I’m from Europe, where entrepreneurship and business leadership are often approached quite conservatively. Older, more experienced people usually lead companies. In the United States, the business world is much more opportunity-driven. Here, young people are encouraged to build businesses or take on significant roles in their current companies.
In the future, I want to own and operate my own business. Before the program, I only knew two ways to get there: raise capital or build capital to buy a business. SOM has introduced me to other business models and helped me figure out my next steps to achieve this goal. I have experience on the deal side, searching for and acquiring businesses. What I want to build on, at SOM and after I graduate, is the operational piece: How do I lead teams effectively?
For me, the SOM curriculum has served two functions. It’s teaching me traditional business school skills like valuation and accounting, and it’s broadening my perspective through courses across SOM and the wider university. Specialized classes, like Leading Small and Medium Enterprises, show what leadership looks like in specific contexts and the challenges that arise there. They offer realistic insights into the day-to-day work of people in many different fields.
I’ve also been able to enroll in courses on subjects I’m just curious about. Right now, I’m taking Spies, Cyber, and Statecraft at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. It’s taught by Timothy Haugh, a retired general and the former National Security Agency director.
What’s surprised me about SOM is just how much programming there is outside of class. There’s always an interesting cultural or speaker event happening, and it really adds to the experience. In the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Club, we bring speakers to campus who invest in future entrepreneurs, are currently acquiring companies, or have already taken over businesses. As a club lead, I look for these speakers and handle event logistics. Being involved in that process gives you a much closer connection to the speakers than simply attending the event.
The GBS cohort has around 76 students, which is a good size. It’s large enough to find your core group of friends but still small enough to get to know everyone. SOM class sizes are small enough that I’ve been able to get to know students across different programs. The school makes meeting people and networking easy.
I really appreciate how international our GBS cohort is. It gives you great exposure to people with different backgrounds from all over the world. While not everyone wants to work in the United States afterwards, many of us do. You might have a question that someone else has already found the answer to, either through the Yale Office of International Students & Scholars or their employer. In that way, it’s a uniquely supportive community.
