Entrepalooza

Students bred for Wall Street and Corporate America file in and out of Ross School of Business every day. But on Friday, Sept. 18, these “B-School” students were not there to ace their next Accounting test; they were there to be inspired at the Tenth Annual Entrepalooza.

Entrepalooza is a colloquium for business majors, MBAs, and business leaders to share their triumphs, fiascos, and future goals in order to inspire the future generation of business professionals.

“No idea is too small or too big. The only thing that’ll stand in your way is yourself,” said MBA Matthew Demko, an Entrepalooza attendant.

The two keynote speakers were Roger Frock, the current President and CEO of Quest Management, Inc., and Ravi Mohan, the Co-founder and Managing Director of Shasta Ventures.  They shared their wisdom about what every entrepreneur should keep in mind.

“[The speakers’] stories are meant to inspire our attendees so they can hear firsthand what’s possible and that big dreams can be realized,” said Mary Nickson, Entrepalooza’s Program Manager.

Perhaps the most fascinating and inspirational part of Entrepalooza was during the “Lunch and Learn” session. Graduates led discussions and provided insight on how to start a business while earning a degree. A diverse group of people of all ages sat around futuristic black tables while listening and learning from each other. For once, it was not a competition.
“Each individual shared their own stories and what it was like to launch their own business,” Ross graduate student Raina Rahbar said.

After Entrepalooza ended, students sat together in groups, discussing possible business ideas while others took notes and sipped coffee. There was also an opportunity to speak with corporations about careers and internships. “Meet the Firms” travels to Ross three to four times a year and provides a way for students to further their path in the business world.
Nancy Daniel, a representative from Masco Corporation, was surprised at the combination of harmony and intensity present at Entrepalooza.

“This place was crazy,” she said. “There were hundreds of students and business people walking in and out of these doors. It was really quite impressive - it was organized chaos.”