About Mona Anita

Mona Anita K. Olsen, Ph.D. is a British-born American third-culture kid (TCK) and entrepreneurial academic. She lives in Norway with her daughter and Alaskan Husky. A fourth-generation property owner in Farsund, Mona Anita moved from New York to follow her Dream In Progress (DIP)—to redevelop the barn on property into Kalista Laaven, a mixed-use space for experiences that encourage active-learning, reflection, and community. Kalista Laaven is home to the yoga and flower studio Route 8 Flow: From Flow to Flow(ers).

Olsen holds an academic appointment for teaching and research as an Associate Professor (Førsteamanuensis) in entrepreneurship at the University of Southeastern Norway (USN) in the School of Business in the Department of Business and IT. She is the owner of Innovation Barn AS which provides services and experiences to support entrepreneurial development in Norway.

Previously, Olsen was an assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the Nolan School of Hotel Administration in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and the Academic Program Advisor for General Education of the VinUniversity Project. While at Cornell, Olsen was a Faculty Fellow for Risley Residential College for the Creative and Performing Arts. She led initiatives to obtain a grant from Norway's Centre for International Cooperation in Education (SIU), participate in the International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP) Cuba and Norway (core initiatives of the Institute of International Education), and create a Small Private Online Class (SPOC) called HADM 4180x MAD Clouds: Making a Difference with Cloud-Based Technology in Entrepreneurial Business Planning. With funding from the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, she developed the course HADM 4133/6133: Global Conversations with Entrepreneurs and as an Engaged Cornell Fellow created Yogibana (weaving Yoga + Ikebana in 12 steps). From 2013 to 2016, Olsen served in the academic directorship of the Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at Cornell.

Prior to joining the Cornell faculty, Olsen was a U.S. Fulbright Grantee to Norway, awarded by the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Olsen embraced her experience in Norway and worked on growing the educational nonprofit (501c3) iMADdu, which stands for "I Make A Difference, Do You?".

Olsen was the assistant director of the Mason Small Business Development Center at the Office of Research and Economic Development at George Mason University. She also worked as a worldwide sales analyst in Georgetown for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

Olsen holds a Bachelor of Science with Distinction (Hotel Management) from Cornell University, a Masters (Management of Information Technology) from the University of Virginia, and a PhD (Education) from George Mason University.

Olsen is a certified Sogetsu Ikebana and Yoga (C-HYI) (Y12) Instructor. She has shared her passion for teaching in locations such as at The Cornell Botanical Gardens in Ithaca, New York, Kunstpunkt Lista and The Longhouse at Lista in Norway, and in Aberdeen, Scotland.

A continuous learner, Olsen spends her free taking photos, being curios while exploring new places, writing, trying out new yoga and flower studios, and improving her barista skills. She also volunteers with an organization that helps parents navigate the impact of domestic violence as sole providers.

Print/Web

The Norwegian American (February 2023): The Thief Steals You Away from Everyday Life

The Norwegian American (September 2022): Armchair Travel Education in US Immigration

The Norwegian American (March 2022): Cooperation and collaboration: The redevelopment of Eilert Sundt Videregående Skole

The Norwegian American (December 2021): The Christmas Stay at Bergen’s Hotel Norge

The Norwegian American (February 2021): Larsen’s Bakery

The Norwegian American (October 2020): Balancing ‘Talored’ donuts and coffee in a Jantelov ecosystem

The Norwegian American (July 2020): Kongeparken opens for a summer of fun

Regjeringen (Juni 2020): UIS Servicedesign og Teknologi for Bærekraftig Nærings- og Samfunnsutvikling

The Norwegian American (April 2020): Alle Fugler

The Norwegian American (February 2020): Trekkspill Chair Yoga for Dark Winter Days

The Norwegian American (January 2020): Flor og Fjaere is a Conversation Starter

The Norwegian American (November 2019): Mona moves back to Norway

University of Stavanger (October 2019): Fagdag i Markedsføring

The Norwegian American (October 2018): Redevelopment in Farsund Harbor

The Norwegian American (October 2018): Nordic Choice: The Future of Hospitality

SHA College of Business at Cornell Business Feed (March 2018): International Women’s Day: Faculty reflect on their careers and share their best advice.

The Norwegian American (December 2018): Learning How to Think Like an Entrepreneur

BidEd Magazine (November/December 2018): All Systems Go—Cornell University evaluates LMS options that will work best for students and faculty in the years ahead.

The Norwegian American (November 2018): The Long House at Lista: Entrepreneurial Development on Norway’s Southwest Coast

The Norwegian American (November 2018): Connecting with Ponies in Lista Travselskab

Grunderhjernen (October 2018): Besøk fra Cornell University

Cornell Chronicle (September 2018): Alum’s Gift Helps Entrepreneurship Faculty Hire Assistants

The Norwegian American (August 2018): Oppskrift for my Norwegian Heart

The Norwegian American (June 2018): Yogibana for the Schools

The Norwegian American (May 2018): Experts Share Big Ideas Ideas in Cornell Roundtable Sessions

The Norwegian American (March 2018): Going Down Under Norwegian Style

The Norwegian American (March 2018): Yoga for Tourism Opportunity in Norway

The Norwegian American (March 2018): NACC Finds a New Home and a New GM

The Norwegian American (February 2018): Building an Entrepreneurial Map

The Norwegian American (December 2017): Bootstrapped Tech Helps Startups

Cornell Chronicle (December 2017): Engaged Faculty Fellows Connect Classroom and Community

The Norwegian American (December 2017): The Tennisball Benchmark

The Norwegian American (November 2017): Borderless Entrepreneurship

The Norwegian American (October 2017): Innovation Barn Inspires with Pop-up

Cornell Chronicle (September 2017): Seven Entrepreneurship Faculty Hire Assistants

with Alumni Support

Asian Hospitality Magazine (May 2017): Higher Degrees

The Pillsbury Institute Newsletter (December 2016): Entrepreneurship is Global

Cornell Chronicle (October 2016): Gift Lets Entrepreneurship Faculty Hire Assistants

Cornell Daily Sun (June 2016): Cornell Launches New Online Learning Program

The Pillsbury Institute Newsletter (May 2016): From the DIrector

Strengths Coaches’ Playbook (April 2016): Planting Entrepreneurial Seeds at Cornell University

Norway Connects Blog (April 2016): Take a Ride and Explore Norway on a Budget

eShip Magazine (2016): Entrepreneurial Profile Assessment

BizEd (December 2015): Building a Mentor Platform to Boost Alumni Engagement

Hospitality Net (December 2015): Norwegian Grant Elevates Cornell's International Entrepreneurial Efforts

The Pillsbury Institute Newsletter (December 2015): Entrepreneurship is Everywhere

AMCham Norway (December 2015): Expanding the Global Conversation on Entrepreneurship at Cornell University with Norway

Cornell Chronicle (October 2015): Zalaznick awards support course expansion, TAs

Hospitality Magazine (Autumn 2015): Hotels of the Future by Elly Earls

eship Magazine (2015): Expanded Opportunities for Entrepreneurs at the Pillsbury Institute

Hotelie Magazine (Summer 2015): Mona Anita Olsen Expands Entrepreneurship

Hospitality Net (July 2015): Utility and Disruption: Technology for Entrepreneurs in Hospitality, Highlights from the 2015 Technology Entrepreneurship Roundtable

Hospitality Net (May 2015):  From Concept to Impact: Beginning with the End in Mind

The Pillsbury Institute Newsletter (May 2015): From the Director

Cornell Daily Sun (April 2015): Hotel School to Offer New Concentration in Entrepreneurship

Internationalist (Spring 2015): The Power of a Nishimachi Network: Making a Difference in Conversations with Entrepreneurs at Cornell University

TNooz (March 2015): How Cornell students helped Leading Hotels of the World boost revenue

Cornell Chronicle (March 2015): Alumni entrepreneurs, investors to return for 'Celebration'

eship Magazine (2014): Pillsbury Institute Focuses on Education, Experience, and Engagement

The Pillsbury Institute Newsletter (December 2014): Leveraging Education to Create Opportunity

Cornell SHA Blog (October 2014): Hotelie Network + Entrepreneur Mentors = Success for MBA Students

Cornell SHA Blog (September 2014): New course teaches students to keep up with technology  

Hospitality.Net (July 2014): Cornell’s Pillsbury Institute Wins Coleman Foundation Entrepreneurship Fellows Program Grant

The Pillsbury Institute Newsletter (May 2014): From the Director

Newsdesk GMU (May 2013): New PhD Aims to Create Opportunity, Success

HotMommas Case Study (2013): The Norwegian Heart: Making the chalkboard table a modern-day lunchbox

News of Norway (Summer/Fall 2013): Wanted: A Job in Norway

Premier Club Services Blog CMAA (2013): Encouraging Culipreneurship: Culinary Entrepreneurship

Premier Club Services Blog CMAA (2013): I can refresh my professional image strategy

Connect2Mason (August 2012): Mason student travels to Norway on Fulbright scholarship

Newsdesk GMU (April 2012): Students, Alumnus Awarded Fulbright Grants 

News at Mason (February 2012): Mason Small Business Development Center Offers Students Opportunities for Success

Kindle (April 2011): The Manager/Leader Coach

The Washington Post (September 2011): The Corporate Classroom

Northern Virginia Magazine (September 2011): Seeding Success, GMU’s Entrepreneur Mentors

Washington Business Journal (March 2011): GMU, Firm Launch Legal Clinic for Businesses

George Mason University News (June 2011): Center that Helps Entrepreneurs Gets Helping Hand of Its Own

At Your Service Premier Club Services Newsletter (September 2010): Back of the House…Understanding the Volunteer Process and Making It Work in a Private Club Setting

Video/Podcasts/Exhibits

The Art League 18th Biennial Ikebana Exhibit (May 2020): https://www.theartleague.org/shop/gallery-shop/silk-tunic-by-nilo-santiago/

I.I. Washington DC Online Ikebana Exhibit (May 2020): https://www.facebook.com/IkebanaDC

WHCU Radio Your Turn (July 2018): https://soundcloud.com/whcu-radio/your-turn-71718

WHCU Radio Your Turn (July 2018): https://soundcloud.com/whcu-radio/more-news-mornings-4

WHCU Radio (March 2018): https://soundcloud.com/whcu-radio/20180330monaanitaolsen

Cornell Entrepreneur Network (November 2016): https://vod.video.cornell.edu/media/CEN+LIVE+Q%26A+with+a+Cornell+Entrepreneur+featuring+Mona+Anita+Olsen+%2704/1_tglo3ts9

WHCU Radio (November 2016): https://soundcloud.com/whcu-radio/20161118monaolsen

Cornell Entrepreneur Network (November 2016): https://vod.video.cornell.edu/media/CEN+LIVE+Q%26A+with+a+Cornell+Entrepreneur+featuring+Mona+Anita+Olsen+%2704/1_tglo3ts9

Pillsbury Institute 10 Year Celebration Video (November 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvI7Y579VOY

Gallup Called to Coach EP10 (April 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0jCLrvkg1M

Cornell University (Fall 2015): Cornell-China Program Entrepreneurship

CBS Morning Show (May 2015): Hotels Make Hi-Tech Part of Hi-Class

Vimeo Account: https://vimeo.com/monaanitaolsen

Pillsbury Institute Year in Review (2015): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTQZHjSDcig

Pillsbury Institute Year in Review (2014): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBgecRURuvI

iTunesU (2013): HADM 3135/6135 Conversations with Entrepreneurs: Podcast Series

W2 Communications (2012): Five Minutes with Mona Anita Olsen on our Entrepreneurial Community

Women Talk Business with Bettina Lawton (2012)

iTunesU (2012): MEC in the MEC: Podcast for Mason Small Business Development Center (SBDC)