W.I.S.E. Wednesday: Meet Caroline Crisafulli, Director of Entrepreneurial Education at OSU’s Keenan Center

Caroline Crisafulli, the Director of Entrepreneurial Education at the Keenan Center of Entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University. Mrs. Crisafulli shares her experiences throughout her undergraduate journey, the start-up and entrepreneurial space, and her passion for the Keenan Center of Entrepreneurship. She discusses her interests for merging science, technology, and entrepreneurship as she reflects on her experience co-founding Minimally Invasive Devices, a medical device company. Additionally, she discusses her passions for educating women in STEM about commercialization and entrepreneurship through her time at the Office of Research in Ohio State ADVANCE. Lastly, she shares some advice on how students can translate their passions for STEM into the entrepreneurial space.

Interview Transcript:

Question #1: Can you please introduce yourself and your professional and academic journey as well?

My name is Caroline Crisafulli, and I’m the Director of Entrepreneurial Education at the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University. I began my academic journey at the University of Illinois, where I earned a degree in Genetics and Development. After graduating, I spent about 15 years as a practice manager for a surgical group. At the time, I wasn’t entirely sure where that path would take me, but it gave me a strong foundation in healthcare operations and management. 

From there, I went on to co-found a medical device company in Columbus, Ohio called Minimally Invasive Devices, where I served as Vice President of Operations. Our goal was to solve a critical problem in laparoscopic surgery—namely, the loss of visualization during laparoscopy. We ran the company for about 10 years before it was acquired by a private equity group. 

After that experience, I joined The Ohio State University, initially working in the Office of Research in Ohio State ADVANCE. My focus there was on helping women in STEM fields explore commercialization and entrepreneurship as an opportunity to amplify the impact of their research. When the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship was founded in 2020, I transitioned into my current role as Director of Entrepreneurial Education, where I continue to support and guide aspiring entrepreneurs across campus.

Question #2: What inspired you to pursue your path in STEM as well as entrepreneurship?

I’ve always been someone who asks, “Why?”—that question has really been a constant thread throughout my journey. I think that natural curiosity is what first drew me to STEM. I’ve always loved learning, whether it’s through reading, traveling, or exploring new ideas, and STEM is a space where you’re constantly learning and solving real-world problems. 

That same curiosity—and a bit of an inner fighter spirit—also led me toward entrepreneurship. I believe in pushing boundaries and not being afraid to challenge the status quo, which is essential in both science and business. Entrepreneurship gave me a way to take the knowledge and skills I developed through STEM and use them to create tangible, meaningful solutions.

Question #3: What is the Keenan Center of Entrepreneurship? What opportunities can students get involved in?

The Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship is a campus-wide hub at Ohio State dedicated to fostering a culture of entrepreneurship for Ohio State students. We serve the entire university community, by offering a wide range of programs and resources to help bring innovative ideas to the market. 

We offer several hands-on programs tailored to different stages of the entrepreneurial journey. For example, LaunchPad is a weekend experience designed to help students explore entrepreneurship. It's a great entry point for anyone curious about innovation or starting a venture. You don’t even have to have a business idea to participate. 

For students with a more developed idea, there’s BOSS, which stands for Best of Student Startups. It’s an 8-week program that includes learning sessions, personalized coaching and mentoring, and culminates in a pitch competition where winners can receive up to $20,000 in startup funding. We even offer a summer version of BOSS for space-related ideas in collaboration with our SEED program. 

Then there’s the President’s Buckeye Accelerator (PBA), which focuses on the business model and execution. It starts with a bootcamp that runs weekly through the spring semester and includes coaching, mentoring, and a pitch competition. 6 teams are selected to receive $50,000 each to grow their startup and receive a full year of expert mentorship. 

To be eligible for PBA, at least one team member must be an enrolled Ohio State student in the upcoming academic year. Overall, our goal is to create a supportive environment where students can learn, experiment, and grow as entrepreneurs regardless of their background or major.

Question #4: What do you enjoy most about your work at the Keenan Center or at Minimally Invasive Devices?

What I’ve enjoyed most at the Keenan Center and during my time at Minimally Invasive Devices is working with an effective and passionate team to create impact. In a startup, your team is everything. With limited resources and people, you rely heavily on one another. There are definitely ups and downs, but when you have a strong team, you pull through together and that sense of shared purpose and resilience is incredibly rewarding. 

At the Keenan Center, it’s the same kind of energy. I’m fortunate to work with an amazing team that’s deeply committed to our mission, and we really thrive on that shared goal. On top of that, getting to work with students and faculty who are so passionate and innovative makes every day exciting. Celebrating their growth and success is one of the most fulfilling parts of what I do.

Question #5: Throughout your academic and professional journey, have you faced any challenges? How did you overcome them?

I faced challenges, especially early on. After graduating from college, I didn’t have a clear plan.  A temp job led me to my position in the surgical practice. I’ve learned that the way you look at challenges makes all the difference. You can either see them as roadblocks or as opportunities to grow and problem-solve; not just for yourself, but for others as well. 

That mindset really carried over into my work as a startup founder. Our company set out to solve the problem of loss of visualization during laparoscopic surgery. There were constant challenges, from technical hurdles to market adoption. One of the hardest parts was learning to be truly objective. When it’s your startup—your “baby”—it’s easy to become emotionally attached. But it’s so important to step back, listen to your customers, and be honest about what’s working and what’s not. 

Over time, I’ve come to see that every challenge is also a chance to rethink, improve, and build something better.

Question #6: Have you ever felt excluded or underrepresented in your field? How did you navigate that?

There have been some instances in my career where I experienced underrepresentation, particularly in settings involving venture capital. In one board meeting, for example, I was the only woman in the room, and one of the board members asked me to make him a cup of coffee. Though small, the interaction stuck with me.  

This type of bias is not uncommon. A well-known study from Harvard found that investors were presented with identical startup pitches: one presented by a man and the other by a woman. They showed a significantly higher willingness to invest in the male-presented pitch. Additionally, research suggests that men and women are often asked different types of questions by investors: men tend to receive questions about potential and growth, while women are more frequently asked about risk and justification. Implicit biases still exist in professional environments.  

Access to professional networks, role models and mentorship—regardless of gender—is incredibly valuable. At the Keenan Center, we engage a wide range of experienced entrepreneurs as coaches and mentors, who help our students navigate the process of creating a startup. These types of programs provide guidance, support and a sense of professional community.

Question #7: What is one piece of advice you would tell someone who lacks the confidence to pursue a career similar to yours?

My advice would be: You belong. There’s a tendency to believe that certain careers or industries are out of reach for various reasons—whether it’s a sense of not being "smart enough," or simply thinking you don’t have the time or resources. But it's important to challenge those perceptions. Explore what truly excites and interests you, and take the time to evaluate what you really want to do. 

Life is too short to spend time doing things just because you feel you "should"—especially if they don’t bring you joy or fulfillment. Trust that your unique perspective is valuable, and if you’re passionate about something, it’s worth pursuing.