My Life at UCSC

When I began my journey at UCSC, I had no idea how much I would learn about myself, my passions, and the work I truly love. I didn't achieve my IB Diploma in high school but led teams and initiatives like Cascade 2017 and TEDxYouth at my school. My early experiences as Cultural Secretary and lead organiser of TEDx events paved the way for my future, even before I set foot on the UCSC campus.

The Beginning: Luck and Opportunity

In 2019, I enrolled at UCSC as a math major, not because I was academically strong but because I was fascinated by the opportunity to study near Silicon Valley and in a beautiful environment. I figured, why not? I had a fresh start, but it wasn't long before the challenges began. I enrolled in the Summer Session before most students arrived, hoping to get ahead. But instead of taking the statistics class I wanted, I was placed in an introductory writing course, a frustrating start for someone who needed to consider writing their strength. Later, at the beginning of the school year, my parents came to see me during international orientation, and their concern became evident when they saw my class list. They weren't thrilled with my choice of Intro to Acting as a General Education course. Sensing their disappointment, I swapped it out for a Social Entrepreneurship class by ProfessorNada Miljkovic . I got my first taste of how chance encounters can change your life. A glitch in the system allowed me, a first-year non-scholar, to join this class. That glitch in the system connected me with Professor, the TEDx Santa Cruz organiser; I could leverage my previous TEDx experience to contribute meaningfully to her team.

Entrepreneurship and Networking: Building Communities and Leading Initiatives

My journey into entrepreneurship at UCSC started when I accidentally enrolled in a Social Entrepreneurship class, which introduced me to the Student Creativity and Entrepreneurship Empowerment (SCEE) club. Through SCEE, I helped organise speaker events, including one featuring Marc Randolph, co-founder of Netflix. This experience fueled my passion for entrepreneurship, and in my third year, I became president of the club. My goal was to reinvigorate SCEE after the pandemic and provide students with opportunities to engage meaningfully with the startup ecosystem.

Under my leadership, we launched initiatives like the UCSC Ideathon and grew previously started events like the Slug Tank, UCSC's version of Shark Tank. These events became some of the most extensive student-led entrepreneurial programs on campus. These initiatives created an avenue for student entrepreneurs to showcase their business ideas, with several teams securing spots at prestigious accelerators like SkyDeck and Y Combinator. The success of these events showed me the power of community and collaboration and the importance of creating opportunities for others to thrive.

Aaron Huang Jerry Zhu Alexander Aghili

During the pandemic, I was given an opportunity to join a new project called GetVirtual, which Nada and Toby Corey started to help small businesses transition online. We wanted to use no-code tools and quickly help these businesses start generating revenue. Initially focused on helping local businesses in Santa Cruz, the program soon scaled to a UC-wide initiative, partnering with state universities nationwide. We worked with over 250 firms, providing them with digital tools to survive during the pandemic. As the program grew, I developed and managed a scalable CRM system to handle the influx of clients and volunteers. This hands-on experience taught me the importance of building efficient systems to manage growth and reinforced the value of teamwork.

Shivani Vallamdas Nikhila Cherukuthota Anagha Vijay Ananya Misra Yuliya Monastyrska Neharika Salhotra Iman Yael Schaefer Alexander Pedersen Stryker Buffington Brad Barbeau, MBA, Ph.D. Doug Erickson Malina Long Sol Lipman

Another significant milestone in my entrepreneurial journey was representing UCSC at the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC). For the first time, UCSC participated in this prestigious competition, which simulates the real-world experience of venture capital investing. As part of the team, I helped evaluate startups, analyze their business models, and determine investment strategies. Competing in the VCIC provided a unique opportunity to gain insight into the venture capital process, further expanding my understanding of the startup ecosystem from an investor's perspective. This experience was invaluable in shaping my approach to entrepreneurship, blending both founder and investor mindsets.

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Leadership and Crisis Management at the Indian Student Association (ISA)

As the Organizing Director of the Indian Student Association (ISA) at UCSC, I encountered challenges and growth opportunities. One of the most difficult situations arose early in my tenure when the organization faced an unexpected wave of online hate resulting from a misunderstanding. The backlash threatened our reputation, drastically reducing engagement with our events and community. Managing this crisis required me to step up as a leader, carefully navigating public perception and initiating damage control efforts to rebuild our standing. Despite the difficulties, we overcame these setbacks and successfully organized ISA's flagship event, Diwali Night, the following year. This event was a significant turning point; it required extensive outreach to bring back the audience and restore trust within the community. The event's success reinvigorated our organization and solidified our presence on campus.

Struggles and Pivot Points: Navigating Academic Challenges and Personal Growth

While my entrepreneurial journey was exciting, it was challenging. Academically, I struggled. My passion for entrepreneurship often took precedence over my coursework, and I found myself failing several classes. Math, my initial major, became increasingly difficult to manage alongside my growing involvement in student organizations and startup initiatives. Eventually, I realized that continuing down the path of Math wasn't sustainable for me in terms of interest and performance.

At this turning point, I decided to switch my major to Philosophy, a subject that resonated more with my interests in ethics, cognitive science, and critical thinking. The transition wasn't easy, but it renewed my sense of purpose. Philosophy challenged me to think deeply and more analytically, skills that I could apply directly to entrepreneurship and innovation.

During this academic pivot, I worked on myself and built practical experience outside the classroom. I interned with various organizations, including ePayLater, Riidl Incubation, SuperScholar and ICICI Bank's Startup Engagement Team. These internships exposed me to diverse aspects of the business world, from conducting market research to engaging in competition analysis and understanding financial health. At ICICI Bank, I worked closely with the startup engagement team, identifying strategic partnerships and assessing the viability of new business models in the wealth management sector.

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These hands-on experiences reinforced my desire to stay involved in the startup ecosystem. They deepened my understanding of how startups function and scale, providing me with insights into both the operational and financial aspects of growing businesses. While I struggled academically, these internships allowed me to apply what I was learning in Philosophy and entrepreneurship, shaping me into a more well-rounded individual ready to take on future challenges.

Turning Challenges into Growth

When I returned to UCSC in Fall 2023, I was determined to make the most of my final year. Learning from past struggles, I rejoined the entrepreneurship community with renewed focus and energy. One of my priorities was to expand our student newsletter, growing its reach from a modest list to over 1,200 subscribers. This allowed us to engage more students and create a more robust platform for entrepreneurial content, helping to bridge the gap between students and the broader startup ecosystem.

Continuing my leadership with the Student Creativity and Entrepreneurship Empowerment (SCEE) club, I organised key events that connected students with entrepreneurs and investors, fostering valuable relationships and hands-on learning opportunities. One of the highlights of this period came in the Winter of 2024 when I had the honour of presenting my work with SCEE and GetVirtual to UCSC's Board of Trustees. It was an incredible experience and validated our initiatives' impact on the university's entrepreneurial landscape.

Cynthia Larive Raj Kapany Nathan Westrup Ryan Sharp, CEcD Manel Camps Alexander Wolf Garrett Naiman

Reflections

Reflecting on my journey, I realise how much the challenges, accidents, and setbacks have shaped me into who I am today. Through each experience, I've honed my skills in execution, hiring, community building, and deal sourcing, learning valuable lessons that I will carry forward. The events I led, the teams I built, and the communities I helped foster taught me that authentic leadership comes from perseverance and adaptability.

Every setback, academic struggle, organisational challenge, or personal obstacle catalysed growth. These moments pushed me beyond my limits, forcing me to reassess, recalibrate, and find new paths forward. Instead of letting failures define me, I used them as opportunities to push myself further, strengthening my resilience and determination.

For looking ahead, my advice is simple: be greedy for opportunity. Every setback is a chance to grow, and every challenge hides potential. The perseverance I've gained through difficult experiences has taught me that success comes to those actively seeking opportunities, even in the face of obstacles. The journey won't be easy, but each mistake and misstep can make you sharper, more focused, and more determined. Push yourself beyond your limits, embrace the unexpected, and seize every opportunity that comes your way.

JUST FREAKING SHOW UP!!