It is clear to me that the I&E certificate program has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my academic experience at Duke. I've learned that the journey of an entrepreneur is highly varied from person to person; individuals take extremely different paths in the entrepreneurial world to get to where they are today, and it is nearly impossible to perfectly plan that path and how to traverse it. I also learned about how isn't nearly sufficient to make just a really good product. There are so many more variables at play, and the foundation of a successful venture is extremely complex.

The program impacted my overall learning experience at Duke in an extremely profound way. It enhanced how I learned in all of my engineering classes by forcing me to look at design and innovation from a founder's and entrepreneur's perspective. I made sure to always connect the knowledge learned in engineering to I&E, and this enriched my overall learning as a result. Through these classes, I also learned about practical experiences rather than just theory or jargon.

Quickly into entering the program, I unexpectedly discovered rather quickly the benefit of the network of people, including professors and students, that I could tap into through my I&E classes. My professors have developed vast networks through their own entrepreneurial experiences and through staying in touch with prior students, and they made it clear that their network would benefit me as well. I also didn't expect how valuable it would be to talk with my I&E professors about my career path, where their own experiences as entrepreneurs and founders greatly informed many decisions I made throughout my time in the program.