Sheezan Bakali on the Entrepreneurial Internship Fellowship

Sheezan Bakali, in her second year of her Wharton MBA, talks about how a Wharton Entrepreneurial Internship Fellowship gave her the chance to spend the summer working for PerfectCloth, a New York-based startup company.

Michael Melby on the Wharton Venture Award

Michael Melby, a second year MBA student, talks about his startup, PayDivvy, and how he has been able to develop and pursue the idea using WEP resources like the Business Plan Competition and Wharton Venture Award.

Joseph Ansanelli on starting his first business

"It was definitely scary, but we probably weren't smart enough to realize that what we were doing was risky." - Joseph Ansanelli (W'92) discusses how, as a student, he co-founded Trio, a software company ultimately acquired by Apple's software division.

What Wharton Means to Joseph Ansanelli

"My parents were immigrants, and sent three kids to college. My dad was a schoolteacher. And I'd like to figure out how to help other people come here and have that opportunity." - Joseph Ansanelli, W'92, talks about how Wharton gave him the network and the thinking skills to succeed as and entrepreneur, and how he's giving back.

Joseph Ansanelli - Full Interview

Our full interview with Joseph Ansanelli, W'92.

Anne-Marie Corner - Full Interview

Our entire interview with Anne-Marie Corner, as featured in the April, 2009 Get It Started issue. She discusses her decision to start an HIV/AIDS company, her experiences as a female entrepreneur, and what Wharton means to her.

What Wharton Means to Anne-Marie Corner

"Wharton was the key to opening the door to everything I did since graduating. If I hadn't learned what it means to go through the process of getting my MBA I never would have accomplished what I did." - Founder of life science pioneer Biosyn, 1989 MBA Alumna Anne-Marie Corner says that, as a scientist, she benefitted from the Wharton MBA student experience which pushed her to new heights, setting the stage for subsequent success.

Wharton BPC 2009 Venture Finals

Join the excitement of the 2009 Wharton Business Plan Competition Venture Finals where WEP interviewed visiting business leaders, alumni, and of course the "Great Eight" finalists themselves. For more on the Wharton Business Plan Competition, visit http://bpc.wharton.upenn.edu

WEP in Action - 2009 BPC Semfinalists

Join "WEP in Action" as we talk to six of the 25 Wharton Business Plan Competition Semi-Finalists. They include a robotic toy and online community for kids and young adults, an apparel business leveraging the growth of "kite-sailing" and a wound diagnostic concept whose team includes a former Wharton BPC semi-finalist. Learn what motivated the teams to pursue their ventures, what types of potential they see in the marketplace and how important team dynamics are to pursuing success.

Developing Web-Based Services

Visiting Scholars

WEP's Visiting Scholars program offers a unique opportunity for scholars from around the world to further their studies and engage in collaborative research efforts with Wharton faculty. Led by WEP co-director, Prof. Ian MacMillan, academics from Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, Ivory Coast and Japan have gained new research approaches through the program. WEP in Action learns first hand the Visiting Scholars program's impact through a discussion with two guests, one who has returned for a visit and one who has stayed on (and on).

Entrepreneurial Women on Campus

We sit down with two of Wharton's female student entrepreneurs, Jarah Euston (WG'09) and Eugenia Ross (WG'09), and ask them about their ventures, what it's like being a woman in entrepreneurship, and their recent appearance at the All Things Media forum hosted by the Paley Center for the Media.

Paul Raden - Full Interview

In this issue we speak to alumnus Paul Raden, (WG'89), whose company, Ecount, has adapted and thrived despite operational, technological and global economic changes. In fact, Raden explains, nimbleness is a core tenant of the companys culture. This year Raden and his colleagues were rewarded for their success when Citi acquired Ecount which is now known as Citi Prepaid Services.

What Wharton Means to Paul Raden

"Wharton means a lot to me. You meet people from different countries, different cultures, different mindsets. You feel like you can conquer the world." - For alumnus and co-founder of Ecount, Paul Raden, the diverse and mind expanding Wharton experience became a defining moment that helped set the stage for his entrepreneurial success.

Fred Wilson - Full Interview

In this issue we speak to alumnus Fred Wilson, (WG'86), who has taken risks both obvious and subtle throughout his entire career in venture capital.

What Wharton Means to Fred Wilson

"I learned corporate finance, speculative markets, valuation, net present value, they’re incredibly valuable, I think I'm well rounded in them and I think to be a good investor you have to know that." - Wharton alumnus and co-founder of Union Square Ventures, Fred Wilson WG'86, always wanted to pursue a career in venture capital and feels that Wharton provided the tools to get him in the door.

Interview with Devin Griffin

Watch and listen to Devin Griffin, WG'09, talk about his experience gaining real-world experience as a Wharton Entrepreneurial Intern Fellow, working at Takkle, a New York City based start up co-founded by Wharton alumni.

Aydin Senkut - Full Interview

In this issue we speak to alumnus Aydin Senkut (WG'96), who joined Google, perhaps the fastest growing company in US history, as its 63rd employee. Senkut is now an angel investor supporting entrepreneurs with Google-like drive and vision. From the beginning at Google, when he worked amid dangling computer cables, to his exit years later when head counts reached the thousands, Senkut gained an appreciation for building a culture that values its people as well the innovation they create.

What Wharton Means to Aydin Senkut

"The whole Wharton educational background, it's like special forces, being able to have something thrown at you and immediately reacting to the opportunity. But I generally cared about the people [involved in the international deals]. We are all human beings and that plays a role in our business decisions too." Aydin Senkut, WG'96, was responsible for extending Google's reach internationally and he credits Wharton for helping him close every deal he pursued. But, using Jon M. Huntsman, W'59, H'96, as a reference, Senkut stresses that treating people of all cultures with respect and decency is an essential ingredient to success.

Jon M. Huntsman - Learn to be teachable

"What did I learn at Wharton? I learned to listen, to be teachable." Jon M. Huntsman, W'59, H'96, believes that humility leads to an openness to new ideas and learning. Those characteristics, he says, are the building blocks to forming valuable personal relationships that all great businesses depend on.

What Wharton Means to Jerry Turner

"What did Wharton do for us? It shaped us... it was the total environment." Jerry Turner (W'57) looks back on the impact the Wharton School has had on his life.

What Wharton Means to Seth Berger

"Probably the best thing for me was how bright and intense the Wharton students were... because I realized when I got out into the world these were the people I was going to be competing with." Seth Berger (WG'93) describes the intangible value of the Wharton student experience.

What Wharton Means to Farhad Mohit

"I didn't have a sugar daddy [to support me]. Wharton gave me courage, a network and time to develop my idea." Farhad Mohit explains the Wharton School was instrumental toward his development as an entrepreneur, one who had limited personal resources.