Wharton Stories: Entrepreneurship

Bo Zhao walking with her toddler daughter in a stroller on a stone path through greenery. Credit: Cham Zhao
“Wharton doesn’t just provide you with knowledge for two years—it gives you a lifetime of resources and connections that continue to support you long after graduation,” says Bo Zhao, WG’18.

Wharton MBA Exec Mom is Revolutionizing the Baby Gear Industry

Sarela Herrada, WG'25, and her cofounder/husband Matt Cohen in a farmer’s field in Peru. Credit: SIMPLi
“Wharton has broadened my perspective, strengthened my knowledge, and challenged me to think differently,” says Sarela Herrada, WG’25.

Balancing Entrepreneurship, School, and Parenthood While Scaling a Global Business

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“The ETA community at Wharton played an enormous role in helping me pivot my career, so I’m committed to paying it forward.” – Jason Nguyen WG25

From Venture Capital to Acquisition: One MBA Student’s Journey to Entrepreneurship at Wharton

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Through the four-year consulting program at Penn, undergrads get real-time experience with startups almost from the minute they step on campus.

Making a Tangible Impact through Snider Consulting

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“Take some time for some introspection to figure out who you are, what makes you stand out, and your ‘why’. The application process may seem long and daunting, but if you believe in yourself and your ‘story’, it will make the journey worthwhile.” – Veronica Rivera, WG’26

Meet Seven New Members of Incoming MBA Class of 2026

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“Somehow, over the generations, everyone has young kids, and somehow, everybody comes out just fine.” – Clement Pappas, WG’09

A Brand Built by Fathers and Sons

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“In a classroom setting, it’s concept; but at Venture Lab, it’s execution. Because I know how important receiving that validation was to me as a young founder, it’s so rewarding to offer that back in turn at Venture Lab today.” – Shanel Fields, WG’23

Founders Come Full Circle at Wharton’s Venture Lab

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“Keep sacred space for family connection… that’s really important for anyone who’s going to pursue business with their family,” Hannah Diop, WG’09.

How a Wharton Family is Disrupting the Beauty Industry

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“Creating Pairfect has been the most meaningful experience I have had since coming to Wharton, and it was only through the people in this community that I was able to build this service…I am able to realize my dream of creating something in this often misunderstood intersection of social work and business.” – Annie Xu, WG’24

Investing in Love: Wharton’s “Pairfect” Match

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“We are building courses to inspire, to raise awareness that the finance industry is one that anyone can navigate with the right exposure, the correct skill sets. That’s why AltFinance is great for Wharton, and vice versa for our HBCU participants.” – Dr. Burcu Esmer, Academic Director of the AltFinance Institute and Senior Lecturer of Finance at Wharton

Dollars and Sense: How Wharton and AltFinance Carve New Opportunity