Bauer Professor Honored as Houston Women in Business Champion of the Year

Saleha Khumawala, professor at the University of Houston – C.T. Bauer College of Business has been named the Houston Women in Business Champion of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration in Houston.

Khumawala is the Robert Grinaker Professor of Accounting at Bauer and is Founding Director of the SURE Program (Stimulating Urban Renewal through Entrepreneurship). Her involvement with the award-winning program was cited by the U.S. Small Business Administration as an important part of the work that led to Khumawala’s new honor.

The program provides opportunities for would-be entrepreneurs from under-served communities, offering classes and resources and the chance to use Bauer students as consultants who can help in achieving their entrepreneurial goals. To date, SURE entrepreneurs have opened 61 businesses, which are all able to create a community of support, modeling and encouraging additional small businesses to open in such under-served areas.

Khumawala developed the idea for SURE through her personal involvement in microfinance efforts abroad. She realized how much of an impact a program could have that was led by students and supported by the community. The program consists of twelve weeks of classes, which cover entrepreneurship and finance. At the conclusion of the twelve weeks, students have the chance to transition into the SURE Incubator for ongoing support.

“This is experiential learning at its best,” Khumawala has said of the program. “There is collaboration and leadership training, and students answer big questions beyond the four walls of the classroom. We educate, engage, enhance and empower.

Khumawala will be officially honored as the Houston Women in Business Champion of the Year at the Houston Small Business Awards Luncheon in May.

regions: Houston

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