Wharton Stories

Get to Know Seven New Members of the incoming MBA Class of 2026

The incoming MBA Class of 2026 is a few months away from the start of their life-changing MBA experience. In April we welcomed ~400 members of the class and their partners to campus to learn more about what’s in store for the next two years. During their weekend on campus, students had the opportunity to get to know fellow admits, take a masterclass with Vice Dean Nicolaj Siggelkow, and listen in on student panels that provided a candid look at the MBA experience.

Between events, we caught up with seven incoming students to hear what excites them about Wharton, and what led them to join the Wharton MBA community.

Henri Mattila

Hometown: I was born in Helsinki, Finland but moved with my family to Haverford, Pennsylvania when I was in third grade.

Previous Education: B.S. in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University.

Previous Career Experience: Most recently, I have worked in corporate development in the pharmaceutical industry, and prior to my pivot into pharma I worked in a strategic finance role at a tech and media conglomerate.

Intended Wharton Major/Program: Healthcare Management

Fun Fact: In college, I co-founded a magazine with a mission of fostering respectful, civil dialogue across ideological lines called Merion West—the fun fact being that against great odds, it’s still going strong!

When or how did you know that Wharton was the right fit for you? Shortly after being admitted, I was invited to a local Wharton student-organized party for the class of 2026. There, I met some of the most remarkable people and immediately knew I would have great company for the next two years, and hopefully beyond.

What are you most looking forward to being a part of when you get to campus in August? I’m most looking forward to trying out the different clubs I’ve heard so much about, from tennis to the Health Care Club. And though a younger version of me would be shocked to hear this, I’m also looking forward to taking some classes and learning from top-rate professors.

What advice do you have for someone who is considering the Wharton MBA Program? As someone who’s lived in many other cities as well as Philadelphia, Philly is kind of a perfect town for MBA students. It’s very walkable and bike-friendly, and the restaurant scene is strong but still doesn’t break the bank. Also, it’s very much worth mentioning that both New York and D.C. are a quick Amtrak train ride away (from a seasoned Amtrak rider: if you book a little in advance, tickets can be as low as 25 bucks!)

 

Samuel McDaniel

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Previous Education: Vanderbilt University

Previous Career Experience: I started my career in management consulting before transitioning to various product management and sales roles in the SAAS space. Most recently, I’ve been working in software sales and leading operations for my family’s business.

Intended Wharton Major/Program: Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Fun Fact: Every year my mother and I venture to a new NFL stadium. Our goal is to knock out all stadiums by 2030. So far we’ve been to Atlanta, Oakland, Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Minneapolis. I’m looking forward to knocking out Philadelphia next year!

When or how did you know that Wharton was the right fit for you? Wharton has always been on a short list of potential MBA programs based on my interactions with alumni, the Wharton brand, and the strength of their entrepreneurship through acquisition programming. My experience at the Explore Wharton program really confirmed that this would be the right place for me. The ability to have dedicated facetime with leaders from the career, graduate affairs and financial aid offices really helped me envision how I could maximize my two years on campus. Lastly, I’ve been impressed with the well roundedness of the students I’ve interacted with. I’m excited to be part of the work hard, play hard culture and continue to build my network.

What are you most looking forward to being a part of when you get to campus in August? As an athletic person, I’m looking forward to diving into the sports-based clubs on campus — Boxing, Rowing, Golf & Hockey. Outside of athletics, I really want to be active in AAMBAA and the ETA Club.

What advice do you have for someone who is considering the Wharton MBA Program? Talk to as many students as possible and try to visit campus. During my research, every person I spoke to had a unique Wharton experience from their social life to professional goals. These conversations really helped me add a layer of intentionality and genuineness to my application that I believed helped me standout.

 

Veronica Rivera

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Previous Education: University of Florida, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance; Minor in Retail

Previous Career Experience: Management Consultant, Boston Consulting Group

Intended Wharton Major/Program: Operations, Information and Decisions

Fun Fact: I bake the world’s best chocolate cake* (based on unbiased feedback from my friends and family)

When or how did you know that Wharton was the right fit for you? I spoke with alumni of varying degrees, from students who graduated last year, and alums who graduated 10-20 years ago. Recent grads gushed over the exceptional community and experience, while more seasoned alums emphasized the unparalleled network and its lasting impacts on their career. While I was excited about the buzz from such a vibrant student experience, I really was inspired by the idea that this program opens doors to career, and life changing opportunities.

What are you most looking forward to being a part of when you get to campus in August? Too many to choose from already…but, the Wharton Graduate Retail Club, Yoga & Wellness Club, and Food Club.

What advice do you have for someone who is considering the Wharton MBA Program? Get to really know yourself as you consider the Wharton MBA. Take some time for some introspection to figure out who you are, what makes you stand out, and your ‘why’. The application process may seem long and daunting, but if you believe in yourself and your ‘story’, it will make the journey worthwhile.

 

Wesley Suggs

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

Previous Education: BA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia

Previous Career Experience: I was a Teach For America Corps Member in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. I taught High School History and then became an Assistant Principal. I currently work as a Strategist and Partnership Manager at Grammarly.

Intended Wharton Major/Program: Finance and Social and Governance Factors for Business

Fun Fact: In college, I played on the Varsity Soccer Team and won the Division 1 Men’s Soccer NCAA National Championship

When or how did you know that Wharton was the right fit for you? I knew Wharton was the right fit for me after I attended the Explore Wharton event this past November. I got to converse with current BIPOC Wharton MBA students and hear about their experiences. I was also able to glean insights from the Admissions Office on how to craft a compelling application. After having soaked up that energy and gained invaluable advice, I felt a surge of confidence in my application. Wharton wasn’t just a prestigious business school anymore; it felt like a supportive community where I could thrive. The BIPOC students I met radiated a passion for making a difference, and their stories mirrored my own desire to bridge the opportunity gap. The admissions team’s guidance demystified the application process, and I knew I could tailor my strengths and experiences into a compelling narrative. Explore Wharton wasn’t just an event – it was a turning point.

What are you most looking forward to being a part of when you get to campus in August? I am looking forward to learning from and growing with my learning team. Wharton does a great job of building a culturally and professionally diverse class, so I know that I will be exposed to a wealth of perspectives and experiences that will challenge my own thinking and push me to grow in unforeseen ways. I am eager to become an active member of AAMBAA. The resources that the club afforded me during my application process were invaluable, and I can’t wait to contribute to its tradition of Black excellence.

What advice do you have for someone who is considering the Wharton MBA Program? If you come from a non-traditional background, it is important to know that Wharton will appreciate your unique experiences and has a lot to offer you! If you are passionate about making a social impact, Wharton is the perfect place to thrive. They will provide you with the necessary knowledge and resources to leverage your unique talents and achieve your goal of becoming a positive force for change. It is a place where you can develop the skills and make meaningful connections that will enable you to make a real difference in the world.

 

Astha Berry

Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin / Irvine, California

Previous Education: Medicine, Science, and the Humanities (undergrad) and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (grad) at Johns Hopkins

 

Previous Career Experience: Strategy Consulting

Intended Wharton Major/Program: Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Fun Fact: I read 200 books / year

When or how did you know that Wharton was the right fit for you? Wharton was my dream school for an MBA – I visited friends at Penn during undergrad and always had an amazing time.  I spoke to multiple friends from my undergrad who are current students or alumni at Wharton and when I visited it immediately felt like home.  Then, to seal the deal, over Christmas, I ran into a group of Wharton students on a cruise in Antarctica.  Turns out Wharton students are truly everywhere.

What are you most looking forward to being a part of when you get to campus in August? I can’t wait to get plugged into VIP-C and VIP-X at Tangen Hall, Follies,

What advice do you have for someone who is considering the Wharton MBA Program?  Talk to students who are doing the things that you want to do, visit campus to get a feel for the student body, and see if you can picture yourself there.

 

Matthew Keepman

Hometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota

Previous Education: BA in Latin American Studies and Spanish from Brigham Young University

Previous Career Experience: Most recently I was a private equity associate at DW Healthcare Partners and prior to that I was an investment banking analyst at Piper Sandler.

Intended Wharton Major/Program: Healthcare Management

Fun Fact: I listen to Disney music when I’m stressed.

When or how did you know that Wharton was the right fit for you? I had always known that Wharton was a world renowned business school but when I learned about the healthcare management program and spoke with current students I knew it was a perfect fit for me.

What are you most looking forward to being a part of when you get to campus in August? The Wildmen Hockey Club.

What advice do you have for someone who is considering the Wharton MBA Program? Consider how you want to learn and grow during business school, both personally and professionally, and figure out how Wharton will help you to achieve that growth.

 

Daniele Anderson

Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Previous Education: Undergrad: United States Naval Academy; Master’s: Columbia University (NY)

Previous Career Experience: From 2013 to 2018 I served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy. I left the Navy to work on issues of economic inequality in the social impact sector. I’m currently a research director at a civil rights organization.

Intended Wharton Major/Program: Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Fun Fact: I love music and collect records as a hobby. My next goal is to learn how to DJ!

When or how did you know that Wharton was the right fit for you? I was looking for both flexibility and community in an MBA program. I am interested in launching my own digital health company, Wharton’s flexible curriculum gives me the ability to tailor my academic experience across my three interests, healthcare, technology, and entrepreneurship. After I attended ‘Explore Wharton’ day and saw how tight-knit students were and how welcoming they were to us prospective students, I knew Wharton was the right place for me.

What are you most looking forward to being a part of when you get to campus in August? I’m looking forward to building meaningful relationships with my classmates and working on my health-tech venture. I’m also looking forward to joining the African American MBA Association and Veterans Club, both were instrumental resources during my application process. I’m excited to pay it forward and help other veterans and BIPOC prospective students along their MBA application journey.

— Abby Behrends
All Photo Credit: Samantha Oyola

Posted: May 31, 2024

Welcome to Wharton

Every year, the Office of MBA Admissions and Office of MBA Student Life partner to plan Welcome to Wharton events in January and April, welcoming recently admitted MBA students to campus for a weekend of programming designed to showcase all aspects of life at Wharton.

Staff and current students eager to welcome recently admitted MBA candidates to campus.
Panelists Samimi Haroon WG’24, Vice Dean Maryellen Reilly, Loyd Bradley WG’24 and Director of Student Life Eddie Banks-Crosson discuss life at Wharton, and what’s next for the MBA program.
Admitted students sit in on mock classes, sessions led by Career Management, and student panels throughout the weekend.

Wharton Stories

My Global Business Week Experience: Argentina

Image: La Boca district, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Armando Oliveira)
This is the first of several installments in the “My Global Business Week” series. Share in the journeys of Wharton EMBA students who venture across the world to learn with Wharton’s acclaimed Global Business Week program.

Each year, second-year students in the Wharton MBA Program for Executives embark on Global Business Week, a week-long course taught by Wharton faculty. Students from all three cohorts choose from several destinations, meaning each course enrolls a mix of Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Global cohort students.

Glory Durham, WG’24 (Image: Glory Durham)

Glory Durham, WG’24, is the Director of Operations at Penn Health-Tech, Penn’s health-tech innovation center. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh. Before enrolling in the Wharton MBA Program for Executives, she earned a Master of Public Health in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh.

Below, Durham shares her Global Business Week experience studying Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Turbulent Times with Prof. Zeke Hernandez in Argentina.

Why did you choose the Argentina Global Business Week destination?

I come from a public health background, and currently work at Penn Health-Tech, a center supporting faculty from Penn and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as they develop medical technology ideas into products. I’m passionate about solving healthcare problems and supporting innovators in their go-to-market strategy. 

Wharton EMBA students enjoying a cultural enrichment experience in Argentina. (Image: Glory Durham)

I chose Argentina because I wanted to learn how to operate in a market that is constantly changing and evolving. This knowledge will help me become a more resilient and adaptable innovator and support like-minded individuals and teams.

Can you tell us about some highlights from the week?  

Professor Hernandez provided necessary context of the complex market dynamics in Argentina, influenced by the economic and political situation. We also met with senior leaders from various sectors and industries who shared their insights and experiences with us. They helped us understand Argentina’s role in the South American and global markets, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. 

There were several memorable visits from the trip. We visited a mid-stage fintech startup where we discussed how leaders cope with the challenges and opportunities of the Argentine economy and politics. Hearing their insights on the impact of geopolitical influences and how culture and commerce interplay with one another was fascinating. Another highlight was Estonia Ranch, a cattle ranch, where we got an economics lecture from an agricultural perspective. It was interesting to see how they plan and prepare for recessions, and how they decide when to borrow, buy, or scale back. 

Dining with students from the Philadelphia and San Francisco cohorts on the last night in Argentina. (Image: Glory Durham)

Some other notable visits included ​​a fireside chat with the COO of an early-stage biotech firm, a meeting with a healthcare company expanding to Europe, and a visit with Mercado Libre, the “Amazon” of South America. These visits showed us the diversity and innovation of the Argentine business landscape. The interweaving fabric of the course was how to anticipate and respond to unexpected events, such as a recession, and how to make smart business decisions in any context.  

How did you and your classmates spend time outside of class and corporate visits?

Beyond the class lectures and corporate visits, I enjoyed some meaningful and fun activities with my classmates in Argentina. One of them was visiting a nonprofit organization, Sumando Energiás, that provides solar-powered plumbing for low-income areas. As an immigrant from Nigeria, I could relate to the challenges of poverty and lack of basic amenities. I was happy to help the organization by making water heating devices from recycled soda cans. The work we completed provided hot water for three families. It was a great way to bond with my classmates and give back to the community.

Wharton EMBA students giving back to the community in Argentina at Sumando Energiás. (Image: Glory Durham)

Another aspect of Global Business Week that I loved was the opportunity to connect with classmates on a personal level. You’re waiting with them at the airport in sweatpants, which broke the ice and made us more casual and comfortable than we usually get to be in the classroom. When we were together, we often prioritized connecting with classmates we may not have had the chance to get to know yet. We had dinners, learned tango dancing, visited Uruguay by ferry, and had a lot of fun! The trip was also a bittersweet reminder that our wild, unbelievable two-year WEMBA journey is coming to an end soon, which made me appreciate it even more.

– Glory Durham 

Posted: May 30, 2024

EMBA Program

Wharton MBA Program for Executives

More on the Global Business Week

Class photo with Jacobo Cohen Imach, Senior Vice President General Counsel at MercadoLibre, Inc. (Image: Wharton MBA Program for Executives)

Wharton’s Executive MBA program requires students to participate in Global Business Week (GBW) in the beginning of their second year.

  • Students choose from several locations for GBW, which means each location will have a mix of Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Global students.
  • Recent choices have included customer centricity in Sweden, entrepreneurship and innovation in Argentina, cryptocurrency and the next generation of finance in Switzerland, and ESG Issues in Australia.
  • During this intensive week of corporate visits and lectures, students engage with senior management to discuss topics relevant to the region.
  • Following the trip, they have the opportunity to reflect on the insights gained from the experience and present their findings.

Next up in the “My Global Business Week Experience” content series: Switzerland.

Wharton Stories

How Wharton’s Disability Empowerment and Action League (DEAL) Transforms Campus

Image: From left to right: Xu at a club event with fellow DEAL members Greg Young, Letícia R. Cavalcanti, and Maximilian Tang, all WG'24 (DEAL).
“By fostering a culture of inclusivity and understanding, we can attract more talented prospective students with disabilities to Wharton and have them to believe they can make a meaningful impact in their careers beyond Wharton.” – Sheila Xu, WG’24

Sixty years after the founding of the first Mental Health Awareness Month in May 1949, Wharton students are united in creating an intentional community dedicated to supporting the many neurodivergent and disabled students who live, work, and thrive on campus. Meet Wharton’s DEAL Club, the School’s student-founded, student-run Disability Empowerment and Action League, the mission of which is “to build a supportive community for people with disabilities at Wharton in order to make Wharton more inclusive and accessible to all.” 

This is why opening DEAL’s doors beyond Wharton, to all of Penn, remains one of the most significant decisions executed by DEAL student leaders upon the club’s founding in Fall 2023. Today and moving forward, all club activities and events are available to all Penn students, club partners, and allies alike. 

DEAL club members enjoys a regular lunch together on campus. On the left side of the image: Portugal is second-right; Xu is at the end of the table. On the right: Burgoyne is pictured in the back. (Image: DEAL)

Navigating the diverse needs within DEAL requires a commitment to inclusivity. Neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD are most commonly identified by DEAL group members, while others navigate disabilities like deafness, blindness, plus a variety of other mental and physical health challenges – all while earning their degrees and supporting one another.

How DEAL Went From Idea To Inception

Outgoing DEAL president and club co-founder Sheila Xu, WG’24, is a deaf-signing woman who remembers arriving on campus feeling highly visible, yet also somewhat isolated, from her peers. “Many of my Wharton peers confided in me about their own disabilities, but feared disclosing due to stigma and lack of understanding from others,” Xu says. “This realization sparked my desire to create a safe space for students with disabilities and allies to connect, share experiences, and advocate for inclusivity and accessibility at Wharton.”

Portugal (top row, far left) and Xu (bottom row, left of center) at the DALSA and DEAL joint event.  DEAL event with club members and allies. (Image: DEAL)

Also reflecting on DEAL’s genesis, board member John Burgoyne, WG’24, notes that he and his fellow co-founders discovered inspiration in each other’s respective leadership styles and vision. 

“I wanted to be a founding board member for DEAL,” says Burgoyne. “Seeing the evolution of the club from a small group of passionate individuals into a community of people supporting each other and advocating for accessibility has been so exciting.”

Inclusion’s Winding Road

The journey toward the creation of DEAL, plus its mission of inclusivity for all student members, was not without bumps in the road. Edwin Portugal, WG’24, due to serve as DEAL’s incoming 2024 – 25 Club President, highlights his own challenges in the context of the need for DEAL on campus. 

“The reason why I joined DEAL is deeply tied to my journey of understanding my past challenges, and the challenges facing many other people with disabilities,” reflects Portugal, who received an autism diagnosis at age twenty-five. This combination of empathy and self-awareness is a running theme for DEAL and its members, many of whom face similar hurdles as Portugal, whether in that same sphere of neurodivergence or through navigating other disabilities. 

Because club leadership is mostly of Wharton students, many of DEAL’s initiatives focus on championing disability inclusion in business education and in the business world writ large.

Portugal (right) stands with professional advocates who lend their time to disability advocacy in the workplace at a DEAL event. (Image: DEAL)

“Even with DEI’s growth, we still see too many businesses neglecting aspects of identity related to disability,” says Burgoyne. “When a company intentionally weaves accessibility, intersectionality, and belonging into their work, that’s a great signal for potential talent, in addition to a differentiator for the team.”

Xu echoes Burgoyne’s perspective with numbers to back up this claim. “With 1 in 4 people globally having a disability and the disability market worth $13 trillion, it’s crucial we tap into this overlooked sector,” she says. “By promoting visibility and inclusion, we empower our nondisabled allies to become more aware and thoughtful leaders in their career, especially when working with their colleagues or clients with disabilities.”

DEAL’s philosophical foundation of intersectionality lends itself to supporting its student members’ post-grad journeys. DEAL leadership organized a panel with Penn’s Office of Student Affairs that focused on hiring and supporting employees with disabilities through an event co-sponsored by Wharton’s Human Capital Club. 

Through active bridge-building and the spearheading of other collaborative efforts, now visible throughout both Wharton and student life throughout the broader University, DEAL continues to amplify the voices of those often marginalized in corporate discourse.

By Opening Its Doors, DEAL Broadens the Wharton Student Experience

Networking with other students across Penn is a cornerstone of DEAL’s commitment to building a safe and supportive community that extends beyond Wharton’s tight-knit campus community. Other events DEAL leadership organized include a lunch meet-and-greet with the Disabled and Allied Law Students Association (DALSA) out of Penn’s acclaimed Carey Law School. 

From DEAL’s “Ask Me Anything” event with Wharton’s Office of Student Life . (Image: DEAL)

In addition, over a dozen events took place across the 2023 – 2024 academic year, both hosted independently by DEAL and with partnering organizations. A few of these events also hosted expert disability advocates from outside of Wharton and Penn, who met with DEAL members and allies to workshop how students can achieve future success in conjunction with their current challenges. 

Xu offers advice for anyone looking to advocate for the neurodiverse and disabled community, and anyone within the community themselves. “I encourage others to be fearless and speak up when necessary, as change requires courageous leadership,” says Xu. “As I’ve learned at Wharton, if you want to see change, be the leader and set an example for others to follow.” 

– Grace Meredith

Posted: May 23, 2024

The Wharton School

(Image: MarLei)

What is neurodivergent? 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the term “neurodivergent” describes people whose brain differences affect how their brain works. That means they have different strengths and challenges from people whose brains don’t have those differences. The possible differences include medical disorders, learning disabilities and other conditions.

Like a person’s fingerprints, no two brains — not even those of identical twins — are exactly the same. Because of that, there’s no definition of “normal” capabilities for the human brain.

More about DEAL at Wharton

DEAL strives to build a supportive community for people with disabilities at Wharton in order to make Wharton more inclusive and accessible to all. We are open to all, including students and partners with disabilities, and allies.

Currently, DEAL has five club officers, over 180 club members, and looks forward to hosting even more events on campus.

Wharton Stories

The Advocate: An Undergrad Fosters Educational Equity

Image: (Getty Images)
In the wake of the SCOTUS ruling on Affirmative Action, Xavier Shankle, W’24, told the White House they needed to do something, and they did.

As president of Penn’s Undergraduate Assembly, Xavier Shankle identified problems and worked to find solutions. He did the same thing at Wharton as co-chair of the Wharton Dean’s Undergraduate Advisory Board (WAB). That mindset catapulted him into a national conversation about inclusion and diversity in higher education.

Shankle’s journey started with his high school in Atlanta that offered a business-education program with monthly case studies and onsite presentations to companies.

“I was like, ‘Okay, I like the way we’re learning and that we learn things in theory and then apply them to the practice of a company,’” he said.

The focus was community-oriented cases and public-policy solutions. That’s when Shankle knew he wanted to go to business school.

Building Better Pipelines

“Generally speaking, people from my high school, from my community, don’t make it to college, let alone to the University of Pennsylvania,” said Shankle. “It’s not that I was lucky, but I was incredibly fortunate and had an opportunity that’s not afforded to everyone in my community.”

Shankle credits the people from his community who invested in him, and he wanted to do the same for others.

“It would almost be wrong of me to come here and not try to build better pipelines or systems that make it easier for people who come after me,” said the senior. “It feels like I had to beat the odds to get to Penn. I don’t want the next person who applies from South Atlanta to feel like they have to beat the odds to get here.”

His Wharton activities reflect his dedication to creating equity for others.

“My activities let me change the odds to build a more inclusive institution so that others can feel like this is somewhere they belong and they too can come to Penn,” he said.

Equal Opportunity

With US Representative David Scott, WG ’69, outside the Capitol (Image: Xavier Shankle)

That passion for inclusivity would soon lead to his most memorable accomplishment while at Wharton.

A former high school class president, Shankle has always liked government and spent his junior summer interning for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. That same summer, the Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions.

“I remember feeling incredibly upset or angry,” he said. “I felt really weird when that officially came out because I was literally sitting in one of the Congressional Office Buildings.”

He recalls waiting for anyone on Capitol Hill to respond beyond written statements.

“I was like, ‘How am I in the center of power in America and this big decision that impacts racial equity is made and it was very, very much inertia?’” he recalled.

He went home and drafted a letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris that stated he was an African-American student leader and the administration needed to do something. He reached out to the student-body presidents at Harvard and University of North Carolina, the two universities the ruling was against.

The student leaders workshopped the letter and sent it. They quickly heard back that the President and Vice President had seen the letter and wanted them at a summit.

“We were like, ‘Oh my gosh, this actually worked,’” he said.

National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

At the National Summit with student body presidents and Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education (Image: Xavier Shankle)

Shankle was one of six students invited to the National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education hosted by the Biden-Harris administration to discuss strategies and resources to expand access to higher education.

The daylong event at the Department of Education is where Shankle shared ideas on how to advance equity with university presidents from across the nation and senior administration officials, including staffers from the White House, the U.S. Domestic Policy Council, and the Office of the Vice President.

He was in a breakout session with the deputy secretary of the Department of Education.

“I was able to engage directly with her in the group about, as an African-American man, how this decision makes me feel and what I think will be really good to continue to encourage students of color to apply to institutions.”

Shankle and a few other students were invited to continue the discussion at the Vice President’s office a few days later.

“It was just crazy. I was sitting in her office and looking around,” he said. “Here I am, this kid from South Atlanta talking to the VP’s policy staffers in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. That was an incredible day.”

In the fall, Shankle was invited once again by the White House to participate in their webinar to contribute to the Department of Education’s new guidance around the issue they were launching.

Back on Penn’s campus, Shankle continued the discussions around how to build and maintain inclusivity.

“Although the decision is purely legal and a checkbox on the application, the impact of the ruling reverberates through the educational landscape, and you feel it when you’re in the classroom,” Shankle said.

Equitable landscape at Wharton

At the WAB end-of-year celebration (Image: Xavier Shankle)

Shankle has made inclusivity a priority while at Wharton. As part of WAB, his focus has been on classroom innovation and equity the last four years.

His first year at Wharton was remote due to COVID, and Shankle, as part of a WAB team, presented to the dean on ways professors could continue inclusive teaching in an online environment. The team presented at faculty meetings, coordinated professor roundtable discussions, and created faculty toolkits.

Shankle says he was happy to learn professors use the inclusive teaching toolkits.

“That means that a group of 40 or 50 students now have a marginally better experience, right?” he said. “You multiply it out over a couple years, you’re able to impact a lot of students.”

Upon graduation, Shankle will be a business analyst at McKinsey & Company in his hometown of Atlanta. He plans to go law school and eventually enter the public policy field where he can continue to craft solutions to close equity gaps.

‘Take your own path through Wharton’

Meeting with Provost Jackson (Image: Xavier Shankle)

Shankle pursued his passions of equity and inclusion, and his advice to others is to do the same.

“Real trailblazers, they make their own path,” he said. “[Students] think that the only way you can be the best at Wharton is if you follow a certain path, but it’s perfectly okay to take your own path through Wharton.”

He encourages students to follow their interests beyond predefined clubs or career paths.

“You’re helping the entire community when you do that because you show people, it is okay if I don’t do consulting and banking. It is okay to venture off and join this club or take this unique niche internship.”

He says he wants students to understand that they are at Wharton and they’ll be okay, no matter what.

“It helps show future generations, ‘Hey, there’s not only one type; there’s 2,500 different types of Wharton students.’”

—Sara Hoover

Posted: May 16, 2024

Undergraduate Program

Xavier Shankle, W’24

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Concentration: Business Economics & Public Policy

Activities: Penn Undergraduate Assembly president, Wharton Dean’s Undergraduate Advisory Board co-chair, STEP mentor

Honors: Named to Poets & Quants for Undergrads’ 100 Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors, Class of 2024: Profile; selected to be the Class of 2024 Graduation Student Speaker; received the 2024 Wharton School Dean’s Award for Excellence

Wharton Stories

How Wharton’s “New Parents Accommodation Policy” Supports Young Families

Image: Nancy's baby shower, thrown by her fellow Wharton classmates. (Nancy Yuan)
“Being at Wharton is actually a great time to start a family. It certainly takes a village – but you have so much support here. Wharton gave me more decision-making power and flexibility in becoming a mother than I would have ever imagined.” — Nancy Yuan, WG’24

Meet Nancy Yuan, WG’24 , who balanced pregnancy and childbirth during her first year at Wharton. Now expecting her second child after completing an MBA Major in Organizational Effectiveness and ESGB, Yuan is officially graduating and will serve a Leadership Rotation with the American Red Cross.

The following is Nancy’s firsthand experience navigating the Wharton MBA Program as a new mom, and the support she received from her Wharton community.

I came into my first year at Wharton pregnant and delivered my daughter right before winter break. I gave birth two days after my Management exam and that was, as you can imagine, a little crazy. Now, I’m pregnant with my second child and I’ll be delivering my son in a few weeks after graduation.

Nancy Yuan WG’24 (right) and her husband, Fangzhou (left). (Photo: Nancy Yuan)

At Wharton, we’re fortunate to be very close to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where I gave birth. It was extremely easy to have my OBGYN literally across the street so I could schedule appointments right before or after classes.

I must include that my husband and my family are extremely supportive. My husband has been phenomenal in understanding that Wharton is a special experience, as well as being a mother, and has been helpful in balancing the two. Before Wharton I was working in consulting at Bain and would be traveling four to five days per week. We knew we wanted children, but as two people with ambitious careers and learning objectives, we didn’t know when it would be a good time to start a family. When we started to think about it, we realized that the time I spent earning my MBA would also make a great time to have children. I have classes four days a week, but I can manage my schedule on my own terms. Having no classes on Fridays at Wharton also helps – where else are you going to get three-day weekends?

Support from the Wharton Community

I was worried about what people would think about me getting my MBA while pregnant. I assumed there was going to be a lot of travel and parties that I wouldn’t be able to partake in while pregnant, and I didn’t know how that was going to affect me socially. But in fact, my experience has been quite the opposite. The communal support has been lovely and overwhelming, and I think that just highlights that there really is a place for everyone here. My Wharton friends even threw me a baby shower during my first semester!

I found a huge sense of community through Moms@Wharton – it was really beneficial to connect with other ambitious mothers who are balancing school, family, their career and other commitments. They were so supportive and gave me advice on everything; from what pumps to buy for breastfeeding, to babysitting and organizing play dates, to reassuring me when I had “mommy guilt” for being away from my daughter during treks. I decided to lead Moms@Wharton in my second year to pay it forward.

We’re also fortunate to have hospital grade lactation suites on campus – they’re like the “Cadillac” of breast pumps. That alone makes me feel supported as a mother here.

Making time for Extra-Curriculars

I did both the Quantico Military Simulation and FDNY Firefighter Simulation while pregnant. I went on the Columbia GMC three months after giving birth and I was worried about participating while breastfeeding. The professors on that trip were extremely accommodating and let me excuse myself to pump as much as I needed. I really struggled with making the decision to participate in some of these larger ventures, but I want to have great stories to tell my children, and I know I’ll be a better role model for them if I don’t give up my hopes and dreams. I’m really grateful that Wharton still allowed me to have these opportunities.

Nancy during her Quantico Intensive. (Photo: Nancy Yuan)
Nancy on her trek to Antarctica. (Photo: Nancy Yuan)

On Wharton’s new Parent Policy and how current students made it happen

This initiative was in process before my time here, but through Moms@Wharton, we had a lot of meetings over the past year with Dean Erika James and other leaders at Wharton. It was a very collaborative process – they were able to help us understand what barriers and limitations were on the school side, and we were able to highlight our experiences as parents and bring to their attention the needs of students. When I was pregnant with my daughter, there was not a formal leave policy in place. I was lucky enough to give birth to her over winter break, and when I returned to campus I worked with professors on a one on one basis on my needs. I’m very grateful that Wharton has taken action on having a parental leave policy for students, because a lot of other schools don’t have one in place. My hope is that Wharton can be a leader in other innovative policies for parents.

Nancy at her Wharton baby shower. (Photo: Nancy Yuan)

Advice for MBA parents

Being at Wharton is actually a great time to start a family. It certainly takes a village – but you have so much support here. Wharton gave me more decision-making power and flexibility in becoming a mother than I would have ever imagined. I would almost consider parenthood a different “extracurricular” for students here because after speaking with more and more classmates about my experience, many of them expressed wishing they had planned this into their life sooner. Becoming a parent won’t hinder your career but will add to it. We’re all here to become business leaders, and together we can better understand the needs of parents having this shared experience during their MBA, and ultimately bring more empathy for parents into our careers.

— Nancy Yuan, WG’24

Posted: May 10, 2024

MBA Program

Moms@Wharton play date. (Photo: Nancy Yuan)

The difficult balancing act of being a parent (or parent-to-be) in an MBA Program has now gotten a little bit easier here at Wharton. Wharton’s administration has developed a New Parents Accommodation Policy that offers a range of flexible options and aims to support student parents as they navigate the demands of parenting and higher education simultaneously.

More on Wharton’s Childbirth and New Parents Accommodation Policy

The Wharton MBA program’s flexible curriculum allows new parents to create a reasonable plan that addresses their specific needs without compromising their graduation timeline. It encourages expecting mothers, surrogates or gestational carriers, as well as parents of a newly adopted child, to work closely with their academic advisors to ensure a smooth transition during this important phase of their lives.

Supporting New Parents

If a student is delivering a child, they have the option to request up to two weeks of excused absences. During this time, academic deadlines are postponed, alleviating the pressure on students. It is important to note that students are still responsible for meeting their academic obligations, and if necessary, can take a leave of absence to fully focus on their family responsibilities. In addition to a full-semester leave of absence, new parents also have the option to pause their studies for one quarter during or after the birth of their child while maintaining their full-time status.

Accessing the Policy

To explore any of the new policy options, we encourage students to reach out to their academic advisors or the MBA Program Office. They will guide individuals in understanding the available accommodations and assist in developing a personalized plan that ensures both academic success and a smooth transition into parenthood.

Wharton Stories

Photo Essay: A Year in the Life of STEP

Image: Anthony Yang, W'24
Anthony Yang, W’24, photographed the Successful Transition and Empowerment Program (STEP) from fall 2022 through summer 2023.

View the full photo essay.

Posted: May 8, 2024

“I documented STEP because I wanted to capture moments that others can enjoy – more of giving back to a community that gave so much to me.” — Anthony Yang, W’24

Successful Transition and Empowerment Program (STEP) is a four-year program that introduces undergraduate students to important Wharton and Penn resources, fosters connection and community development, and helps members build skills to effectively navigate college, both academically and socially. 

View the full photo essay.

Wharton Stories

Wharton Asia Exchange: Bridging Cultures, Building Businesses

Image: WAX general body members (WAX)
Since 2001, the Wharton Asia Exchange (WAX) club has served as a pre-professional community for undergraduate students who have an interest in the Asian business landscape.

What is Wharton Asia Exchange’s mission?

WAX’s primary mission is to provide opportunities for our students to explore and engage in the dynamic Asian business community, which ultimately contributes towards our goal of fostering Asian representation in business by facilitating the personal and professional development of our members.

Twenty-three years ago, our founders established a unique vision for the club: to bridge the gap between the university community and the Asian business environment. Ever since, WAX has been one of the largest on-campus organizations that focuses on celebrating Asian identity through professional development.

WAX has around 250 active committee members as well as a General Body Membership program. We have a diverse group of members ranging from international students from Asia, members of the Asian American community, and those who do not identify with the Asian community but are intellectually and professionally curious about the Asian business landscape.

How does WAX engage with the university community and beyond?

We believe that engagement with the broader university community and beyond is an integral part of our work.

Through our Global Strategy team, we offer pro bono consulting services to small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the local Philadelphian and Asian communities. Students are assigned to a project group and collaborate throughout the semester to achieve and cater to our clients’ goals. The Global Strategy team allows students to get a hands-on taste of the consulting industry while accomplishing meaningful goals for our clients across a diverse range of industries.

Our Alumni Relations team maintains extensive connections with Wharton alumni, organizing a variety of events each semester such as alumni dinners and speaker events. These events offer students invaluable professional and industry insights while developing a long-term relationship with our alumni. Our alumni speakers are among our most popular events. Recently, for instance, we hosted alumni Todd Horst, Partner at McKinsey & Company, and Ee-Ping Ong, Managing Director and Head of China of American Securities, who provided their wealth of expertise in the Management Consulting and the Asian Private Equity industries to our aspiring students interested in a career in these prospective landscapes.

What are some signature club events and initiatives?

The Wharton Asia Speaker Series (WASS) takes place every fall and focuses on a particular topic each year.  Last fall, we centered around the theme of “The Digitalized Era” and we welcomed speakers from leading technology companies such as TikTok and Rockstar Games, providing students with first-hand insights into the ups and downs, life changes, and stories of Asian-American business leaders across the tech industry.

WAX publishes a magazine every semester revolving around an Asian-centric theme. The journal committee hosts a launch party at the end of each semester to recognize and present the hard work of their writers in a casual and fun setting. This semester, our journal delved into the theme of “Asian Security and Diplomacy” that explored the diplomatic and political challenges faced by Asian countries.

In the aim of embracing our Asian identities, WAX hosts a wealth of social events with an emphasis on celebrating Asian cultures. Our semesterly mochi-making social is a favorite among our members as we gather for an afternoon to relax and create deliciousness. The Hawaiian-inspired butter mochi and traditional Japanese strawberry mochi are our favorites to make!

How does WAX foster professional growth and industry knowledge among its members?

Wharton Asia Investments (WAI) has been the most popular branch of WAX for students interested in a career in finance. WAI partners with Asian hedge funds and organizes a stock pitch competition every semester. Throughout the semester, upper-level members host personalized workshops to teach junior members various skill sets such as financial analysis, modeling, and stock-pitching basics. We are proud to have equipped many of our members with invaluable financial knowledge that they took with them to their internships and prospective careers.

WAX’s Global Strategy’s pro bono consulting services span across the healthcare tech, education tech, retail, beauty, and automotive industries. Our students are placed into collaborative project groups that advise organizations on how to tackle their most pressing issues. Similar to WAI, upper-level members in Global Strategy host workshops throughout the semester that teach students industry knowledge and frameworks to apply on their projects. Students receive hands-on, real-life consulting experience through Global Strategy while establishing meaningful change across a diverse range of Asian business communities.

WAX also hosts a variety of events focused on professional development. These include alumni mentorship programs, résumé-building workshops, and internship panels where seniors offer their authentic experience and advice for our members navigating the job-search and recruiting process.

What advice would current members give to students considering joining the club?

We know how hard and intimidating it can be to find your starting point in the business world. WAX is an amazing community to begin the journey with as we have an incredibly supportive network of upper-level students and alumni.

—Sara Hoover

Posted: May 3, 2024

Undergraduate Program

Members at a mochi-making social (Image: WAX)
The Wharton Asia Investments team director hosting a technical workshop for junior members (Image: WAX)
WAX Board members (Image: Weining Ding, W’27)
Visiting Bain & Company on a career trek to Washington DC (Image: WAX)

Wharton Stories

A Look at Three Undergraduate ESG Experiences

Wharton seniors reflect on their participation in Environmental, Social and Governance Initiative programs

Chief Sustainability Officer, sustainability consultants, and green investors are some of the new positions that are being created within the business world that take into account the growing focus on environmental, social, and governance issues.

At Wharton, the newly created Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Initiative offers undergraduate students several curricular and co-curricular opportunities to explore these topics.

An Education Tailored to Solve Current World Issues

Michael Lentskevich, W’24, is concentrating in Business, Energy, Environment and Sustainability and Legal Studies and Business Ethics (Image: Sara Hoover)

Michael Lentskevich, W’24, is concentrating in Business, Energy, Environment and Sustainability (BEES), which is now a specialized Environmental, Social and Governance Factors for Business concentration.

With a strong science background, Lentskevich always knew he wanted to do something related to the environment and climate change, but also “pragmatic, data driven, and large scale.”

He enjoyed the range of different topics covered by the concentration.

“It allowed me to pursue a wide array of different careers without locking me into a particular type of field,” he said.

Lentskevich plans to pursue a career in environmental law after working on environmental strategy for a bank for the next two years.

“This concentration is in high demand right now from all sides,” he said. “There are a lot of careers that specifically utilize the knowledge gained in this concentration and even more of those that connect to it.

Related careers include ESG consulting, ESG investment funds, green deals focused investment banking, operations management, environmental strategy within corporations, and risk assessment insurance.

For students who are considering the ESGB concentration, Lentskevich recommends MGMT 2090: The Political Environment of a Multinational Firm.

“It is truly a culminating class that forces you to synthesize all of your knowledge and apply it weekly to specific case studies,” the senior said. “I have also used not only the concepts we learned in class but the specific tools during my summer internships and future work.”

He says the guest speakers were “phenomenal” and broadened his understanding of environmental management from an academic perspective and the professional one with exposure to possible careers within that field.

Future-Focused Learning

Fatima Figueroa, W’24, who is concentrating in Business Economics & Public Policy, took an ESG course offered in the Legal Studies & Business Ethics department, LGST 2150: Environmental Management, Law, and Policy, taught by Professor Sarah Light.

“Sarah Light is a wonderful professor who integrates her research beautifully into the class,” Figueroa said. “In this class, you learn about the delicate relationship between the environment and business and the role we play as future business leaders.”

The senior also appreciated that the course was cross listed as an MBA class.

“I benefited tremendously from listening to the experience brought in by the MBA students.”

LGST 2150 was Lentskevich’s favorite ESG course, in part because of the cross-listed component.

“It was full of very topical discussion as an undergrad/MBA mixed course and allowed me to see how law, business, and people intersect,” he said. “It was also very future focused allowing me to learn not only what happened in this field in the past but how it would be impacted in the years to come.”

His summer internship focused on environmental regulations, and he says the class allowed him to be more prepared than any of his co-interns.

“Professor Light is phenomenal and is able to help students find the value in this class no matter their core interests,” Lentskevich said.

Figueroa encourages other students to take at least one ESG course.

“Even if you decide not to concentrate, I would strongly recommend that you try at least one class because there is so much to learn,” she said.

Building a Strong Foundation in ESG

Another option for undergraduate students to deepen their ESG expertise is by being a Turner ESG Fellow.

Turner ESG Fellows are a group of 20-25 undergraduates across Penn who participate in a year-long program of speaker sessions, networking opportunities, and professional development across many ESG topics.

Sapphira Ching, W’24, is concentrating in finance and entrepreneurship, and knew she wanted to combine her passions for finance, innovation, technology, and ESG while at Wharton.

“I initially applied to the Climate Risk Fellows Program to learn more about addressing greenwashing in business, specifically the aviation industry, and that program evolved into the Turner ESG Fellows Program, so I was part of the inaugural Fellows class,” Ching said.

She was invited back this academic year to be a Senior Fellow, and is involved with the ESG Initiative’s Student Leadership Advisory Board.

During the Fellows program, Ching’s focus evolved from environmental and social factors to governance.

“Governance became especially fascinating to me,” she said. “I was particularly interested in the role that shareholders can have in terms of changing the direction of big business for the better. This helped increase my passion for impact investing.”

The senior co-wrote an article with another fellow that featured insights from Greg Hershman, Head of US Policy at the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.

Ching says hearing from academic and industry speakers who lead the ESG space provided the Fellows with a diverse set of insights regarding all three pillars of ESG.

“That helps Wharton undergraduates build a strong foundation to brainstorm how they want to support ESG through their business careers,” she said. “Personally, it further showed me that business is not just a tool to support sustainability and responsible business practices, but rather that ESG practices are essential for a successful business.”

Ching encourages students to apply to be a Turner ESG Fellow.

“I’ve met some wonderful people and learned so much,” she said. “A great aspect of the program is that the speakers and Fellows are interested in so many different areas of ESG, so you will definitely come out having learned a lot about other areas of ESG beyond your initial interests and maybe discover some new interests too.”

She says the program also led to unexpected opportunities might take you.

“Professor Djordjija Petkoski was one of the guest speakers, and now I’m working with him on an SDG/ESG-related conference with speakers from the IMF and ILO.”

Ching has also founded two student organizations with emphases on ESG and DEI within tech and entrepreneurship, the Penn Innovation Network and the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network @ Penn.

Her two favorite ESG-related classes were Management 2120: Social Entrepreneurship with Professor Valentina Assenova and Finance 2540: ESG & Impact Investing with Professor Christopher Geczy.

“I loved Management 2120 because Professor Assenova not only taught us the fundamentals of how to run a social enterprise but gave us a capstone project where we could immediately apply what we learned,” Ching said.

Professor Geczy in Finance 2540 taught many different key elements of ESG investing, from impact measurement to shareholder activism, she says.

“Both professors are leaders in their respective ESG fields, so to have had the opportunity to not only learn from them in a lecture format but also chat one-on-one with them and hear about their experiences was incredible.”

The three ESG clubs Sapphira leads at the 2022 Fall Activities Fair (Image: Sapphira Ching)

—Sara Hoover

Posted: April 26, 2024

Undergraduate Program

ESG Concentrations

The Environmental, Social and Governance Factors for Business (ESGB) concentration looks at the complex relationships between business and the natural environment, management of environmental risks, and the business and economics of energy.

ESGB concentrators can pursue an ESGB concentration without specialization or one of two transcript-level specializations—Business, Energy, Environment and Sustainability (BEES) or Social and Governance (SOGO).

ESG Co-Curricular Offerings

The ESG Initiative offers a robust set of transformational programs and resources to match student interests in ESG and business.

Wharton Stories

Communicating Communication: An Undergrad’s Experience as a TA

Image: Meredith Stone
Chandler McCleskey, W’24, reflects on being a teaching assistant for WH2010, the business communication course for Wharton undergraduates.

Why did you become a WH 2010 TA?

As a child, I competed in numerous public speaking competitions and enjoyed delivering speeches from a young age. In high school, I was given the opportunity to work in my school’s speaking and writing center, where I would help my classmates with various assignments ranging from written work to verbal presentations. My work in the “Raider Writing Center” was one of the highlights of my high-school career, and I knew that I wanted to continue helping others along their respective communication journeys when I made it to Penn. Taking WH 2010: Business Communication for Impact was a wonderful experience, and when I was offered the position of TA for the class, I knew that it would allow me to help others become better business communicators while also allowing me to improve my own written communication skills and ability to deliver speeches.

What aspects of the class and being a TA have you found most beneficial?

As a TA, it has been both rewarding and insightful to see the same classes taught in different ways by the various lecturers that I have had the opportunity to work with. Each lecturer provides their own “spin” on the classes, including personal anecdotes and industry insights from their respective fields. From a lesson perspective, some of my favorite classes would have to be classes 7 and 8 that I teach myself. These classes review a crucial aspect of the business-communication curriculum, how to improve Verbal, Vocal, and Visual presentation skills, as well as allow me to put my own “spin” on the course while incorporating my personal stories and advice into the class. Furthermore, having the opportunity to teach a class myself has allowed me to grow as a presenter and educator and has inspired me to pursue the possibility of teaching later in my career.

What did you learn personally, professionally, or academically?

Chandler with the Wharton Undergraduate Communication Program team. (Image: Sara Hoover)

Professionally, WH 2010 helped me make many pivotal decisions in my life so far. For example, through taking and working as a TA for WH 2010, I knew that I would want to be in a job where I delivered presentations and where verbally communicating ideas to others was commonplace. As a result, my work as a WH 2010 TA helped me decide on which internships to take and which career to ultimately pursue.

Academically, WH 2010 has encouraged me to participate in classes and make the most of my four years at Penn. Whether this participation materializes in me being cognizant of my use of filler words when I ask a question in an accounting class or me volunteering to deliver an optional presentation in an OIDD class in order to practice my delivery and verbal communication skills, WH 2010 has provided both the skillset and confidence one requires to fully participate in the Wharton and Penn curricula.

Personally, WH 2010 has reaffirmed my passion for public speaking and allowed me to give back to a community that has truly shaped my Penn experience, and life, for the better.

Has being a TA helped you understand concepts in a different way than as a student taking the class?

Through being a TA for WH 2010, I have been able to learn from and work with the course material for over five semesters. This repeated exposure has allowed me to not only better understand the curriculum, but also apply what I learn and what we teach in the classroom to my everyday life. Moreover, having the opportunity to teach the class itself during certain weeks has allowed me to further solidify my understanding of the course. Over time, I think applying the course concepts, such as concision, organizational structure, or visual clarity on slides, to my classes or internships has gotten easier and has allowed me to see just how integral business communication is to my current work and how important it will be for my future career.

What’s been most surprising about your TA experience?

Chandler at a TA event at Penn’s Pottruck rock-climbing wall. (Image: Sara Mangat)

The most surprising or unexpected part of being a WH 2010 TA would have to be how rewarding it has been to serve as a mentor to the students. Throughout the course, students reach out for 1:1 advice on the class as well as ask questions about jobs, clubs, and navigating the Penn experience. At Penn, there is a very large “pay it forward” mentality whereby seniors and juniors help first and second years, who in turn go on to help the next generation of Penn students. When I was a first year, I had many junior and senior friends who offered me advice, and WH 2010 has been a wonderful place to give back to the Penn community by providing guidance to students who reach out to ask questions about both courses and life in general.

— Sara Hoover

Posted: April 24, 2024

Undergraduate Program

Chandler McCleskey, W’24

Image: Chandler McCleskey

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Concentrations: Finance & Business Analytics

Activities: Wharton Undergraduate Cohorts, Wharton Private Equity and Venture Capital Club, Wharton Undergraduate Consulting Club, University of Pennsylvania Club Lacrosse

Wharton Stories

Founders Come Full Circle at Wharton’s Venture Lab

Image: Penn community members engage in a Q&A during Venture Lab's annual startup challenge. (Venture Lab)
“In a classroom setting, it’s concept; but at Venture Lab, it’s execution. Because I know how important receiving that validation was to me as a young founder, it’s so rewarding to offer that back in turn at Venture Lab today.” – Shanel Fields, WG’23

Imagine you are an undergraduate Wharton student with a brilliant idea for a new business that you are certain will change the world. But you’re eighteen-years-old, and no amount of funding opportunities or pure creative talent can compensate for your lack of experience. You don’t know where to go or to whom to turn for hands-on help with your new business. So, you decide to show up at Venture Lab, Penn’s Wharton-led incubator that supports and educates bright-minded entrepreneurs and accelerates companies.

Life at Venture Lab’s Tangen Hall. (Image: Venture Lab)

Venture Lab is where Wharton and Penn students alike are welcome to participate in the program’s suite of business-building services. Perhaps you’ll decide to apply into Venture Lab’s VIP pipeline, which is a multi-level program with a three-month intensive dedicated to accelerating a business through workshops, industry insights from experts, and a focus on the nitty-gritty details of running a venture and building a brand. You can also converse in depth with one of Venture Lab’s Entrepreneurs in Residence, a talented team of successful program alumni back on campus to provide tailored guidance to Venture Lab’s current crop of students and founders.

After all, at Venture Lab, there is a whole team of dedicated staff, faculty, and Wharton alumni who are committed to helping you realize your dreams. 

Founding principles

At Venture Lab, students are welcome to book time with industry experts, like current Entrepreneur in Residence Rui Jing Jiang, W’18, who entered the VIP pipeline as a freshman before graduating as the founder and CEO of Avisi Technologies, a company developing nanotechnology aimed at treating glaucoma. Jiang remains passionate about helping young entrepreneurs find their footing today. “I love helping students realize they can start a company, and they shouldn’t be afraid based on their age or their looks or their backgrounds and work experience,” Jiang explained. “To be courageous and do something you feel passionately about is the advice I tell every student I meet.”

Jiang speaks on a next-gen founders panel at the 2023 Life Science Intelligence U.S. Emerging Medtech Summit. (Image: Life Science Institute)

Because she remembers the initial intimidation she encountered at the prospect of building a business from the ground up, Jiang is an advocate for the considerable value she found in Venture Lab’s real-world pressure-testing of ideas as an Entrepreneur in Residence. “When I started with the program as a student, now I’m on the flip side as an alum and offer one-on-one sessions with students,” Jiang said. “I remember so clearly being in their shoes, with me asking the same types of questions. ‘How do I identify the right customer markets? How do I launch a pilot, get funding?’ I especially enjoy speaking about my journey through guest lectures on campus, whether it’s in a Wharton classroom setting or with Venture Lab itself.” 

This unique ecosystem approaches entrepreneurship hands-on, providing the entire Penn community with Wharton-syndicated guidance on how to launch brands and create companies from tip-to-tail. 

Expanding access and opening doors

Venture Lab’s Director Valentina Goutorova notes that she sees the success of this ecosystem reflected in the program’s high levels of alumni engagement. “We’ve worked with probably 1,000 students in the past twenty years, and we see a lot of them coming back,” said Goutorova. “They reach out and participate in our programs as Entrepreneurs in Residence, functioning as alumni judges and alumni experts, which is perfect because entrepreneurial interest is only going to rise. We’re opening our doors wider than ever before.” 

In addition to this unprecedented access to entrepreneurial learnings and high-level networking opportunities, Venture Lab and their Entrepreneurs in Residence system provides guidance to its student participants. Another current Resident is Shanel Fields, WG’23, founder and CEO of MD Ally, a company that allows dispatchers and first responders to connect non-emergent calls to social services and telehealth in real-time. 

Fields in Philadelphia, where she launched her career as a student. (Image: Aaron Ricketts)

As another alumna of the Venture Lab VIP pipeline and a current Entrepreneur in Residence, Fields champions the program’s emphasis on practical engagement over theoretical discussion. This is because Venture Lab facilitates an execution-oriented environment that encourages participants to step beyond theoretical knowledge, instead validating their ideas through real-world interactions with business leaders from across the country. “This shift from conceptualization to validation is a critical step in the entrepreneurial journey,” said Fields. “In a classroom setting, it’s concept; but at Venture Lab, it’s execution. Because I know how important receiving that validation was to me as a young founder, it’s so rewarding to offer that back in turn at Venture Lab today.” 

Building an entrepreneurial community 

This outcome is echoed by other current Entrepreneurs in Residence at Venture Lab. Another Resident, Justin Silver, WG’19, attended Venture Lab information sessions shortly after arriving on Wharton’s campus to earn his MBA. There and within days of his first encounter with the Venture Lab team, he also met his co-founder in fellow Wharton student Rooshy Roy, and they teamed up to start AARVANI, a skincare company built on the foundation of “ancient Indian beauty rituals.” 

Silver teaches aspiring entrepreneurs from Venture Lab’s classroom. (Image: Venture Lab)

Silver attributes much of the success he and Roy achieved with AARVANI to the mentorship and exposure he received from the Venture Lab team, particularly in the way that the program fostered the duo’s direct engagement with alumni mentors, advisors, and potential customers. This unique structure and ease of exposure to true expertise empowered the two founders to receive immediate feedback and iteration on their business plans and related proposals for their company. 

Now, when Silver returns to campus for his Entrepreneur in Residence sessions with Venture Lab’s current crop of students, he is giving back on that goodwill that Wharton alumni extended to him and Roy at the outset of AARVANI. “When we were students, we were very on top of connecting with alumni, and how amazing it was that they rewarded us with their knowledge,” Silver recalled. “Back then, Venture Lab connected us with entrepreneurial alumni who helped us craft our entire brand’s journey. Because I know the benefit of connecting alumni to talented students who want help with their current ventures, it’s my pleasure to step into that role.” 

“Proof of concept”

With over twenty-million dollars raised since their companies’ respective foundings, Fields, Silver, and Jiang keep coming back because they believe in Venture Lab’s mission. From delivering inspiring keynote speeches to sitting down with young founders for hours in 1:1 development sessions, their dedication also speaks to that which is displayed by Venture Lab in all of their dealings with students and burgeoning brands, and a team that’s committed to driving innovation and pushing for excellence. 

“The Wharton brand might be built on being analytical and data-driven, expectations which traditionally align with big-name firms,” said Wharton’s Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship Lori Rosenkopt. “But if you look at the big players in tech and entrepreneurial spaces, from LinkedIn to Google, we see Wharton across the board. This is proof of concept for the power of a Wharton education in these rising industries, and where Venture Lab really helps our students excel.”

Through a curriculum that emphasizes execution, validation, and iteration, Venture Lab prepares entrepreneurs to navigate the complexities of the field’s shifting business landscape. Whether it’s through the VIP pipeline or hearing directly through experts via the Entrepreneurs in Residence program, Venture Lab melds Wharton’s standards for academic excellence with the tangible, changing realities of day-to-day entrepreneurship. Through these principles, Venture Lab sees that the journey from idea to enterprise is not a path that students ever walk alone.

– Grace Meredith

Posted: April 18, 2024

The Wharton School

Explore More at Venture Lab

Tangen Hall, headquarters of Venture Lab and at 40th Street (Image: UPenn Facilities)

What is Venture Lab? 

Venture Lab is the entrepreneurship center at the Wharton School that serves all students and alumni across the University of Pennsylvania who are interested in entrepreneurship and innovation. We maximize the ability of our students and alumni to address important challenges through entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking.

More about the Venture Initiation Program (VIP):

Venture Lab’s flagship program, the Venture Initiation Program is a joint incubator-accelerator that introduces students to the key aspects of entrepreneurship. It offers a suite of programs for founders, joiners, and navigators alike that are designed to engage and empower entrepreneurial teams at every stage of their journey, including pipeline initiatives with proven tract records for success. Learn more here.

Opportunities to connect with Venture Lab’s Entrepreneurs in Residence:

The Venture Initiation Program (VIP) enlists experienced entrepreneurs to mentor and assist VIP students. With diverse backgrounds, EIRs like Jiang, Fields, and Silver offer invaluable guidance and support to student teams. Meet more EIRs and explore the program here.

 

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