Recently, EntrepreneurshipWeek USA 'Trailblazers' Ron Rubin and Greg Forbes Siegman came together to create a very memorable last day for a group of students.

In March 2007, Rubin -- Chairman of the Board ("Minister of Tea") for The Republic of Tea -- learned about The First Thirty, the biography written about Siegman by Jillip Naysinthe Paxson.

"I read the book and just fell in love with Greg, and what he's achieved at a young age," said Rubin.

Enamored by the book, Rubin immediately recognized that it would be a wonderful addition to the Selected Topics in Entrepreneurship MBA course he teaches as an Adjunct Professor at Saint Louis University. Rubin also secretly arranged for Siegman to come to Saint Louis and speak to the class on May 4th, 2007, as a special treat for the last day of class.

"It's a wonderful feeling to have someone like Ron see such value in my story," said Siegman, "I would've appreciated just knowing that he read The First Thirty and liked it. The fact that he's gone so far out of his way to make it possible for others to read the book and learn the story -- it feels great to have support like that."

During the three hour course, Siegman and the students discussed key business concepts such as social entrepreneurship and how to effectively market a business. Siegman approached these ideas from a unique angle. He talked about milkshakes and grandparents, restaurant reservations and the Wheel of Fortune, using these unusual topics to keep his audience engaged.

"The main, overall point I want the MBA students to take away from the visit is the importance -- and benefit -- of seeing things from different perspectives -- whether it's a business opportunity or just the person standing next to them at the bus stop."

The students and guests enjoyed Siegman's visit. Despite having read the book -- which also addresses concepts in unique and unexpected ways -- the students were surprised at his approach to teaching business.

Will, a guest who attended the class, said that he "had a great time with Greg and the class. I didn't really know what to expect...what shocked me was the class wasn't only about business aspects but about connecting dots, every day encounters with people you meet and just maximizing every opportunity to its greatest potential."

A number of corporations helped out with the event. Wellbridge Athletic Club & Spa supported the class by ordering copies of the companion workbook, A Place To Sit, for the students. Thanks to Advance Mentoring, Inc., an organization that tries to create a network of mentors for anyone in need of advice, the class included a civic project. The students decided where to donate extra copies of The First Thirty provided by Advance Mentoring, Inc.

The end of the class did not signal the end of Siegman's influence. One student, Tia, was so encouraged by the experience that she made one of Siegman's suggestions into an assignment.

She noted, "I have...begun thinking about "People Who Have Taught Me the Most" [in each of the categories he identified]."

The night before the MBA course, Siegman hosted a dinner at Nadoz Café. He held a "dinner with friends except nobody knows each other." This gathering of strangers is a tradition he began with a friend in New York. By the end of each dinner, strangers are transformed into friends. In St. Louis, the twenty guests included students from local universities and adults from a variety of backgrounds both inside and outside of the corporate sector.

During the trip, Siegman also met with Maxine Clark, the other 'Trailblazer' from Saint Louis. Clark is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Bear of Build-a-Bear Workshop, Inc.

"The chance to spend time with Ron and meet Maxine was an amazing opportunity," said Siegman, "I had read their books [and] I had lots of questions about how they got where they are today. They are both people I can learn a lot from, and I hope they are people I get to continue to learn a lot from."

When Rubin first picked up The First Thirty, he could not have known that it would lead to such a special last day for his students.

"I really enjoyed the twenty-four hours or so of time [Greg and I] spent getting to know each other," Rubin said. "I think his trip to St. Louis was very successful."

Together, Rubin and Siegman truly embody EntrepreneurshipWeekUSA's spirit of collaboration. The trip has had lasting effects. Rubin and his wife, Pam, donated $1,000 toward a Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial project spearheaded by Leonard, one of the students they met at Nadoz Cafe, and Siegman gave one of the students who attended the class, Michelle, a chance to intern for him this summer.