MBA Startups: From Carnegie Mellon To A Winning Idea

One thing that I would like to see improve not just at Tepper, but at all top business schools is increased recruitment of MBA candidates who have entrepreneurial profiles. Such profiles can look quite different than the typical consulting, I-banking or marketing profiles that tend to be focused on during admissions. I’d estimate that about 10% of my classmates were truly serious about building companies as opposed to merely playing around with the idea of entrepreneurship before ultimately going to get a job. I would love to see the day when that number grows to 20% or more.

My biggest lesson during this process is also my best advice for those who will follow in my footsteps. The most important thing to focus on in your entire business is building your core team. Your first five to six hires will create the feel and function of your company’s culture. If you choose wrong during that phase, the fall out might prove difficult to bounce back from. Be careful of who you bring on your team. The success of your company absolutely depends on it.

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