Penn Student Agencies

?? Kicking off FY2026 Student Leadership Training! Last week, our incoming FY2026 Student Leadership Team launched their first group development session, focusing on Vision Setting, Strategic Alignment, and Building Community. This session set the foundation for a training period designed to equip them with the skills to lead and innovate within their agencies. This week, they’ll take a deeper dive into their agency team structures & dynamics, exploring cross-functional collaboration and the cultural and operational systems that drive business growth. A huge shoutout to our Graduate Assistant, Yoanna Dimitrova for facilitating an engaging and experiential start to our development curriculum! Looking forward to seeing how this team continues to grow and make an impact on the Penn Community! #LeadershipDevelopment #StudentEntrepreneurs #FutureLeaders

As we reflect back on 2024, one of the standout experiences for our team was attending the SURGE Expo 2024 at Stanford University in November! It was an unforgettable weekend full of learning, networking, and inspiration! A huge thank you to the Student-Run Business Association and Stanford Student Enterprises for organizing such an incredible event! Our C-Suite team, including Ria Kokkengada (FY25 CEO) and Jake Wolfe (FY25 COO), had the privilege of attending and taking away invaluable insights from industry experts and professionals to share with the PSA team! The weekend kicked off with an inspiring keynote by Neal Sales-Griffin, Managing Director of Techstars accelerator programs across San Francisco, Oakland, and Chicago, who shared his journey from founding the first beginner coding bootcamp to leading a global network of entrepreneurs. From there, we were captivated by a pitch competition featuring startups that are truly changing the world. A special congratulations to Somnair, the winner of the pitch competition, for their groundbreaking work in the field of sleep apnea! It was a masterclass in entrepreneurship—both in crafting compelling presentations and in understanding what VCs look for when evaluating potential. The day wrapped up with a tour of Stanford’s stunning campus, a perfect ending to an engaging first day! Day two was filled with impactful workshops, including one led by Arantxa Valverde and Lilliana Robinson, who shared inspiring stories from fellow young entrepreneurs and offered advice on building a successful business. We were also fortunate to hear from Mark Cuban and the team behind Storage Scholars LLC, who spoke about cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset. Another highlight was a session led by Harvard Student Agencies, where they shared effective marketing strategies and how to build a sustainable online presence tailored to different audiences. We're more inspired than ever to put the lessons we've learned into action as we head into 2025!

As we reflect back on 2024, one of the standout experiences for our team was attending the SURGE Expo 2024 at Stanford University in November! It was an unforgettable weekend full of learning, networking, and inspiration! A huge thank you to the Student-Run Business Association and Stanford Student Enterprises for organizing such an incredible event! Our C-Suite team, including Ria Kokkengada (FY25 CEO) and Jake Wolfe (FY25 COO), had the privilege of attending and taking away invaluable insights from industry experts and professionals to share with the PSA team! The weekend kicked off with an inspiring keynote by Neal Sales-Griffin, Managing Director of Techstars accelerator programs across San Francisco, Oakland, and Chicago, who shared his journey from founding the first beginner coding bootcamp to leading a global network of entrepreneurs. From there, we were captivated by a pitch competition featuring startups that are truly changing the world. A special congratulations to Somnair, the winner of the pitch competition, for their groundbreaking work in the field of sleep apnea! It was a masterclass in entrepreneurship—both in crafting compelling presentations and in understanding what VCs look for when evaluating potential. The day wrapped up with a tour of Stanford’s stunning campus, a perfect ending to an engaging first day! Day two was filled with impactful workshops, including one led by Arantxa Valverde and Lilliana Robinson, who shared inspiring stories from fellow young entrepreneurs and offered advice on building a successful business. We were also fortunate to hear from Mark Cuban and the team behind Storage Scholars LLC, who spoke about cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset. Another highlight was a session led by Harvard Student Agencies, where they shared effective marketing strategies and how to build a sustainable online presence tailored to different audiences. We're more inspired than ever to put the lessons we've learned into action as we head into 2025!

Super excited to announce that I’ve joined The Record (one of the newly acquired agencies by Penn Student Agencies) as their new #ManagingDirector, starting this April. I’m eager to collaborate with my colleagues and our talented team to elevate The Record to new heights. Looking forward to embarking on a journey of growth, exploration and impact and making great things happen together! Special thanks to Michael Warren II, Ria Kokkengada and Jake Wolfe for this opportunity! #Upenn #Pennstudentagencies #Therecord #Managingdirector #MBDS #universitylife #leadership