Penn State alums and professor support student entrepreneurs, athletes, veterans

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State alums Bobby Morgan, Ben Morgan and Freddie Scott II, as well as Penn State adjunct professor Beth Shaha, are bringing leadership development programming to student entrepreneurs, student-athletes and veterans through Invent Penn State programs. Their goal, they said, is to help participants slow down, reflect and build resilience for a clearer path forward both personally and professionally.

Bobby Morgan, a Penn State College of Engineering alumnus and Alumni Fellow, serves as a business adviser for Invent Penn State programming. Freddie Scott II, a Penn State College of the Liberal Arts alumnus and former NFL player, leads leadership development work with professional and collegiate athletes. Beth Shaha, adjunct professor at Penn State, contributes to several events and initiatives through Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank. Alongside Morgan, Shaha has helped lead programming at Invent Penn State events such as Global Entrepreneurship Week and Penn State Startup Week, working directly with students and founders.

'Live Prosperous'

Prosperitas Enterprises Inc., founded by Ben and Bobby Morgan, teamed up with Scott, Shaha and JB Spisso, to build the "Live Prosperous" system. The program utilizes strategic consulting, hands-on coaching, storytelling and various programs and challenges that encourage reflection and motivation for participants.

Bobby Morgan said that the team works with universities, corporations, teams and individuals to integrate these proven habits and mindsets into their culture and leadership practices. Fundamental to their mission is a do-it-with-you approach, building sustainable systems that allow transformation to continue long after a workshop or program ends.

"The core of our philosophy is the idea that meaningful growth begins with reflection,” Shaha explained. “Often times, it takes a moment where we just slow down and really reflect on who we are, where we are, and what we want more of. We talk about the power of the pause. When we can get people to pause, center, have that perspective, and bring that together alongside other people, we’re able to learn, develop and stand strong with that support of community."

Through cohort-based programming, Bobby Morgan said that Live Prosperous emphasizes community, connection and the idea of “whole life leadership,” encouraging individuals to draw on their past experiences and past experiences of others to inform what comes next.

Through a partnership with the Penn State Brand Academy, Live Prosperous has participated in both the Brand Academy Summit and Symposium, focusing on helping athletes translate the discipline and resilience developed through competition into meaningful future career pathways.

“Being a Penn State letterman taught me that the jersey is temporary, but the man you become is permanent,” Scott said. “I've spent the last decade walking alongside athletes — from high school recruits to NFL locker rooms — helping them build the capacity to carry pressure, purpose, and performance authentically.”

Live Prosperous is currently in the process of launching a Peer Guardians Program through the Brand Academy, where student‑athletes are trained to serve as approachable, reliable support systems within their communities. Participants are equipped to listen, recognize when additional help is needed, and respond appropriately.

"They are often working so hard to be this athlete, that that becomes their identity and purpose,” Shaha said. “D1 is no joke, but they can have this moment of realization that, I may not be a professional athlete after this. We talked to them about taking the skills they have to climb this mountain. We can build on what you have in order to build a bridge to where you want to go."

Live Prosperous has already engaged large groups of students, including a workshop with 150 incoming freshman student-athletes, helping them begin thinking about identity and purpose early in their college experience.

'Veteran Prosperity'

In addition to student programming, Live Prosperous is expanding its reach to veterans through a partnership with the Penn State Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC).

Through its campaign titled "Veteran Prosperity," Live Prosperous aims to support individuals navigating the transition from military to civilian life. The campaign is led by retired Army Ranger and leadership consultant JB Spisso and retired U.S. Navy Seal Mark Green.

"A lot of times, veterans experience a loss of identity, a loss of purpose, and the loss of the team they trust and care for,” Bobby Morgan said. “We are working on programming to help get veterans in that space to understand they have skills and tools that can translate to any job available to them.”

The Live Prosperous team is working to embed its leadership development tools into existing entrepreneurship programming offered through the Penn State VBOC, offering an added layer of support as veterans explore business ownership and new career paths.

The organization also plans to make its programming available free of charge to veterans and their families, expanding access to those who can benefit most.

“Rather than replacing existing resources, we are positioning ourselves as an additive partner — working alongside initiatives like VBOC, Global Entrepreneurship Week, and the Brand Academy to enhance what is already in place,” Morgan said. “We want to help people have a life that is in alignment with who they are, as well as their personal values and professional goals.”

About Invent Penn State

Invent Penn State is a commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation and student career success. Invent Penn State blends entrepreneurship-focused academic programs, business startup training and incubation, funding for commercialization, and university/community/industry collaborations to facilitate the challenging process of turning research discoveries into valuable products and services that can benefit Pennsylvanians and humankind. Subscribe to the Invent Penn State monthly e-letter and follow Invent Penn State on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Invent Penn State is financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community & Economic Development.