Eddleston

Interviewee: Samantha Asprelli

Why I Left a Corporate Career to Build a Purpose-Driven Business

A former corporate finance and controls leader shares the personal values, professional skills, and hard-earned resilience that helped him pivot into entrepreneurship. This story began long before as Read More...

Category: Commentary

Author: Abraham Kao

e-Fest 2026 Crowns National Champion

A student-founded biotech from Michigan State University captured the top award, as 25 undergraduate teams competed for $250,000. MINNEAPOLIS – After three days of pitching, mentorship, and Read More...

Category: Commentary

Author: Jennifer Gessner

Cast Your Vote for the Best Student 'Brand Builder'

As 25 teams of undergraduate innovators head to e-Fest this week, they've prepared one-minute sneak previews of their innovations and the markets they hope to reach. Vote for your favorite! Read More...

Category: Commentary

Author: Jennifer Gessner

Family Businesses Must Prepare for the Unthinkable

An unexpected death or disability can wreak havoc on a family business's best-laid plans. Patricia Annino, a Senior Advisor and Associate Partner at Cambridge Family Enterprise Group, has seen many Read More...

Category: Commentary

Author: Kimberly Eddleston

Interviewee: Patricia Annino

What the Public Gets Wrong About Family Businesses

A new study shows that insiders see ambition, innovation, and complexity, but outsiders see tradition. Bridging that divide is key to future success. If you ask someone what they think of a family Read More...

Category: Commentary

Author: Katie Rucker