Three Pittsburgh entrepreneurs share a behind-the-business look

From convincing a lender to give you money, to creating a product, to making your first million, every entrepreneur goes on a different journey. At Duquesne University’s 18th Annual Entrepreneur’s Growth & Networking Conference, three successful entrepreneurs looked back at what went wrong and what went right.

The fine art of communication

Effective communication is an essential component of professional success at every interaction level from interpersonal, group or external.

Make your price changes proactively

Managing price changes requires both a nontraditional and a strategic approach. Top leaders generally pay attention to price changes when there is an emergency, or when it’s too late and the strategic window has closed.

Leverage your success, knowledge for community good

Superstars of the business world are making philanthropy more effective, and you can join them by taking advantage of one of the most popular platforms for focused, results-driven philanthropy: community foundations.

Celebrate the wins, but stay on the negative

Because we’re all humans with emotions, it’s only natural to spend more time on the topics that are comfortable and make us feel good about ourselves. It’s far less easy facing our uncomfortable truths about our company.

Your spouse has a next season, too

Most of us define ourselves by our careers and job titles. The thought of these going away, especially in cases where there is little lead time to prepare, can be paralyzing. Who am I, if I am not the (title) at my company? What is often forgotten is that spouses and partners — especially those who have foregone careers to be the at-home parent-in-charge — experience the exact same stressors.

The optical illusion in technology

You know that optical illusion where you have to decide whether you see a young woman or old one? That’s how technology and social media seem to me. It all depends on how you see it — and it’s truly not one thing or another.