In 2020, COVID-19 shutdowns prevented ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ students from working their summer internships. In response to the problem, the Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship created the Remote Entrepreneurship Project (REP) Program, pairing students with startups across the country for a remote internship experience. Many of those students have since graduated from ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ and have made strides in their careers. See how the REP program impacted their career trajectory.
(CWR '21)
Tell us about what you're up to now!
Right now, I’m with as the Director of Market Strategy. Including my time spent with Folio during the REP program, I’ve been with the company for a little over 26 months. Being at an emerging start-up, I wear a few different hats. My main role is looking at trends occurring in the data storage industry, and positioning Folio as a legitimate contender in the ever-evolving ecosystem. Along with this, I also handle some of our internal analyses, supply chain sourcing, and strategic partnerships.
How did your time as an REP intern at Folio impact your career trajectory?
My time as an REP intern had a very significant impact on the trajectory of my career. I knew I wanted to be involved in the start-up community; however, I was unsure which industry I wanted to pursue and dive into. By going through the REP program, it allowed me to explore the data storage industry with a startup that operates on constrained resources. As with any startup, there is an effort to achieve the most with a small amount of resources. The REP program offered Folio a way to supplement their resources in a meaningful way and without the REP program, I probably would have never had a chance to enter the data storage industry. Now, I struggle to see a future where I exit the industry.
Before you applied for the REP program, did you have another internship planned that was impacted by COVID?
Yes, I had planned on doing a logistics internship in the manufacturing industry; however, it was cancelled due to COVID. At a time where travel and many other things ceased, the REP program provided a way for me to get real world experience.
How did ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, REP and other ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ programs prepare you for your work now?
did an excellent job of preparing me for my role now. Pairing the exposing to a wide variety of courses (statistics, economics, marketing, finance, etc.) with the entrepreneurship aspect is the reason I’m able to wear the several hats that I do now. Without this wide breadth of disciplines, I would have a tough time fulfilling my multiple responsibilities.