anyaberkut via iStockPhoto
Students’ ability to get hands-on experience in a business can be extremely helpful in developing real-world skills. Through student-run businesses, students take the initiative to get experiences which can help them grow and develop in numerous ways. By running a business, students get exposure to challenges they may face in future work situations, they may use the experience to test out their career interests, and finally these experiences can be used to differentiate students from other future job applicants by showing genuine initiative and entrepreneurialism. Rather than just learning in a classroom, students are gaining invaluable career skills by running their own businesses.
Vanderbilt students have taken advantage of the opportunity to participate in student-run businesses in numerous ways. One of Vanderbilt’s student businesses is Blackstar bed rentals. The mission of this company is to deliver and install full-sized beds to students. After all, isn’t sleep a key part of the student experience? This company is currently run by nine Vanderbilt students, and has been passed down via a sale process from past Vanderbilt students (current alumni). This company not only delivers to on-campus students, but also delivers and installs beds to those living off campus.
Interview with an Alum
We interviewed a Vanderbilt alum, Brady Chikara, class of 2024, current Investment Banking Analyst at CitiBank. He explained how working as a part of Blackstar helped him with his current job, and gave him important hands-on experience in the business field. When asked how his Blackstar experience aided his transition into his current job and gave him more knowledge of business, Brady said that “We all bought into the company as either sophomores or freshmen so there was a lot to learn and being able to overcome all the challenges a business presents is really valuable.” He also said that being able to “understand the financial side of business as well as keeping organized” has been an incredibly helpful skill for his current job. From this response, it is clear that being part of a student business has been a great way to transition into post-college work experience and learn important skills for the future.
Brady said that “time management and being able to put the necessary time into running Blackstar while juggling school work, job searches, and enjoying the social aspects of school was certainly a large learning curve.” He noted that since part of the company includes moving beds out at the end of the year, he had to juggle this with finals which is one of the busiest academic times of the year. To address this, he needed to strengthen time management skills and learn to balance the various things going on in his life.
Opportunities through Vanderbilt
Given all the positive aspects of taking part in a student-run business, Vanderbilt has begun to offer more and more opportunities for students to explore real world business ventures. Vanderbilt’s Wond’ry has created numerous opportunities for students and alumni to get involved in entrepreneurial ventures and develop ideas that might have commercial purposes. Vanderbilt also offers mentorship programs, networking opportunities, and various other programs to help students take initiative in the entrepreneurial world.
Concluding Thoughts
Taking part in a student-run business can help students gain invaluable skills, such as leadership, time management, and the ability to overcome difficult, real-world business problems. Furthermore, it gives students insights into career opportunities, helping them answer critical questions like: what are they good at and what do they enjoy doing? Vanderbilt’s is an ideal community to support these businesses, and students have been able to take advantage of this and create opportunities for themselves to enhance their knowledge of business and gain key skills for the future.
