Tina Seelig, executive director of Stanford University's technology ventures program, has a close-up view of the students who make the leap of faith to start their own businesses.

A scientist, author and former management consultant, Seelig also is a successful entrepreneur.

After publishing a book, she started, built and later sold a company that sold a multimedia kiosk system that helped match bookstore customers with titles of interest. 

To hear Seelig talk about Stanford's Entrepreneur Week, check out this other interview by Vator.tv campus correspondent Theresa Johnson.

Seelig says that entrepreneurs are people who don't wait around for other people to solve problems.

"It's an attitude," she says.

At the same time, however, it's important to be patient "until you find a problem that you really want to solve.

"Wait to find a problem that you can be married to for several years... starting a business and running a business is really hard, and unless you have a problem that motivates you and propels you forward, it's not going to sustain you unless it's something that you're really passionate about."