Beginning last Friday with the Entrepreneurial Concept Competition through yesterday’s debriefing of a two day marketing simulation, the past seven days have been incredibly energizing for me.
Though I did not submit a concept for the entrepreneurial competition, the opportunity to listen to seven finalists pitch their business ideas and field questions from VCs falls squarely in the category of “Reasons I Came to Business School.” One of the reasons I came to Darden was to be surrounded by other people who are thinking big thoughts about big opportunities and who possess the appetite for risk to take on those big opportunities. The energy and excitement of the finalists is infectious, and finding, capturing, and employing that energy is fundamental to success at Darden (and in life generally).
The energy picked up last Friday carried through the weekend (even when I completed not one, but two wrong cases for Monday’s classes) and kept building. Through classes, briefings, company research, the marketing simulation, and an excellent information session on turnaround and restructuring, the week was non-stop b-school excitement. If I was not pleased with what I’d experienced, accomplished, and learned in the past seven days it would be a strong sign that I was in the wrong place. As it turns out, I’m right where I need to be.
Glad to hear how much the Entrepreneurial Concept Competition has inspired you. This Friday November 20, the UVA Entrepreneur Cup finals will be held at McIntire (1p-4p), with $35,000 more to be awarded in prizes. (Rouss & Robertson Bldg, Room 120.) I am sure the Darden finalist would be grateful if fellow Darden students went to show their support! There will be concepts presented from all across UVA (Curry, Darden, Law, Medicine, Engineering). Good luck with you taking the inspiration the next step!