We have all been there. The pressures of finding another major or minor to create a more well-rounded degree. What if you are interested in business but not necessarily business-school material? UNC-Chapel Hill’s minor in entrepreneurship is an amazing program that provides a lot of great opportunities for those interested in innovation, creativity in the business world and thinking outside of the box. Furthermore, Chancellor Holden Thorp is a huge supporter of the entrepreneurial spirit. He even co-wrote “Engines of Innovation: The Entrepreneurial University in the Twenty-First Century” with one of the minor’s professors, Buck Goldstein.
Studying the minor myself, I’ve learned a great deal about what it means to be an entrepreneur and how I can take my passions in life and turn them into a career or future. Last Tuesday, I officially completed the minor as I turned in my final portfolio about my internship experience in New York City this summer. Looking back on my experiences in classes and my internship, I’ve learned the importance of taking risks and learning that each experience is a learning process. One of the most important things I learned from Ken Weiss, a professor in the minor who specializes in artistic entrepreneurship and the music industry, is that we are suppose to make mistakes. In fact, he insisted on multiple occasions that when starting your own business you generally have no idea what you are doing when you start out. But that’s the point, the only way to make real changes in this world is to try, try, try! And then try again.
One of the most benefiting aspects of the minor is the amazing faculty and opportunities. John F. Stewart is an economic professor who researches on health issues in less developed countries. He has even consulted with government agencies, international research agencies and private firms on antitrust and regulatory mattes. Buck Goldstein is a fellow Tar Heel who co-founded his own online information company, Information America, and founded a venture capital fund NetWorth Parnters. Over the years, the Information Industry Association has recognized him as “Entrepreneur of the Year.” Ken Weiss has a more than credible background in the music industry as he led one of the most successful independent music publishing companies acquiring multi-gold and platinum albums with Crosby, Stills & Nash, Stephen Stills, Fleetwood Mac and many others after his start at Warner Chappell Music (IMDb).
These brief bios are only a few examples of the many staff members who teach the minor. All of them have exceptional talent in teaching students real lessons and skills needed to succeed not only as an entrepreneur, but also as thought-provoking individuals. Every class I have taken in the minor has made me think critically and made me internalize new ideas and principals instead of memorizing boring facts for a test I will immediately forget after taking.
The minor is perfect for students who enjoy flexible schedules and hands-on learning. The minor is only three classes: ECON 325, ECON 327 and ECON 328. However, a large portion of the minor is based on an internship experience, usually taken place the summer after junior year. The minor has its own internship coordinator who is a great resource and advisor in obtaining great internships across the nation and even in other countries. Students can apply to the entrepreneurship internship program in Beijing, a unique experience where they study Mandarin and Chinese culture while learning about start-ups in China. Students even interact with other Chinese students while studying at the prestigous Peking University.
This past summer was the first NYC Innovation Fellows program. The program funded six students with $5,000 to cover expenses and travel to intern in the Big Apple. With over 20 students in the minor interning in New York City, several times a week they participated in many events, including tours of Google, The Andy Warhol Foundation, Bloomberg, Slate and Trepp, Inc. From my personal experience of being one of the twenty, going on these tours was a huge opportunity that would not of been available to me if I was not in the minor.
I could honestly say without a doubt that one of the best decisions I’ve made at Carolina is minoring in entrepreneurship. The program is truly one of the best kept secrets at UNC. If interested, click here to apply for the minor!
“The beautiful part about the minor is the flexibility in the program. No two students have the same, but all are taught the skills and lessons needed to become a successful entrepreneur.”
– Senior Political Science Major Nick Dokick
Sources:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006928/bio
http://www.unceminor.org/internships/china
http://www.unc.edu/depts/econ/profiles/goldstein.htm
http://iah.unc.edu/news/newsarchive/calendar/thorptalk
http://www.unc.edu/~jfstewar/
Dictionary (photo): Business Zone, http://www.businesszone.co.uk/image/word-entrepreneur-dictionary
Students at Beijing (photo): Minor in Entrepreneurship Newsletter
Students at CNN in NYC (photo): Minor in Entrepreneurship Newsletter