This summer, I had the chance to intern with the Center for Innovation, Business, and Entrepreneurship (CIBE), where I had the opportunity to learn from several mentors and unique experiences. With summer closing in and unsure of the field I want to look into in the future, I decided to interview for BIP summer. Thankfully I got in, because the people I have met and knowledge I have gained are irreplaceable.

Throughout this internship we have been blessed to host and meet many Wabash alumni and guests who have shared their wisdom and work experience. Investment has been an overlapping theme in the previous weeks where we learned about angel investors at Signage when visiting 16 Tech and throughout the process of finances in our business pitch. Within the business and entrepreneurial world investments play a crucial role in starting up companies and are another profitable opportunity for people in the field. Angel investors are a great example of this, as they are an individual who provides initial funding for a startup business and in return will receive a portion of equity.

James Snyder, Wabash Alumni of the class of ‘85 and currently a partner at HKW, shared his knowledge of investment in entrepreneurship. Snyder shared some impressive projects he has worked on during his career such as building Gainbridge Fieldhouse, owning a part of Circle City Mall, and building Victory Field successfully seizing the attention of his audience. Then he asked a room of 20 young interns, “What is private equity?”, which of course is a simple question which many can simply answer investing and/or buying some of a company before selling them. However, I was left stumped as to how this conversation could go any further than wealthy investors managing a company. My eyes were opened wide to a field of possibilities. There is a whole economy for private equity, from banks who are hesitant but will loan small amounts of money for startups to lenders who give large scale loans to help develop a rising business.

This internship has not only broadened my sense of curiosity, but also my network. Opening doors for me that I never could have thought. As these weeks have passed, I’ve learned more about myself and how I can learn more from others. I am thankful for the experiences I have gained with BIP this summer!