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TEACHING
Feature: From All Corners of Campus

OUTREACH
Feature: Entrepreneurial Training Camp

Which Fast-Growing Private Company Is #1?

Faces of Wharton Entrepreneurship

RESEARCH
Feature: Visiting Scholar to Business Leaders: Consider "Learning from Near Misses"

Verbatim: Our Directors, in Quotes

Ben Samson
Co-founder, VP Marketing

Personal Information
Company name /type: Slingshot Solutions/ Technology and Services

Education: Wharton MBA

Primary place of residence: Philadelphia, PA

It would surprise people that I….: Take my dog to work every day.

P.O.V. (Point of View)
I became an entrepreneur because…: I didn’t choose to become an entrepreneur. The concept of working for myself, building something, believing in my work 110% and having full ownership/accountability for something is what I’ve always preferred.

Best way to respond to criticism and doubters: Don’t dwell on it — focus on your business and the job at hand.

Best definition of a successful entrepreneur: I don’t know!? When is an entrepreneur successful anyway?

Most challenging part of your job: Speaking in front of a large crowd.

Biggest impact of the Wharton School: The people — my peers and professors.

Best memory of your Wharton days: I was pretty involved as an officer in Wharton’s Out for Business. The friends made through this club in addition to the support from the student body and faculty for the club was important to me.

Close calls
How you started your business: There are two other co-founders. We met in school and started to build the plan in the 2000 Wharton Business Plan competition.

Pivotal moment in growing your business: There’s been so many (small and large ones)! Each moment helped us move to the next stage. I’d say one of the major pivotal moments was when we decided to focus on one core aspect of the business and seek a partner to provide aspects that we had originally planned to build on our own.

Most interesting non-entrepreneurial job offer you’ve declined: I declined one job offer — a marketing position with Dell. I wasn’t too focused on a job search as we were working on our business plan. Therefore, I did not pursue many traditional MBA interviews.

Biggest surprise you encountered growing your business: Anything can happen…so you should not get surprised to easily.

Most difficult decision you’re glad you made: The decision to stay in Philadelphia.

Entrepreneur to Entrepreneur
Favorite Web site: www.slingshotman.com

Book that most influenced your thinking: hmmm…can I get back to you on this?

Favorite activity outside of business: I like to hit the gym regularly…I also love to explore the restaurant scene with friends or just hang out in a coffee shop.

Goal still pursuing: Still trying to improve my oil painting skills…but haven’t had any time for that lately…

Person most influential to your success: My dad

Person you most admire: Michael Dell

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