ELS Program Inspires Student

Growing up working in her family’s food distribution business in Avon, Connecticut, Taryn Miller-Stevens (American Studies, 07), never imagined that the values she learned would be the catalyst for her desire to one day start her own business. For Miller-Stevens the fire that is her dream of moving to California and working with a start-up company has been stoked by the Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies (ELS) minor, which is currently being offered through the Gordon Institute at the Tufts School of Engineering. The minor is an opportunity for students of all majors to incorporate real world entrepreneurial business courses into their college experience.

The program includes courses in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Business Planning, Entrepreneurial Finance, and Entrepreneurial Marketing among others. "The classes focus on the subjects in a way one would encounter them in a fickle entrepreneurial environment," says Miller-Stevens. "However, the skills I have gained from the classes are not limited to use only when thinking of 'starting a business'. I have been able to apply what I have learned to various aspects of my life. These are classes that students from any discipline could definitely benefit from."

Miller-Stevens also emphasized that she enjoys the way the classes incorporate group work and an entrepreneurial atmosphere, "You are forced to interact with people as you would in a real company. You are taught life skills including effective communication, being part of a group, time management, and selling an idea."

As a member of the Womens Basketball team at Tufts, Miller-Stevens understands the value of teamwork and what it takes to be successful as a team. An especially rewarding aspect of the ELS program for Miller-Stevens has been seeing these values displayed in a classroom setting. Each ELS class has at least one group project assigned during the semester. It is during one of these projects, that Miller-Stevens learned the importance of compromising while working with a group. "When working on a team, you are always working collaboratively and must learn to depend on one another. Sometimes you have to adjust what you want and continue to work hard, even when you might not be in agreement with a business idea," she says. "The way the classes are oriented creates a high level of participation and progress."

When asked to name her favorite professor or course from the department, Miller-Stevens had difficulty answering; however, when pressed, she finally admitted that Jeremy Halperns Entrepreneurial Leadership class had been her favorite. "Professor Halpern truly pushed the class by overloading us with deadlines, assignments, and an excessive amount of group work. It was rigorous, and at times frustrating, but looking back, I can honestly say that it was the most rewarding class I have taken at Tufts." For their final group project, students were split into four teams, with one group acting as the "Investment and Consulting Team," while the other three teams each created a business concept and accompanying business plan. Miller-Stevens Investment and Consulting Team was responsible for creating a system to evaluate the leadership of the three teams, using this model to track the progress of the three ventures, and finally deciding if her team would invest in the business. This constant flow of group work and interaction throughout the course creates a unique atmosphere in the ELS classes.

Miller-Stevens, who graduates next spring, has aspirations to move to California and work in a start-up company in order to learn the ins and outs of starting a business. She hopes to utilize that opportunity to help her when she decides to start a business of her own. Based on her experience in her familys company as well as her education at Tufts, the senior states, "The excitement and the drive it takes to run a business has always been appealing. While I am unsure what kind of enterprise I would like to own and operate, I know that what I have gained from my Tufts Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies experience will surely help me as I move toward my entrepreneurial goal."