Panelists Tom Denison (C'83), Caroline Aptaker, and Stuart Jenkins (US'78, C'83) enjoy a moment of laughter on stage.
At Principia College, the study of entrepreneurship is a hands-on, career-building journey that changes how students think about their skillsets and their futures. Built by students for students, the recent Entrepreneurship Panel, hosted at the Hive, (formerly the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation), was a powerful springboard for student organization, creativity, career readiness, and real-world experience.
Offering a wealth of insights, strategies—and in some cases, shortcuts—panelists Stuart Jenkins (US’78, C’83), Caroline Aptaker, and Tom Denison (C’83) were hand-picked, home-grown Principia alumni and friends. For students, it was especially meaningful to see that these experts—who have walked the same halls and lived in the same dorms—are now powerful innovators behind the ideation, creation, and funding of globally impactful businesses.
The event was more than a gathering of brilliant minds; it was a launchpad for career readiness—helping to pave the way for successful ventures beyond graduation. As budding entrepreneur and College senior Christian Tresoldi (C’25) said, “We’re giving students experience they can actually put on their resumes. This is about transferable skills—it’s about jumpstarting what’s next for us.”
From inception to the final showcase, the panel was envisioned, designed, and run entirely by students. They created the event, chose the panelists, conducted the research, and selected the theme based on the book From Zero to One, by Peter Thiel, which outlines strategies for not only imagining, but building successful startup ventures.
“The students didn’t just help—they led,” said Associate Professor of Business Administration and Faculty Director of the Hive at Principia College, Lucia de Paz (US’96, C’00). “The students strategized, built the brand from scratch, planned the campaign, and brought their vision to life. This is exactly what we want to give them—real transferable experience.”
As de Paz said, “I’m more of the coach and enabler. The students are the drivers.” And they’ve been driven since winter break, perfecting every detail of the event. From developing the panel to planning the menu, designing the logo and typography, to marketing and implementing social media management, students were granular, involved, and managed every aspect of the production.
And the impact was enormous. The event drew over 150 attendees, including scholars, burgeoning entrepreneurs from Principia Upper School—and even students sneaking in because the event was so popular. The panel quickly became the go-to hub of innovation, inspiration, organic networking, and good, old-fashioned know-how.
Beyond knowledge, the panel planted (and watered) the seeds of a growing entrepreneurial generation who are hungry for outside-the-box thinking and strategies to engineer and incorporate measurable steps to launching a meaningful venture.
As Tresoldi put it, “We weren’t just creating an event. We were building our resumes, our confidence, and our future careers.”
Click here to watch the Entrepreneurial Panel from Zero to One.