Honestly, five weeks went by faster than I expected. When I first heard about the Wabash CIBE Business Immersion Program, I wasn’t totally sure what I was getting into. But looking back on everything we did in June, I can honestly say it’s been one of the most constructive experiences of my time at Wabash. From building a startup company from the ground up to talking with alumni in Chicago, this program threw me into the deep end and I loved every second of it.
The biggest thing for me this summer was being one of the founding members of Strapd. Getting to be part of building something from nothing was a completely different experience than anything I’d done in a classroom. There’s this unique mix of excitement and pressure that comes with starting a company. You’re making real decisions that actually matter. It pushed me to think more like an entrepreneur and not just a student. This change in mindset is something I’m going to carry with me long after this program wraps up.
One of the coolest parts of the program was getting to connect with Wabash alumni who are out there doing incredible things in the business world. Some came and spoke with our group directly, and we also got the chance to meet with others around Chicago. It was genuinely inspiring to see where the Wabash network can take you. These weren’t just “success story” presentations. They were real conversations with people who were willing to share what actually worked for them, what didn’t, and what they wished they’d known earlier.
We also took a trip out to Notre Dame to visit campus and meet with their ESTEEM program. It was a great experience getting to see how another university approaches entrepreneurship and innovation at the graduate level.
On the more technical side, we spent time getting comfortable with Excel in a way that actually matters in a professional setting, thanks to Dr. Dunaway. Learning things like VLOOKUP was one of those why didn’t anyone teach me this sooner moments. It sounds simple but knowing how to work with Excel efficiently is a skill that translates across basically every industry. We also learned about the world of consulting, which gave me a better sense of how businesses approach problem-solving and how consultants structure their thinking to actually drive change. These sessions weren’t just checkbox sessions, they were genuinely useful.
All in all, the Wabash CIBE BIP program gave me real-world experience before I’ve even graduated. I got to help build a company, learn from people who’ve been in the trenches, explore what entrepreneurship looks like at other institutions, and pick up practical skills that I’ll actually use. If you’re a Wabash student thinking about doing this program, just do it. June flew by, but the things I learned and the connections I made are going to stick around for a long time.
