Want To Get Past The Small Talk? This Kellogg MBA Student Can Help

A crowd at a corporate event where Leigh Miron and Kalina Silverman spoke about Big Talk. Courtesy photo

KELLOGG’S ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT

Originally studying human biology, Miron dreamed of being a doctor as a kid. Wanting to explore more of the business side of healthcare before going into medicine, Miron got a job at Deloitte following graduation from Georgetown University where she worked in the healthcare strategy practice. During this role, she realized her passion for business and worked there for two years as she and Silverman launched Big Talk.

“I realized that while I was having amazing experiences and learning a lot on my own, I needed to build my foundational business knowledge that my human biology background didn’t give me,” she says. “That was when I decided it was time to get my MBA. As I started researching different programs, I fell in love with Kellogg.”

Drawn to the high-impact, low-ego mandate offered by Northwestern’s B-school, Miron is not only honing her entrepreneurial skills, but also her leadership confidence. She has joined Kellogg’s Entrepreneurial Organization to connect with subject matter experts, entrepreneurs, and speakers who talk about different areas between digital marketing and launching ventures.

Plus, as she continues to develop Big Talk with the help of peer and academic support, Miron hopes to apply to the Zell Fellows program in 2021: A tight-knit community that offers tailored programming, mentorship and networking that prepares students to receive funding.

“We want to move from a workshop model to an actual scalable platform that has educational components and a wide variety of associated activities that help to promote behavioral change. We want to change company culture by changing how people communicate. I feel supported by Kellogg to make this happen.”

BUILDING EMPATHETIC LEADERS

While Big Talk has mainly grown through word of mouth, Silverman’s wildly popular Ted Talk, social media, and the Big Talk cards that sell through Amazon, the company has been profitable from the start. However, their new platform will require input from educational experts, behavioral psychologists, and organizational psychologists.

“We’ll need to pursue funding moving forward, and while I don’t necessarily know what that’s going to look like yet, I am comforted knowing that we have so many resources available through the school and through different professors that will help us navigate that process.”

In addition to the educational platform, Silverman and Miron are hoping to create a program that certifies companies as Big Talk companies to build inclusive bottom to top environments in the workplace.

“I’m learning that business school is about more than just building an idea, but building the leaders behind the idea and making sure that we have the diverse skill sets to be successful as entrepreneurs. I feel encouraged that with Big Talk — or whatever the endeavor may be — I’m building the skills that are going to make me a successful, holistic entrepreneur.”