When junior Isaac Wert decided to co-found a TILE chapter in Park, he thought about the business and entrepreneurial education he could help provide to his peers.

“Our chapter aims to reach as many students as possible, and hopefully to create a legacy that will last for many years to come,” Wert said.

According to executive director and founder Michael Ioffe, TILE stands for Talks on Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship, which he believes are three critical abilities for students to develop throughout their lives.

“Those three skills allow students to adapt to their circumstances and to change in the face of adversity and difficult situations,” Ioffe said. “That’s why we believe that those skills are so important and why we believe presenting leaders who represent those skills is the best way to learn about them.”

Ioffe said TILE was created to bring business education and resources to students who otherwise wouldn’t have the accessibility.

“TILE was started by high school students in Portland, Oregon about two years ago, and it’s the realization that educational resources for students interested in business leadership and entrepreneurship were not easily accessible,” Ioffe said. “The TILE model allows students anywhere in the world to create a business focused speaker series with a relatively minimal amount of resources.”

Wert said he started the Park TILE chapter along with juniors William Phelan and Adam Johnson. He said they aim to design a speaker series that will benefit Park students.

“By attending our events, students have the opportunity to meet local Park business leaders and learn more about how to become a successful entrepreneur,” Wert said.

According to Ioffe, TILE started with one chapter about two years ago and now has 79 chapters located in 17 different countries worldwide.

Ioffe said TILE is the largest speaker series in the world run for students by students, and he predicts continued growth in years to come.

“My goal is for TILE to become the world’s biggest business-focused educational resource,” Ioffe said. “What we hope to do down the line is completely have a role in shaping the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.”

Wert said he looks forward to what students can accomplish through attending TILE events.

“TILE talks are a great opportunity for students to explore entrepreneurship as a post-secondary or post-collegiate career choice,” Wert said. “I am looking forward to our first event and encourage all Park students to attend.”

To learn more about TILE or to find information about starting a chapter, visit the TILE website.