Penny Lewandowski
Principal
Change at the Edges
Grand Rapids, MI
Recognized as a thought leader in entrepreneurship and building an entrepreneurial culture, Penny Lewandowski helps Entrepreneur Support Organizations understand new ways to think about economic development – especially how a grow-from-within strategy leads to thriving and sustainable economies.
Penny is a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship-led economic development and has delivered passionate keynote speeches on leadership topics that cover everything from fear, knowing when to leave and how to deal with the unexpected success.
Prior to starting her company, Change at the Edges, Penny led the Edward Lowe Foundation’s entrepreneurship team and external relations development. In these roles she represented the foundation’s mission of supporting and developing second-stage growth companies and developed their national partners and presence. Penny has also served as executive director of the Greater Baltimore Technology Council and was a leader in Northern Virginia’s development as an entrepreneurial hub through her work with the Netpreneur Program, delivered by Morino Associates.
In 2003 the Kauffman Foundation, in conjunction with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards, named Penny as the recipient of its prestigious “National Supporter of Entrepreneurship” award. She is a member of the International Economic Development Council’s board of directors, a certified executive coach and publishes a blog, “Penny on the Edge.”