Senior Associate, Palladin Consumer Retail Partners

WerthWatching is an extension of Justin’s vision as a Business student at UConn. In 2014, Justin founded the UConn Consulting Group (UCG), a strategy consulting group bringing together top students with alumni who attended elite business schools and consulting firms. UCG was founded on the belief that given the resources and training, UConn students can compete and land jobs at top companies around the world.

Justin Lee is doing things WerthWatching:

• Implemented “Strategic Consulting” minor as part of undergraduate curriculum
• Expertise in consumer-focused buyouts and growth equity investing
• Leading Werth Institute’s efforts to help students on non- traditional career paths

Why did you choose to work for your employer and how has the experience been?

When I was leaving investment banking, I knew I wanted to go into private equity. PE was attractive to me because you are the principle on the transaction and are truly partnering with the founders or management teams. This alignment of interests and ability to have a true impact on companies sounded exciting. Palladin had a long-standing track record of investing in consumer businesses while operating with a lean team which meant I’d be getting a lot of experience in a sector that has been experiencing dramatic changes.

How did UConn prepare you for the field you are in today?

UConn gave me a good general business background that has been built upon through work experience. While academics are important, UConn also provided a great social setting whether it be on-campus, sporting or other events. Many people believe that a 4.0 GPA will result in an “easy” job search but interviewers are increasingly looking for people they like and can work long hours with.

What’s your favorite UConn memory?

I look back on my UConn experience very favorably so it’s hard to narrow it down to one. Two immediately come to mind:

• 2014 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships
• Delivering the final presentation for our first project as the UConn Consulting Group; this really solidified the legitimacy of something that I spent a lot of time pursuing

What advice do you have for today’s students or aspiring entrepreneurs?

Be proactive. Nobody is going to hand you the job you want just because you have a good GPA and went to UConn. You need to do more – join clubs, network and utilize the resources around you.

What’s next for you?

While I can’t speak in specifics, my company is at a pretty pivotal time in its lifecycle and there are a few large initiatives that should come to fruition over the next 6-12 months. I’m also excited to be working with the Werth Institute to enhance outcomes for students interested in non-traditional career paths. As someone who had to jump through a lot of hoops, I’m hoping we can make it a bit easier for the next generation of UConn students.

Do you have any personal or professional goals you’d like to reach?

I don’t set specific goals such as obtain “X” job title or anything like that – at least not anymore. I like to stay flexible and setting goals sometimes inhibits your ability to think outside the box and be creative. Goal setting works in moderation. To answer the question – I want to gain more experience in my current field and see where it takes me.

What’s your favorite podcast at the moment?

Given the shift to work-from-home over the last year, I have unfortunately significantly cut down on my podcasts. My favorites to listen to on my commute were The Joe Rogan Experience, Stuff You Should Know and How I Built This.

Vice President & Marketing Lead, Visible Hands VC

Sumia Shaikh is a founding team member, investor, and VP of Marketing at Visible Hands VC. She leads marketing and brand for the firm and focuses on supporting portfolio companies in the digital health and wellness space.

Prior to joining Visible Hands VC full-time, Sumia was a Strategy Consultant at Vivaldi in New York City working on Brand, Innovation, and Growth Strategy projects for Fortune 500 tech clients. Before relocating to New York, she spent several years in the Boston startup ecosystem working on Partnerships and Program Management at a global accelerator called MassChallenge where she helped launch their Rhode Island and HealthTech accelerators. Furthermore, Sumia spent a few years working on Vertex Pharmaceuticals‘ Innovation and External Research (VIER) team as an internal innovation consultant on diverse, company-wide initiatives. Notably, Sumia’s contributions helped VIER be named an Honoree for Innovation Leader’s 2019 IMPACT Awards for Best New Initiative and earned her three department-nominated awards.

Sumia graduated with honors from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Sciences, and a concentration in Public Health and Program Management.

In her free time, Sumia likes to try new recipes, doing yoga, or spending time with her newborn baby girl.

Sumia Shaikh is doing things WerthWatching:

• Became a founding team member of Visible Hands VC, a venture capital firm on a mission to highlight and invest in the limitless potential of overlooked founders, after becoming disenchanted with the lack of funding for underrepresented entreprenuers.
• Rockstar mentor in Werth Institute’s NetWerx program.
• New mom to a beautiful baby girl!

How did you become interested in Venture Capital?

I became interested in venture capital after working at a startup accelerator with hundreds of founders and falling in love with the entrepreneurship and innovation space. After undergrad, I was recruited to work at MassChallenge in a partnership and program management role where I ran entrepreneurial boot camps, and managed relationships and research with corporations, foundations, government, and VCs. Surrounded by hundreds of brilliant problem-solvers working across industries, I quickly became enamored by the fast-paced, invigorating startup environment. I was energized by their unbridled optimism and creativity.

Despite loving working in this environment, I became disenchanted while supporting initiatives to help underrepresented entrepreneurs. Industry statistics consistently show how Black, Latinx, and female founders get less than 10% of VC dollars annually. This group consistently is underfunded and over-mentored. As much as I loved supporting programs and partnerships for this demographic, I was deeply disappointed in how accelerators and incubators fell short of providing actual dollars to overlooked founders.

After MassChallenge, I spent several years in Corporate Innovation and Brand Strategy Consulting to upskill myself. I hoped to join an early-stage startup or VC in a platform role one day. When Justin Kang reached out to me during the Summer of 2020 about starting Visible Hands, I knew I had to get involved. Visible Hands is different from any venture capital firm or accelerator that I have encountered. Visible Hands is a venture capital firm with 14-week, virtual-first accelerator on a mission to highlight and invest in the limitless potential of overlooked founders. At the earliest stages of company-building, we provide meaningful funding, personalized support, and social capital, helping our founders build exceptional technology startups. I love being a part of building it from the ground up and learning how to be an early-stage investor!

Why are entrepreneurship and innovation important to you?

Entrepreneurship and innovation represent the best of creativity and problem-solving to me. The best entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs that I meet are solving real problems validated by their customers or users. Additionally, they are not afraid to approach an old problem in a novel way. It’s intellectually stimulating and inspires me to always challenge my biases.

Furthermore, I see entrepreneurship and innovation as transformative means for economic mobility. Entrepreneurship and innovation can enable folks to generate generational wealth while working on issues that matter to them. Coming from a humble beginning, I’ve experienced firsthand how working in entrepreneurship and innovation allowed me to financially and professionally make leaps that I never thought might be possible.

Can you describe a time you took a risk? Did it pay off? If not, what lesson did you learn?

I am a pretty risk-friendly person (which probably explains my attraction to early-stage startups). For example, I moved to Boston without a job out of college and gave myself two months to figure it out. Additionally, joining MassChallenge while having no formal background or education in startups or business development was a risk that paid off as I learned about my passion for working with startups. Furthermore, joining Visible Hands in 2020 as a volunteer and going full-time before securing the funding for my specific role was a risk. I am fortunate that many of the risks that I have taken throughout my career have paid off. I’ve learned to bet on myself and trust my judgment in taking calculated risks.

How did UConn prepare you for where you are at today?

At UConn, my advisors and professors always encouraged me to pursue all my intellectual curiosities. This meant being able to audit classes in the business school, learning how to properly do research, or studying social entrepreneurship during the summer in Guatemala. My education at UConn taught me to take an interdisciplinary approach to solving problems. I learned to consider different points of view. I learned how to challenge my biases through my student involvement with organizations like the Asian American Cultural Center and UConn Empower. I am where I am today because I am insatiably curious and learned how to work with people from different backgrounds.

Tell us a little about your continued involvement with UConn. Why is it important to give back as a mentor?

I am the first person in my family to graduate with a college degree. Although I excelled in high school, I was not sure how I’d be able to afford college. UConn was one of the first organizations to believe in my potential. I went to school on a full-ride merit scholarship. I was deeply supported in my personal and professional journey by mentors at UConn. It’s important to me to give back as a mentor and pay it forward.

Describe a professional moment you are most proud of, and why?

I am most proud of the relationships that I’ve built with founders who I’ve worked with for the past six years that are still finding value in the relationship we have today. There are founders I’ve stayed in touch with since I started at MassChallenge where we chat periodically, or they reach out for advice. We usually chat about issues concerning go-to-market, partnerships, or ways that they can grow their team. One such company recently reached out to see if I’d be interested in joining their executive team. Although it wasn’t the best match, I was so honored to be considered!

Which business tool or resource do you recommend for entreprenuers, and why?

Entrepreneurship can be an arduous and lonely journey, but it doesn’t need to be. Having access to a community of other people who can share their learnings and understand the challenges of launching a company is powerful. One of the best values of our Visible Hands accelerator is the tight-knit cohort full of entrepreneurs who are always looking to support and learn from each other. I recommend that entrepreneurs seek out online or IRL communities like OnDeck, Founders Network, SCORE, etc.

What is your favorite UConn memory?

My favorite UConn memory has to be starting and building a student organization with my closest friends and classmates called UConn Empower. What began as conversations in Buckley turned into an organization that raised $15K, involved hundreds of students on campus, and did project-based consulting work with three non-profits in India, Cameroon, and the Dominican Republic. I learned so much about team building, marketing, community, and how to build programs and products that were useful to our users. I never considered it as “innovation” or “entrepreneurship” at the time because I was having so much fun. I learned a great deal about what it takes to build something.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

I am passionate about community, DEI, health and wellness, and human rights. I just had a baby two months ago and am enjoying spending my maternity leave bonding with my baby girl!

Founder, Find The Good Brand/UConn Entreprenuer in Residence

Get to know Jack Tarca, the Werth Institute’s new Entreprenuer in Residence with Championship Labs.

What do you do now and how did you get where you are?

I am pursuing my mission driven apparel brand full-time, while becoming the first Entrepreneur in Residence at the Werth Institute here at UConn. I was able to achieve success with my company while a student at UConn, using the resources, network, and knowledge found all throughout UConn’s ecosystem. Most important, I never stopped putting ideas into action.

What do you find most fulfilling about your job?

Seeing an idea go from idea to reality. Whether it’s a physical piece of apparel that we’re developing, an inspiring post about well-being, or a new e-commerce strategy we’re implementing, taking something in your head and proving its success in the real world never gets old.

How do you help your organization use business to have a positive impact on the world?

We aim for our business to positively impact anyone who’s engaging with our brand. Whether it’s through our content or purchasing a product, we want to add value to everyone who hears about our business. We’re in the business of helping people live happier and healthier lives. We do this through spreading our mantra of “finding the good”. These three simple words have been proven to have a positive impact on thousands of people’s lives. From spilling your morning coffee, to making it through months of rehabilitation for a mental disease, our community has told us that these three simple words were the reason they were able to get through the day.

Which business tool or resource do you recommend to others, and why?

I recommend “Notion”, it’s a project management and note-taking application. You can use it for personal use or at a business level. It’s user friendly, organized, but also has the ability to be customized as you see fit. I use it for storing brand assets, writing all sorts of copy, calendars, and collecting inspiration via photos and links. It does it all, without being overwhelming.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned so far since graduating?

In my two months after graduating, I’m still adjusting to working full-time and not having any assignments due at 11:59pm on Husky CT. In this short time, I’ve learned that I have new goals for the first time in four years. Throughout college my main goals were graduating, landing a job, and building a brand. It’s interesting to have to re-evaluate goals that have been set for so long, but also exciting to take on new challenges. Every milestone I’ve hit post-graduation has also meant creating a new one, which is sometimes more difficult than achieving the milestone itself. The lesson here is to always be ready for what’s next.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Done is better than perfect.

What did your time at UConn mean to you?

My time at UConn was invaluable. I gained confidence to pursue my ideas that hadn’t been proven yet, as well as the perseverance and resources to see them through to reality. UConn for me was a place to test ideas and fail, knowing that there were resources available to help me learn from my mistakes was crucial as I began my entrepreneurial journey.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

I’m passionate about the ocean. I try to spend as much time on the water as I do on land. From fishing, to boating, to surfing, you can find me on the water when I’m not working. At Find The Good Brand we talk about finding your “spot”, it’s like a happy place you go to, to practice mindfulness. The ocean is my favorite “spot”.

What’s next?

Next, I’ll be heading back to UConn to build resources for student athletes and social media influencers to help grow accessibility in entrepreneurship at UConn. The world of college athletics has been changed forever and I’m excited to be at the forefront of such an impactful movement for NIL.  I will also continue to build Find The Good Brand, when I’m not busy helping students at UConn pursue their passions.

Founder and CEO, ZaveryCakes

Get to know Lorin Dixon, an Advisory Board member with Championship Labs.

Tell us about ZaveryCakes. How did the idea come about?

ZaveryCakes is a pop culture bakeware brand, providing a connection to pop culture through our detailed character food molds designed to look exactly like your favorite pop culture icon, sports teams, tv show, and movie character. Providing tangible ways to bring your fandom to your kitchen table. Our mission is to turn boring food into something you actually love. Our molds are easy to use, no mess, and give a new meaning to being able to play with your food. Our differentiation is the versatility of our food molds, you can make pancakes, eggs, pizzas, mini cakes, brownies, bread and so much more. We know that everyone is a fan of something, and we have something for everyone.

How did you become interested in entrepreneurship?

I have always considered myself an entrepreneur. As an athlete the minute I picked up a basketball and decided this is what I wanted to do I started creating a brand and unbeknownst became an entrepreneur. That brand was me, so all of the accolades I received in Highschool, becoming a McDonald All-American, and going to UConn was me being an entrepreneur building out my brand and forming a community of invested people around that brand. In this NIL era, student-athletes have the ability to monetize their brand and leverage their platform at the collegiate level. All of the hard work that athletes put into what they love to do and leveraging a personal brand that companies want to partner with makes these athletes entrepreneurs.

How did your experience as a member of the National Championship-winning UConn Women’s Basketball team prepare you for a career in entrepreneurship?

I am a true believer in how you do one thing is how you do everything. From a young age, I understood the importance of hard work, discipline, and consistency especially when no one is watching. Those are the moments when champions are made. I continue to use that same mentality in business. The success I’ve had with my company ZaveryCakes can be traced to that mentality that I carry with me every day.

With NIL initiatives taking off, what advice do you have for student-athletes in this new era of business opportunities?

In this new era of NIL initiatives, I would tell student-athletes to take full advantage of this opportunity. The best time to build a brand or start a business is always now. It takes time to build out and grow a business but as student-athletes, you have the platform and leverage to build a large community and following very quickly around your brand or business.

What role do you see former Husky athletes and entrepreneurs like yourself and resources like the Werth Institute having in the NIL era?

In this NIL era, the role of former Husky athletes and entrepreneurs and the resources like the Werth Institute can demystify the concepts of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Teaching and leading this new generation of student-athletes to show them that it is not only doable but beneficial for them to merge their platforms of student-athletes and entrepreneurship to secure and build a better future for themselves.

Can you describe a time you took a risk? Did it pay off? If not, what lesson did you learn?

The biggest risk I have ever taken was becoming an entrepreneur and deciding to start ZaveryCakes and that decision has been amazingly paying itself off ever since I trusted myself to take that step. When I started, I did not know anything about business, manufacturing, wholesale, or any of the other lessons that I had to learn along the way. Through that discipline, hard work, consistency, and most importantly through the belief that I have in myself, I‘ve learned that I can do anything, and I am just getting starting.

Describe a professional moment you are most proud of, and why?

I am blessed that I have had so many amazing professional moments in my life. Whether that was during my professional career as a basketball player where I had the opportunity to play in the WNBA, Overseas, and for the Jamaican Olympic basketball team, or as the CEO & founder of ZaveryCakes where we have accomplished so much in such a short period of time. From our amazing licensing partnerships to our retail partnerships, to our expanding product line, and the accomplishment of graduating from the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women program.

The moment I am most proud of was our successful Kickstarter campaign. Before that moment I decided to start a company outside of sports or anything that I have previously known. I created our first three original characters from my own imagination and put them out in the world to see if it was even something the market wanted. ZaveryCakes surpassed its goal and we haven’t looked back ever since.

Which business tool or resource do you recommend for entrepreneurs, and why?

For entrepreneurs with new businesses, my advice is to keep your overhead as low as possible while surrounding yourself with a good team. No one person can be the best at or do everything. Hiring experts in fields that you are not an expert in, will allow you to grow faster and accomplish more. The best way to do this when starting out is to hire freelancers. There are many sites that allow you to do this while keeping your cost low.

What’s your favorite UConn memory?

I have had some amazing memories at UConn. Some great memories were playing in front of the amazing crowd at Gampel, breaking the 89-0 record, winning two national championships, and visiting President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the white house. My favorite UConn memory though was graduating. I was the first person in my family to graduate from college and fulfilling a goal I set for myself when I was younger was a very special moment and memory for me.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

My passion is continuously learning and trying new experiences and endeavors. I recently picked up golfing, I love it and the goal is to become really good at it. Becoming a wine connoisseur is a goal of mine, I am currently learning the process of how wine is made, and I hope to open my own vineyard one day. I am most passionate about my son, with any free time that I have, I spend it with him. There is no job in the world more important to me than being the best mom that I can be. Going through this process and creating a legacy for him is everything.

To explore the ZaveryCakes collection and order online, visit their website here.

MBA Associate, SWAT Equity Partners

Leah is currently an MBA candidate at Columbia Business School (CBS) and MBA associate at SWAT Equity Partners, a venture capital firm for emerging entrepreneurial consumer brands. Prior to starting at CBS, she was a summer associate at LDV Capital and an investment associate at Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs (Techstars). Previously, she spent three years running platform and marketing for UpRamp, the industry accelerator/CVC for the connectivity industry (backed by Comcast, Charter, Cox and 60 others), and worked in business development for boutique consultancies in London. 

Leah Oppenheimer is doing things WerthWatching:

• Focused on the human side of deep technology, and the impacts that entrepreneurs have on our everyday lives
• As a summer associate, researched how visual technology is being deployed across the agriculture and food industries to have notable impacts on the global food supply
• Graduated from the University of Cambridge with a MPhil in Education, and lived in London for three years working at several boutique consultancies in business development and thought leadership

What got you interested in working with startups/venture capital (VC)?

I actually got into VC by accident. I was contacted by a recruiter for an operating role at an accelerator in the video/broadband industry and learned about VC through that job – I had never heard of it before that! Since then, I’ve come to love the passion that early-stage founders have and how the job allows me to spend my day being curious and asking questions.

Where do you find your inspiration? 

I’m always really impressed by founders who worked in an industry, saw something missing, and decided to fix it – their nuanced understanding of the space, whether shown in unit economics and pricing or sales strategy – is so impressive to watch.

How did UConn prepare you for where you’re at today? 

UConn gave me the freedom to conduct research on an area of interest to me (the sociology of education as it relates to war-torn societies). I don’t work in that space anymore, but the freedom given to me allowed me to carve my own path in the following years, leading me to where I am today.

What’s your favorite UConn memory? 

Walking around campus on the weekend in the fall! I love autumn in New England. Also study abroad – I had the fortune of going abroad twice (Granada and Maastrict) and loved both experiences.

What advice do you have for today’s students or emerging entrepreneurs? 

Invest time into getting to know yourself and those around you – a strong network is important, but that starts with understanding your own strengths and desires and leaning into those!

Describe a professional moment you are most proud of, and why? 

Probably getting into Columbia Business School – it’s one of the few moments when it’s been very obvious to me how much effort and energy I put into something and seeing it all pay off in a calculated way.

Which business tool or resource do you recommend to others, and why? 

Make yourself a good to-do list in any form that works for you – whether that’s Inbox Zero or a piece of paper. Especially in entrepreneurship, where you’re juggling so many balls, it becomes easier and easier to drop them – figure out a way that works for you that keeps that from happening.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

I love houseplants and have dozens of them. I’m also a big fan of technical driving roads – I recently did a really fun road trip along the coast of Italy!

Associate, Summit Partners 

Roma is an investor at Summit Partners focused primarily on the technology sector. Her investment experience includes CoderPad. Prior to Summit, Roma worked at Citigroup, most recently in the technology investment banking team and previously as an equity capital markets analyst.

Roma holds a BS in finance and a BA in human rights, summa cum laude, from the University of Connecticut.

Roma Romaniv is doing things WerthWatching:

• Roma is a rock star mentor, giving back to the UConn Consulting Group, of which she is an alumna, and Hillside Ventures
• As a senior, Roma served as a manager with the Student Managed Fund where she oversaw a fund of over $2 million and had the opportunity to value and analyze multiple companies, skills she took to Citigroup following graduation
• Fun fact – Roma is trilingual, speaking English, Ukrainian and Russian

How did you become interested in working as an investor?

I was always interested in how finance worked. I think that was the starting point – taking business courses, joining clubs and learning more about the world of investing. It was not something I knew much about growing up, so I wanted to learn and really understand it. After working at Citi and getting even more exposure to equity investing, I knew it was something I wanted to do.  

What role does entrepreneurship play in your career? 

I speak with company founders every day in my current role. I have a strong appreciation for entrepreneurs – their drive, work ethic and creativity. 

Can you describe a time you took a risk? Did it pay off? If not, what lesson did you learn?

I decided to move to the west coast because I wanted to focus on technology in my career. All of my family and friends at the time were in the NY/CT area. I love living in SF and this move ended up leading to my current role. 

How did UConn prepare you for where you’re at today? UConn gave me the building blocks for a lot of the work I do today. The classes, especially accounting, were critical. SMF, UCG and other groups helped me prepare technically for a lot of work that I do. The UConn Alumni network has also been key. 

Tell us about your continued involvement with UConn. Why is it important to give back as a mentor? 

I really enjoy speaking with students and being available to give them advice, opportunity ideas or just listen. I participated in the Werth Mentoring program, am a mentor in the UConn Consulting Group and was an advisor for one of their recent projects. I also act as a mentor/advisory member for Hillside Ventures. I went to an insurtech conference for work and got to meet some UConn students in person – it was great to see them get this experiential learning! 

Describe a professional moment you are most proud of, and why? 

Pitching at a client meeting – it was still very early on in my career, and I had the opportunity to travel with seniors and meet potential IPO clients in person. I was proud that my managers trusted to put me in front of the client.  

Which business tool or resource do you recommend to others, and why?

Excel! (Just kidding that’s a joke). I am a big fan of videos and guides that teach you how to do things. Example (Ezra Okon – UConn alum) has YouTube videos on financial modeling that walk you through every step. Also, LinkedIn has been very important in my current role in building relationships with companies and founders.  

What’s your favorite UConn memory?

Cornell Stock pitch competition – we drove up to Boston. 

What are you passionate about outside of work?

Passionate about human rights/ESG improvement efforts/international relations. I am also a big fiction reader. 

Jide Anifowoshe
Jide is a freshman from Holmdel, NJ. Jide is currently undecided in his major but shows interest in Economics or Business. Jide has many passion projects as he is currently working on developing a brand of non-dairy frozen desserts and a cookie business. On campus, he is part of the UConn Men’s Crew team. In Jide’s free time he likes to either bake or cook Jide hopes to be successful with his two passion projects.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jide-anifowoshe-95a55022a

Jewel Booker
Jewel is currently a freshman from West Haven, CT. Jewel is currently pursuing a degree in English. One of Jewel’s passion projects is working on educating people about hair and braiding hair as well, leading her to try out for the board for curls. Braiding and taking care of hair has always been a passion of Jewel’s and he hopes that she will be able to provide her insight and learn new things as well because she would love to be able to help people who are struggling with the obstacles she has overcome. In her free time, Jewel enjoys to braid, make TikToks, and paint. Jewel’s goal is to make her 5th grade self proud. When she looks back to that age, she remembers that she thought she was never going to be anything. Now it is Jewel’s goal to achieve whatever she wants to do, doing better than what she has done before, constantly improving. Jewel does not currently have a career path set for herself just yet, but she knows she wants to end up somewhere she is happy.

Jewel’s Work: https://www.newhavenarts.org/arts-paper/articles/author/jewel-booker

https://jewelbooker03.wixsite.com/safestsafespace

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jewelbooker

Cindy Calle
Cindy is a freshman from New Haven, CT. Cindy is currently pursuing a degree in Management and Engineering for Manufacturing. One of Cindy’s passion projects is working on starting her own company. The company is focused on the redesign and modernization of menstrual products. Though catered for women, she is actively ensuring her vision and company altogether is able to help anyone who menstruates regardless of gender and hopes to provide comfort and acceptance for all when it comes to periods and period products. Cindy is extremely involved on campus as she is a member of the Honors Program, Global Business Program, Real Estate Society, and Women in Business. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends, networking and writing. Aside from business, another passion of Condy’s is screenwriting and poetry. Her favorite screenwriter and director is Guillermo del Toro. In the future, Cindy hopes to be able to venture into the world of business and independence through entrepreneurship. Her goal is to be able to create successful companies focused on helping and uplifting women. Feminism is and has always been both important and necessary for Cindy. Thus, she wants to do her part to cater to women in a manner that respects, validates and helps them. Cindy intends to pitch her ideas and maintain a feminist focused purpose as well as prevail within a dominted field as a Hispanic woman.

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/cindy-calle-3320b8228

Riley Fallon
Riley is a freshman from Medford, MA. Riley is pursuing a degree in Marketing. Riley has many passion projects as she is always working on different baking endeavors and currently is brainstorming a lot for her upcoming summer project. Any free time she has usually is dedicated to experimenting in the kitchen. Her involvement on campus includes being a Delta Sigma Pi Theta lota brother, and a member of the UConn Marketing Society. In her free time, Riley loves to bake and do anything that involves being creative alongside spending time with her friends and family. Riley hopes to become a successful entrepreneur. She wants to cultivate her passions and turn it into a business she can continue to grow for the rest of her life. Riley hopes to get to the point where she can be a successful owner of a business that is profitable, woman run, and one that betters the world in which we live in.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/riley-fallon

Audrey Hannah Larson
Audrey is a freshman from Wallingford, CT. Audrey is pursuing a degree in Materials Science and Engineering and Civil Engineering with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Environmental Engineering. She is a researcher in the Li Environmental Engineering Laboratory where she works on a research project, developing methods for microplastic removal from wastewater systems. In addition, she works on a project through her lab in conjunction with the Wille Civil Engineering Laboratory and Adamson Chemistry Laboratory looking at how we can integrate plastic waste into concrete. Audrey is in the process of creating a new business named Unfolded LLP, a clothing company. Audrey is extremely involved on campus, she is a part of the Honors Program, Healthcare Engineering Club, Society of Women in Engineers, and the Naval Science and Technology Concentration Program. In her free time, she enjoys to crochet, bike, paint and hike. Audrey’s career goal is to create environmentally-friendly building products.

Audrey’s Work:

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-fourteen-year-old-inventor-trying-to-protect-other-children-from-being-shot-at-school

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrey-larson-b546a51b2/

Zeming Liang
Zeming is a freshman from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. Zeming is majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology with a minor in Cognitive Science. A current passion project he is involved in are soft drinks. Zeming is developing a fruit flavored soft drink that help people focus better and reduce anxiety. Also, he is developing a fashionable clothing line as a side venture. At the University of Connecticut, Zeming has a variety of involvements. Zeming is the senator in Undergrad Student Government, and he represents all the students living in Alumni Quad Residential Halls. Zeming is passionate about music. He is a beatboxer and a violinist, and he performed on Chinese national television channel during Chinese New Year. Zeming is also the beatboxer of UConn A cappella group Hus-keys at the University of Connecticut. In sports, Zeming has passion for fencing and international football. He is a member of the UConn fencing club competing in foil and representing the University of Connecticut. In leisure, Zeming dedicates his time to fashion clothing, painting and cooking – a good recipe always brings joy and a smile on his face. He wants to accomplish an entrepreneurship in neuroscience application into artificial intelligence.

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/zemingliang/

Pascal Mukendi
Pascal is a freshman from Brox, NY. Pascal is currently pursuing a degree in Financial Management but plans to switch to a major in Finance. A passion project Pascal is involved in an application for the Change Grant at UConn to hopefully fund a campus tour/basketball game trip to Storrs for the students at his former junior high in Harlem. He hopes that it will promote the idea of college and higher education in an area where he can speak from experience and claim it is not considered much. Pascal’s involvement on campus includes, the African Student Association, Business Connections Leadership Community, Financial Man agement Committee, and the Entrepreneurship Committee. In his free time, Pascal enjoys playing basketball, listening to music, playing video games here and there, reading, and playing chess. Pascal hopes to have a successful career as an entrepreneur, in the hopes to take care of his family and himself.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascal-mukendi-598619228/

Aime Mulungula
Aime is a freshman from New Haven, CT. Aime is currently pursuing a degree in Management with a minor in Studio Arts. Aime is on the verge of starting a clothing brand using his artistic designs such as paintings and drawings, as a collaboration of his entrepreneurial and artistic abilities. Aime is involved in a variety of on campus organizations such as, being a member of the Business Leaders at UConn, Business Management Society, the African Association, as well as a Werth Innovator Intern in the Werth Institute. In his freetime, Aime enjoys listening to music and drawing. With a concentration in entrepreneurship prior to graduating, Aime hopes to start his own business in hope to do international businesses and invest in real estate as well as become a professional artist and designer.

Aime’s Work: https://www.newhavenindependent.org/article/nxt_hvn_june_2021

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aime-mulungula/

Shivam Patel

Shivam is a freshman from Newington, CT. Shivam is majoring in Finance with a minor in Computer Science. A current venture he is involved in is working on a startup of a financial coaching business. Shivam is currently a part of the UConn Consulting Group and the Business Connections Learning Community. In his free time, he enjoys playing poker, skiing, and watching football. Shivam hopes to become a successful entrepreneur and a strong community leader.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/s-pat

Lesley Rendon-Hernandez
Lesley is a freshman for Meriden, CT. Lesley is currently pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences. One project Lesley is currently working on is becoming a McNair Scholar. She recognizes that she might not become one, however this will not impede her from attempting to be a part of the McNair Scholar Program. Lesley is involved in the Student Support Services (SSS), and the METAS Peer Mentorship Program at the Puertoican Latin American Cultural Center here at the University of Connecticut.

Lesley’s Work: https://www.instagram.com/lrpaintz/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lesley-rendon-hernandez-42805522b

Anna Vladimirskaya
Anna is a freshman from Norwalk, CT. Anna is pursuing a degree in Computer Science here at the University of Connecticut. She is a part of the research team for the nano-electronics department at UConn. Another one of Anna’s passion projects is that she is part of a group working on a proposal for NASA’s 2022 Extreme Motor Terrain Challenge. Her involvement on campus includes the Robotics Team, Engineering Ambassadors, and the CSE Diversity and Equity Committee. In her free time, Anna enjoys spending time with her pets. Anna’s ultimate career goal would be to start her own small robotics company.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-vladimirskaya-355293220/

Adama Modi

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adama-modi/

Aria Penna

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aria-penna/

Awa Modi

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/awa-modi/

Best Selling Author of “Eat with Intention” and the upcoming “Manifesting Through Meditation” (available for pre-order now). Host of the “Divine Downloads” podcast and creator of the Transformational Online Program “Divinely  Design Your Life.”

Cassandra Bodzak is a thought leader, best-selling author and sought after on-camera personality and speaker in the mindfulness and personal development world. She is also the host of the popular spiritual podcast, “Divine Downloads.” You may have seen Cassandra on ABC’s “The Taste” with Anthony Bourdain as the “happy, healthy living guru” or in her work with SHAPE, Eating Well, Huffington Post, Teen Vogue, Thrive, Fabletics, Lululemon, SoulCycle and many more. She has been called “an award-winning thought leader and intuitive coach” in Forbes and “a spiritual leader” by Well + Good. Cassandra helps people all over the world learn The Process for bringing their soul’s desires into their everyday reality through her online group program, “Divinely Design Your Life,” as well as through all the free content she shares on her YouTube and social media.

Cassandra Bodzak is doing things WerthWatching:

• Best-selling author
• Helps people create their “next level” life through food, meditation and self-care
• Started a recipe blog in college after being sick with food allergies that has become a holistic lifestyle source

What led you to mindfulness and personal development as a career?

My own healing journey led me to my career in personal development. It was through using the tools that I now teach about during some of the most dark and confusing moments of my life, experiencing these tools transform my life that I knew I had to share them with others. I often feel like this career chose me, it was so naturally a part of who I am and what I believe in.

Tell us about your upcoming book. 

Manifesting Through Meditation, walks you through my four-step manifesting process for creating the life you dream of and has 100 specially curated meditations to assist you in transform your life from the inside out. This book is great for anyone who wants to begin a meditation process or for those who are ready to utilize their meditation practice to start consciously creating their life. 

How did UConn prepare you for where you’re at today? 

I definitely learned a strong work ethic from my time at UConn that I still have today. I also received a lot of critical feedback and learned how to believe in myself in the face of adversity from my time earning a BFA at UConn. 

Where do you find your inspiration? 

My inspiration comes from following what lights me up, honoring my soul’s desires and you bet… my meditation practice! 

Describe a time you took a risk. Did it pay off? If not, what lesson did you learn?

My whole career has been a huge risk. Being willing to create your own path and march to the beat of your own drum when there’s not a well-worn path in front of you can be terrifying. It has paid off beyond my wildest dreams and continues to do so as long as I keep taking risks!

What’s your favorite UConn memory?

My favorite memory at UConn was getting to perform in a play called “4:48 Psychosis” by Sarah Kane. It was a three-woman cast and the experience embodying such a deeply disturbed and complex character was one that made me feel so alive. That play and working with its director, Christin Kennelly, was such a highlight of my time at UConn and brought me such confidence in my work.

What advice do you have for today’s students or emerging entrepreneurs? 

Follow your passion. Ignore what you “think” is going to make you money and pursue the thing that sets your soul on fire. Use your time at UConn to try out different things, take different classes, create things in your spare time and explore what that thing you feel deeply drawn to doing is. PS. – Don’t be scared if no one else is doing it yet either – maybe you are meant to create it!

What advice do you have for young future female entrepreneurs when it comes to work/life balance?

There is no such thing as balance! Stop chasing some perfect way of doing things, it doesn’t exist. You have to take care of your body – eating healthy, sleeping enough, getting sunshine and movement – you need to remember that NOTHING works when YOU don’t work. So do your best to keep yourself in working order but realize that sometimes your passion, your project and your calling will have you putting in more time than the average bear. That’s okay!

Describe a professional moment you are most proud of, and why? 

Being on “The Taste” on ABC and having Anthony Bourdain call me his favorite vegetarian was very cool. I think I’m most proud of being on that show because it took so much courage and belief in myself to hang with so many extraordinarily talented chefs who already had a slight bias to my healthy cooking and get them to open their mind.

Which business tool or resource do you recommend to others, and why? 

I recommend two Steven Pressfield books, “The War of Art” and “Turning Pro” to any entrepreneur or ambitious individual out there. He talks all about honoring our creative calling, showing up to our work and beating the resistance and fear that we all inevitably face.

Of course, I obviously also recommend Manifesting Through Meditation, because that is the secret sauce to everything I have been able to create in my life thus far!

What are you passionate about outside of work?

I am passionate about traveling, exploring other places, countries, cultures, food, traditions, etc. It’s expansive and soul nourishing for me. Travel is such medicine and gives such great perspective in my experience.

Co-Founder of CivilTalk

Matt invented Smartwell, a flavored and sparkling water dispenser, and subsequently started his first company, Voda, around this idea. Dubbed the “next generation water cooler,’’ Matt sold Voda in 2019 and went to work on his second startup, CivilTalk. Hearing his mom’s frustration with the combative nature of social media, Matt wanted to find a way for people to have a voice online without the noise of trolls and negative comments. Matt and his team developed CivilTalk with a mission to connect people with each other so they can listen, learn and collaborate on solutions without the fear of being shut down or drowned out. Users are required to prove their identity before joining and choose who they engage with. With CivilTalk, the focus is on issues and solutions, not political parties.

Matt got his start in entrepreneurship with guidance from the School of Business, School of Engineering and UConn’s Technology Incubation Program (TIP), which provided a home base for Voda along with support with a business plan, investor pitches and connections with potential investors and business partners. He was also one of the first graduates of the School of Business’ Innovation Quest (iQ), a competition that helps students turn their ideas into a business. (Click here to take a look at the most recent iQ winners). 

Matt Cremins is doing things WerthWatching:

• Launched his first startup while a student at UConn
• Sold that company in less than six years
• Co-founded a new online community creating change through civil discussion

What was it about starting a company that appealed to you? 

The opportunity to make a difference, and in the case of CivilTalk, help our country ascend from the current hostile and divisive political climate.

How did UConn prepare you for the field you are in today? 

UConn exposed me to entrepreneurship and how to take an idea and turn it into a product, and ultimately start and grow a company.

What’s your favorite UConn memory?

UConn men’s basketball winning the 2011 NCAA Championship. I watched every game of the tournament with my friends, and I remember being in Gampel for the finals and the atmosphere was once in a lifetime.

Where do you find your inspiration? 

My desire to do good in the world and to give back for the amazing life I have had and continue to have. It’s such a gift to be alive and enjoy life…I feel the best thing you can do with your life is to give back in some way. I do that through entrepreneurship.

How do you define success? 

Success is an inner peace in knowing that you gave your entire effort to achieve a goal. It’s not the result if the goal was achieved or not, but the inner peace knowing you gave it your all.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received, in business or in life? 

Everyone gets knocked down at some point – be someone who gets up again and again.

What advice do you have for today’s students or aspiring entrepreneurs? 

Seek the advice and support of great mentors. At UConn, the mentor network is incredibly giving and wants to help – take advantage of that opportunity!

What advice do you have for fellow Huskies, especially as they navigate the changing business landscape? 

I would say remember what Wayne Gretzky said: “Skate to where the puck is going,” i.e. learn the skills that will be applicable in tomorrow’s world.

Do you have a professional moment you are most proud of? If so, why? 

Yes – the few weeks leading up to selling my first company, Voda, were extremely stressful. I was negotiating the sale terms and learning many M&A topics and legalese on the fly. I’m proud of how I navigated those stressful times to a great outcome.

What’s next for you? 

I am the co-founder of CivilTalk, a civic engagement service that is helping our country ascend from the current hostile and divisive political climate. Our amazing team has been working on CivilTalk for almost 3 years now, and we just launched! Time to grow!

Do you have any personal or professional goals you would like to reach? 

I would like to travel all around South America in the next few years!

What’s your favorite podcast at the moment? 

“How I Built This” by Guy Raz!

Co-Founder and COO, Encapsulate

Dr. Leila Daneshmandi is an Assistant Professor in Residence of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UConn School of Engineering and within the Biomedical Engineering Department. She is the co-founder and COO of Encapsulate, a biotech startup in cancer precision diagnostics that has raised over 1M in non-dilutive funding and that is conducting preclinical studies in partnership with Hartford Healthcare. Encapsulate has received numerous awards and accolades nationally and internationally including the prestigious Technology-in-Space Prize for $653k from the International Space Station US National Laboratory and Boeing. Leila is a Women of Innovation finalist, selected by the Connecticut Technology Council and Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology; has been awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year for Scalable Venture Award by the Connecticut Entrepreneur Awards; and was invited to give a TEDx Talk on her professional and personal journey. She holds five patents and has authored over 12 peer-reviewed publications. Leila currently teaches Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship I & II, an experiential entrepreneurship course open to all students in Engineering, Business, and Digital Media and Design, and develops programs for student and faculty entrepreneurial growth and development within the school.

Dr. Leila Daneshmandi is doing things WerthWatching:

• Co-founder and COO of Encapsulate, a biotech startup offering a revolutionary technology in cancer treatment that grows patient-derived cancer cells outside of the body, and screens them against chemotherapeutic drugs so the oncologist can choose the most effective chemotherapy prior to treatment on an individualized basis
• Received the Technology-in-Space Prize from the International Space Station US National Laboratory and Boeing
• Awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year for Scalable Venture Award by the Connecticut Entrepreneur Awards

What got you interested in entrepreneurship?

I’ve always been curious, passionate about learning, and have had a problem-solving solution-seeking mindset. I think more than anything entrepreneurship is about having that problem-solving mindset and willingness to learn and grow. I took a course in entrepreneurship, the same course I’m teaching now, Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship. There I was asked to form a team with students from different backgrounds to work on an idea, a company, which eventually grew to become Encapsulate.

What led you to cancer treatment technology?

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the US and worldwide. Approximately 40% of the US population will have cancer at some point in their life. That means one person per every household. At the same time, there’s been an increase in the number of drugs that are available to treat cancer. The issue in cancer treatment isn’t the unavailability of effective drugs. It’s getting the right drug to the patient, in time, to maximize their chances of having a successful treatment. 

Where do you find your inspiration? 

I get inspired by people, stories and working towards a bigger purpose.

Describe a time you took a risk. Did it pay off? If not, what lesson did you learn?

Well, if there’s a risk you want to mitigate it as much as possible so that the decision you make in the end is as informed as possible and not by chance. For the risks that I’m thinking of right now, at the time I learned as much as I could about the situation. Part of this is admitting what you don’t know and are not as well-informed in, so you can seek help from outside resources (books, people, peers, mentors) to educate yourself. It all falls under identifying and filling in the gaps for the “known unknowns” of the situation – things we know that we don’t know and trying to minimize the “unknown unknowns” – things we don’t know that we don’t know – by extending our knowledge on the situation as much as possible.

How did UConn prepare you for where you’re at today? 

I owe a huge part of where I am today to UConn. I’ve spent most of my 20s at UConn from when I first came for grad school, so it definitely has had an influence on who I am. I’ve met some incredible people here that have been mentors to me throughout my professional journey and I also started my start-up at UConn and begun my entrepreneurship journey here. My PhD definitely instilled a go getter attitude in me, to take on problems that come my way, and to do my absolute best to find a solution for them. I also learned a lot of hard and soft skills throughout my PhD, the courses that I took, and through building my own company including research, critical thinking, project and people management, resilience, empathy, independence and communication.

What’s your favorite UConn memory?

Favorite memory from UConn would be the graduation ceremony. We were fortunate to have an in-person ceremony this year where we got to wear our gowns and walk. I wasn’t able to attend my undergraduate graduation ceremony and so it was very special to me. Other than that, fun times in the lab with my lab mates.

What advice do you have for today’s students or emerging entrepreneurs? 

I would say be curious, have an open mind and question everything. Be willing to learn and grow. And stay humble. And kind.

Describe a professional moment you are most proud of, and why? 

Hmm, there’s a lot actually. Being awarded the Technology in Space prize from the International Space Station and Boeing was a proud moment at MassChallenge Boston, especially because of everything that went into putting the application together. I, myself, am proud of my TEDx Talk and how I talk about the human behind all these accomplishments and throughout this journey.

Which business tool or resource do you recommend to others, and why? 

Keep track of all your projects and goals, both long-term and short-term, prioritize and plan around them. Take notes from your meetings with mentors or peers who offer feedback on your work so you can go back to them. And use LinkedIn to reach out and extend your network. 

What are you passionate about outside of work?

Human rights, hiking, nature and woodworking.