The Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence (IEE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Annia Aleman as Associate Director of the IEE and Director of the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center (SBDC). She will begin in her role with the IEE on December 16, 2024.
Aleman has over a decade of experience in innovation, business strategy, and impact design, specializing in advancing organizational sustainability and development across government, nonprofit, and business sectors. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, program development and management, human-centered design, and leadership development.
“We are excited to have Annia as part of the IEE team building off her experience in innovation, economic development, and working with entrepreneurs,” said Bob Stein, Executive Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence and Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Pittsburgh. “From working one-on-one with business owners to contributing to big-picture strategic initiatives in our region, Annia will bring a wealth of knowledge and unique experience to our entrepreneurial community.”
Most recently, Aleman served as Innovation Director at Ascender, a Pittsburgh-based business incubator, where she developed and implemented educational programs to support entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses. Her efforts have contributed to the growth and success of numerous local enterprises.
Her previous roles include serving with the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Innovation & Performance, where she launched PGH Lab, a program connecting startups with city government, and supported the citywide Inclusive Innovation Plan. Aleman also played a key role in Pittsburgh’s recognition during the 2018 Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, helping to pilot innovative strategies for enhancing government services.
As a consultant, she has facilitated strategic convenings for organizations such as Common Cause Consultants and the Boston Center, employing human-centered design principles to foster collaboration and align stakeholders toward shared goals.
Aleman holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy & Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor’s degree in Global Policy from Chatham University. Her leadership and contributions have been recognized by the Pittsburgh Business Times in their 30 Under 30 (2018) and Personalities of Pittsburgh (2023) lists, as well as by The Incline in their “Who’s Next: Technology” feature.
The Pitt SBDC, the IEE, and the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Pittsburgh look forward to Aleman’s leadership and the impact she will have in advancing our shared mission of empowering small businesses and fostering sustained economic growth throughout Western Pennsylvania.
About the University of Pittsburgh SBDC
The Pitt SBDC, established in 1979, is within the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence (IEE), part the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship housed under the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor of Research. The Pitt SBDC provides business owners with the information and tools necessary to build successful businesses. The SBDC’s mission is to develop and strengthen the businesses of southwestern Pennsylvania by imparting knowledge and expertise through professional consulting and education. The Pitt SBDC is designated by the Pennsylvania SBDC as a Center of Excellence for Digital Services as a superior provider of digital technology services and as a Center of Excellence for Supply Chain for activities empowering vendor/supplier engagements. For more information, visit sbdc.pitt.edu.