Frequently Asked Questions




Why should I join?

Everyone truly joins for their own unique reasons. Although this analysis oversimplifies the reasoning behind our members' decisions, we feel they join for a combination of three reasons:

  1. Ambitions to become an entrepreneur - We have found this to be an ideal environment to develop the mindset of an entrepreneur and to accumulate a comprehensive list of contacts.
  2. Desire to develop leadership skills and organizational knowledge necessary to thrive in a corporate environment - We have found our organization to encounter similar challenges to those within a large corporation. With this in mind, working on teams and projects in the context of goal-setting and problem solving is extremely applicable to any business setting.
  3. The intrinsically rewarding "experience" . We have found that many of our members have stuck with our organization despite having ambitions to become neither an entrepreneur nor a corporate leader. They have reasoned that our group is something more than it appears to be on the surface. It has been a place where they have made some of their best friends in college and had the most fun. Thus, it is not uncommon for the seemingly "illogical fit" of English, Art History, American Studies majors, to name a few, to contribute whatever talents they may have to our cause.

See testimonials and benefits

What do you actually do?

 See description of events

Why is entrepreneurship an exciting topic?
  • See description of events
  • The essence of entreprenialism requires the development of a myriad of skills including creative thinking, problem solving, and communicating in the context of teams, leadership, and partnership.
  • So, what kind of person are you?

How will this experience help me in the future; how will it develop my leadership skills?
  • See testimonials and benefits
  • The experience guides you through a program that exposes you to peer mentors, entrepreneurs, high level executives, and an impressive alumni network. Experiential learning in multiple contexts will help you develop your own unique perspective and style. Not only will your leadership and team skills be cultivated, your knowledge about organizational strategy issues should dramatically increase as well.
  • You will be surrounded by a group of ambitious and trustworthy people with "positive energy", facilitating a network of friends and personal growth.
  • Through the variety of contacts and our partnership with the Center of Career Services, you will enhance your business acumen and more knowledgeable about the opportunities available in each person's future.

Where do you see the organization 5 years from now?

See vision statement

What kind of people is the organization comprised of?

Our organization specifically seeks out those that demonstrate...

  • Intellectual Curiosity - They are always striving to see the bigger picture. They see the implications behind every action. They always seem to be thinking about how the world operates. We have found these types of people to be exceptional at problem solving and very passionate about improving situations.
  • Willingness to go the extra mile: These type of people have a "winning" mentality that make others around them better and draw energy to them. They do not rest until they have made an exceptional contribution - and then some.
  • Intangibles - They are fun in a variety of contexts and look to connect with people. They genuinely want to help other people.

We genuinely believe that entrepreneurship and leadership is a noble pursuit that can improve the situations all around us.

In the context of the next generation's leaders, if we do not serve as models and hold ourselves to the highest standards and expectations...then who will?

Where have the members gone onto work and what is their educational background?

Our members come from an assortment of backgrounds and majors...

Regions: Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Texas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana, Hawaii, Columbia, Bolivia, and Spain, to name a few.

Arts and Letters: Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Computer Applications, English, Journalism, Art History, American Studies, Mathematics, Spanish, and Philosophy.

College of Business: Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Management Information Systems, Management, and Management Consulting

  • JP Morgan Chase (Bob Costa)
  • General Electric (Kevin Marvinac)
  • Goldman Sachs (Vijen Patel)
  • Merrill Lynch (Christian Guzman)
  • Northern Trust (Mark Bennett)
  • UBS Financial Services (Karl Liebenauer)
  • Some of our members aspire to work in investment banking, consulting, marketing, law, technology, private wealth management, private equity, non-profit organizations, and publishing, to name a few.
  • The group is fun and forward thinking, yet down to earth. These are the common traits that unite the groups. The entire group seems to want to "shake and move", but as you can see...in a variety of directions unique to each individual.

What kind of resources are you exposed to?
  • Faculty Network - Our Advisors, Career Center, Gigot Center, Mendoza College of Business
  • Alumni and Entrepreneur Network - Our Speakers, Irish Angels, CEO Conference, Our Partners
  • Peer Network - Our Leadership Team

How does (can) entrepreneurship change the world or make it a better place?

As I came across Bill Gates' 2007 Harvard University Commencement Speech, one excerpt in particular resonated with me in a powerful way:

"Should our best minds be dedicated to solving our biggest problems?...Should the world's most privileged people learn about the lives of the world's least privileged?...In line with the promise of this age, I want to exhort each of the graduates here to take on an issue - a complex problem, a deep complexity, and become a specialist on it. Don't let complexity stop you. Be activists. Take on the big inequities. It will be one of the greatest experiences of your lives....And I hope you will come back here to Harvard 30 years from now and reflect on what you have done with your talent and energy. I hope you will judge yourselves not on your professional accomplishments alone, but also on how well you have addressed the world's deepest inequities...on how well you treated people a world away who have nothing in common with you but their humanity. Good luck."

Here was the world's ultimate entrepreneur, using his accumulated wealth and position within society to inspire some of the world's most talented youths to tackle the most complex problems of our world's future. Such positive entrepreneurs have demonstrated to others that the rewards of dreaming, creating, and giving is what will breed innovations that have the potential to impact millions of lives. They have realized that the biggest service they can give to the world is disseminating the boundless energetic spirit of entrepreneurship and social responsibility.

In the context of an ever more interconnected and global landscape, business leaders and entrepreneurs have a responsibility to embody Mr. Gates. optimistic focus on contributing to the bigger picture. Collaborating as a group and as a generation, we have the remarkable opportunity to pioneer new ideas and utilize emerging technologies in order to improve good and bad situations all around us, if not around the world.

- A reflection by Mark Bennett

Did you know?

  • 87% of Members that attended the first two meetings of spring of 2008 would recommend the organization to their friends.

Getting To Know

Robert Huguelet

Role:
Vice President of Outreach Projects (Spring 2008)
Hometown:
Frankfort, IL
Major:
Management Information Systems and English
Contact:
rhuguele@nd.edu
Employment Prospects:
Web Design for Notre Dame Alumni Association

Why Entrepreneurship Society?

"The Entrepreneurship Society has given me the confidence to know that I can run with the big dogs in the world of business. The electric atmosphere and dynamic people involved make it a great place to learn about and develop entrepreneurship and leadership skills. I feel that the structure of the organization keeps members involved and allows even the greenest members to make a meaningful contribution to the larger group while gaining knowledge and experience on a personal level."