Wharton Stories: Entrepreneurship

A group of seven individuals in professional attire (one holding an award) pose for a group portrait in front of a Wharton Global Youth Program backdrop.
The competition brings together thoughtful analysis, global collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose, where students from around the world rise to the challenge and deliver impactful investment strategies.

Wharton Global High School Investment Competition Hosts Future Business Leaders

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“Know what problem you are solving before you enroll. The dual degree is most powerful when the two programs are actively in conversation through your work rather than running on parallel tracks.” — James Walker, WG’26

Creating Impact Through Education Entrepreneurship

Kenny Sandhu, WG'26, with his family. (Image Credit: Courtesy of Kenny Sandhu)
“The growth, the knowledge, the people — it’s all worth it. Not just for me, but for my family and what we’re building together,” says Kenny Sandhu, WG’26.

Why This EMBA Dad Says the Wharton Journey Is Worth It

Utkars Jain, WG’27 (third from right), with his Learning Team. (Image Credit: Anurag Maken)
“I know I’m the right person to lead this mission, but I didn’t want to be the reason it falls short because I lacked business knowledge,” says Utkars Jain, WG’27.

Building the Skills to Scale: A CEO’s Journey at Wharton

A commercial kitchen workspace with various baking ingredients, including butter, chocolate chips, nuts, flour, spices, and measuring tools, arranged on a cutting board.
“I was so overwhelmed by the possibilities, in the best way,” says Emmy Keogh, C’26, of Venture Lab’s Food Innovation Lab.

Butter Business at Venture Lab’s Food Innovation Lab

Margaret Zhu smiles and wears professional attire, standing outside Huntsman Hall.
“Margaret [Zhu] aims to increase safety in one of the most dangerous jobs in our country,” says Penn President J. Larry Jameson. “Her use of cutting edge-technology together with human insight is quintessentially Penn and will help protect arborists while improving the industry.”

Wharton Undergrad Margaret Zhu Receives 2026 President’s Innovation Prize

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“Wharton gives you an unusually safe environment to test things: classmates who will give real feedback, professors who will pressure-test your assumptions, and programs like VIP-X that simulate real investor scrutiny.” — Ojú Junaid, WG’26

Inside VIP-X Philadelphia: How Wharton MBA Founders Are Scaling Startups

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Three Wharton alumni previously profiled as undergraduates reflect on life and work after graduation.

Their Stories Then, Their Careers Now

Kristen Denzer, WG’26, (middle) in front of a Tierra Encantada location. (Image Credit: Robert Thesing)
“I’m leaving Wharton a stronger operator, leader, and decision maker thanks to what I learned here,” says Kristen Denzer, WG’26.

How Wharton Is Helping This Founder Scale and Lead a Childcare Brand

Students learning about the Penn Wharton Innovation Fund. (Image Credit: Venture Lab)
“Venture Lab has been the cornerstone of my entrepreneurial evolution. It’s where ideas get pressure-tested and pushed to a higher level,” says Madison Li, WG’26.

Entrepreneurship at Every Stage: How EMBA Students Engage With Venture Lab