Exploring Careers and Envisioning Futures with the Wharton Industry Exploration Program (WIEP)

At Wharton, school breaks aren’t only a time to relax and recharge — they’re also a time for some students, like those who participate in the Wharton Industry Exploration Program (WIEP), to explore their professional goals.

Camila Moreno Juarez, W’27 smiling in front of a green hillside with the Hollywood Sign in the background. — Camila Moreno Juarez, W’27, in Los Angeles, where she explored the film industry.

Through WIEP, students travel to major cities, including New York and Los Angeles, for a firsthand look into industries like tech and entertainment. Programming for these short-term, half-credit courses includes lectures, panel discussions, and networking events, as well as visits to prominent companies like Sony Pictures, Google, and SoFi.

For some students, WIEP provides a chance to dig deeper into a sector with which they’re familiar. Muhammad Vakil, W’26, joined the AI and the New York City Tech Sector course in January 2024 after learning about WIEP through a Wharton newsletter. “I was passionate about the intersection of finance and technology and had already signed on to join LMR Partners, a hedge fund in New York, that coming summer,” said Vakil. “With AI dominating discussions, I was eager to explore how companies were addressing challenges like AI integration, workforce adaptation, and staying competitive.”

For other students, like Camila Moreno Juarez, W’27, WIEP offers a rare and inspiring glimpse into industries they have yet to explore. “I didn’t know where or how to get information about the film industry,” said Moreno Juarez, who joined the Los Angeles Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Sectors course in March 2024. “Coming from McAllen, Texas, a small city with limited resources, I didn’t really know if having a job in the entertainment industry was possible. WIEP reinforced my love for the industry and gave me the confidence to pursue my goals.”

Shreya Krishnan, W’26, at the Spotify office in Los Angeles.

Meeting with Wharton alumni on site visits and seeing how their chosen industries function has a profound impact on many of the students who participate in WIEP. “Drawing insights from industry leaders and alumni during the site visits, it became clear to me the powerful impact of the sports, media, and entertainment industries on the U.S. economy,” said Shreya Krishnan, W’26, who visited Disney, Spotify, and other industry leaders in Los Angeles last spring. “Each of the companies that we visited has become a transformative force driving innovation. I was excited and could visualize having a career.”

Meanwhile, Vakil enjoyed a visit to the Google office during his week in New York. “Google’s insights on balancing cutting-edge technology with human potential were inspiring, showcasing how AI can drive efficiency while empowering employees,” Vakil said. “We also heard from Penn alumni working in the tech sector, who shared their experiences adapting to the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Their advice — to embrace ambiguity and view it as a pathway to growth — reshaped how I approach challenges.”

A highlight among undergraduate offerings, WIEP’s donor-supported trips give students from a wide variety of backgrounds invaluable insight into what’s possible. “This experience was such a crucial development in my life,” said Moreno Juarez, who noted that WIEP made her dreams of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry feel “attainable.”

“I want to express my gratitude to the Wharton donors whose generosity made this program possible,” said Jaqueline Chan, W’27, C’27, who has traveled to both New York and Los Angeles on two separate WIEP trips. “Your support offers us the incredible opportunity to explore and understand new fields of business. The chance to engage directly with professionals and see the inner workings of their companies is invaluable to our career searches and undergrad experiences.”