Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

We welcomed Sara Zucker ‘07, Freelance Digital Marketing Strategist, Archives Support at the American Museum of Natural History & current MS Student at Pratt Institute, to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders?? During our alumni chat, Sara emphasized the importance of balancing personal life with work and finding fulfillment in your job. Her passion for her career was inspiring, and her story of switching majors and freelancing resonated with our class. She also shared how working under companies and independently shaped her entrepreneurial skills. Her tips on time management were helpful, especially for balancing school and building a brand. Student Ryan Gumkowski ‘28 said, “Sara emphasized the importance of having a personal life separate from your position and finding joy within the company and ensuring you feel fulfilled. Sara emphasized that a job is not life and you need to feel valued in order to push out the best work.” Ian Bender Julie Gehring Avery Sparks Mia Meccia

We welcomed Kristen Jacob Smith ‘03, Associate Director of Championships and Alliances, Broadcast Services at NCAA, to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders ?? During our alumni chat, KJ shared her path to success and the steps that she took to achieve the career she wanted. She inspired students with her passion, encouraging everyone to follow their dreams. KJ emphasized the importance of networking and getting your foot in the door – even if a task may seem small, it could lead to great opportunities. Student Eve Furey ‘28 said, “I love how passionate she is. It really made me want to get into more hands-on experience for my job field to ensure I love it as much as she does.” Avery Sparks Ian Bender Julie Gehring Mia Meccia

We welcomed Drew Sullivan, Senior Vice President at American Program Bureau (APB Speakers), to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders ?? Drew’s talk truly inspired our class with his authenticity and vulnerability, offering a glimpse into his empowering journey of personal and professional growth. He emphasized the significance of extracurricular activities and the value of committing to what you’re passionate about. Drew shared how he prioritizes personal development and integrates his life experiences into his everyday work. One of the most impactful takeaways from his talk was his powerful statement: “An invitation is qualification.” This suggests that being given the opportunity itself is a sign that you’re ready. Student Sofia Davino ‘27 said, “After listening to Drew Sullivan's inspirational story, I learned the importance of integrating personal life into work. Drew touched on his story about overcoming his addiction, and how he came up on the other side of it. Hearing about the setbacks and struggles along the way demonstrates that recovery, along with success, is built on persistence and determination. This teaches the importance of staying committed to personal growth, even in the face of overwhelming odds. By integrating his personal life into his work life he found a way to be held accountable. His story encourages us to appreciate the opportunities we have and to not take our own health and well-being for granted.” Ian Bender Julie Gehring Mia Meccia Avery Sparks

Happy National Mentoring Month! ?? We're excited to share that UConn's NetWerx program is featured in UConn Today! This incredible initiative connects current Huskies with alumni mentors to expand their networks and explore new ideas. We have a goal of reaching 250 students this semester and need your help! Are you a UConn alum who has graduated in the past 15 years? We'd love for you to join our NetWerx program and make a real difference in the lives of current students. Your experience and guidance can be invaluable as they navigate their academic and professional journeys. If you're interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Julie Gehring at [email protected] Let's reach our goal of 250 students and empower the next generation of UConn Huskies! #UConn #Mentorship #NetWerx #NationalMentoringMonth #Alumni

Huskies!! Remember those early days at UConn, navigating classes, internships, and career paths? Now's your chance to make a difference for current students! Werth's mentoring program connects you with undergrads seeking guidance and advice. Share your experiences, offer insights, and learn from the next generation of Huskies. Time Required: One hour a month from February-March. Ready to pay it forward? We are looking for grads from the class span of 2008-2023 reach out to Julie Gehring, Director of Mentoring, at [email protected] to get involved! Go Huskies!

Calling all UConn Alumni?that graduated between 2008-2023! Do you remember adjusting to your second semester? You can help a first- or second-year student through our NetWerx program. We're looking for alumni to share their experiences in two 30-minute virtual meetings (Feb-Mar), focusing on networking skills and creative problem-solving. To learn more, reach out to Julie Gehring, Director of Mentoring at?[email protected]. Julie Gehring Ian Bender David Noble Avery Sparks Katie Britt

We welcomed Michael Rota ‘93, an active Non-Profit Volunteer, formerly the Vice President at Fidelity Investments, to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders ?? Mike graduated from UConn with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Mike shared a number of insights on demonstrating leadership, strategic thinking and hands-on management. He shared the importance of taking advantage of the endless opportunities that UConn has to offer. Mike reminded the class that it is okay to not know something, as long as you are learning from that. He emphasized the importance of positive motivation and compliments to others. Student Ana Clara Apolinario 2027 said, “I really liked how interactive he was with us, especially at the beginning and how he asked us what we think the new/developing technology is that we should know about for the work field. In addition, I really liked when he stated that he took what it means to be a good leader from leaders he liked but also those he didn’t like. I like this because it shows that we should take something from the bad experiences as well, not only the good ones. My favorite part was when he mentioned that compliments are free to give out and how he had to figure that out because he was better at critiquing then complimenting. I resonated with this because I have a personal belief that I should compliment at least 3 people everyday because spreading positivity costs nothing.”? Julie Gehring Mia Meccia Avery Sparks Ian Bender

We welcomed Hemal Shah ‘12, the VP of Product and Head of Growth & Monetization at Atlassian, to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders ?? During our alumni chat, Hemal offered a range of helpful advice. Hemal discussed the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, the weight that networking can hold, and how vital it is to enjoy what you do. He emphasized working hard and taking risks, especially when you are young. Hemal reminded students that everyone has weaknesses, but what’s important is that you keep learning and have confidence in your potential. Student Harrison Caico 2028 said, “Hemal had great perspectives on a lot of career related things. He placed emphasis on finding smart people to work or hang out with, because you will learn from them and make yourself smarter by being around them. You can also put in an effort to uplift the people around you and make them better as well. Hemal, similarly to previous speakers, emphasized networking as an important piece of building yourself up career and opportunity wise. His words about work life balance changed my perspective greatly. That was always something I was worried about in my future career, but I learned today that if you find fulfillment in what you do, you will be having a good time at all hours of the day, whether working or not.” Avery Sparks Ian Bender Mia Meccia Julie Gehring

We welcomed Bill Guerrero ‘93, the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Finance at the University of Bridgeport, to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders ?? Bill shared various pieces of valuable advice during our alumni chat. He highlighted the importance of networking, surrounding yourself with the right people, and continuing to learn. Bill also reminded the class that money shouldn’t be your guiding principle, and how crucial it is to control your own destiny. Some of the biggest takeaways from our conversation with Bill were the significance of networking and building genuine connections with people. Student Lila Dohoney 2028 said, “I really enjoyed what he had to say. He was very encouraging and uplifting when talking about mistakes and how to build yourself up as a student. I loved how personal he could get about his experiences and how it helped us all to gain insight about how to succeed in many different ways, and ways you may have not considered.” Avery Sparks Mia Meccia Julie Gehring Ian Bender

We welcomed William F. Carson IV, Ph.D. Carson ‘02, ‘07, the Senior Director and Head of Translational Medicine at Alloy Therapeutics, to our UNIV 1820 Conversations with Entrepreneurial Leaders ?? Beau graduated from UConn in 2002 with a B.S. in Molecular & Cell Biology and a B.A. in Philosophy. He also received his PhD in 2007 from UConn in Immunology. During our alumni chat, he shared the importance of not giving up and not letting any doubts or insecurities win. He provided insight as to how to juggle tough classes and a reminder that everyone struggles from time to time. Beau emphasized to the students that everyone is more capable than they think. Student Kylee Vazquez ‘27 said, “I enjoyed having this different perspective from what I am normally used to and learning more about entrepreneurs in the science field. I found Beau's emphasis on teams insightful in that it can truly be inspiring and overall helpful in dealing with stress when you work with a group and share responsibilities. Another takeaway was how truly important your extracurriculars are in college and too not overlook this aspect. Beau’s discussion made me see more value in all the extracurriculars I am involved in even if these extracurriculars are not a direct path to my career choice. Lastly, I really liked how even though in some sense it may be more profitable or “easier” to choose a different topic to study. Studying autoimmune diseases has the possibility of helping many people and that is the impact he wants to have. Plus, with few companies actually researching autoimmune disease, there is a larger emphasis on studying it.” Avery Sparks Mia Meccia Ian Bender Julie Gehring