Despite growing up in Silicon Valley, I had no clue what all the pieces of the entrepreneurial ecosystem were and how they fit together and didn’t think it was relevant to my research. I not only learned a tremendous amount through the program that could apply to any pursuit, in academia or otherwise, but it introduced me to a world and peer group so intriguing that it set me on an entirely new and unexpected path. Simply put, applying to this program was the most consequential decision of my career.

STVP’s fellow’s program demystified the startup process with guests who are veterans in everything from legal and IP to marketing and fundraising. It also showed a different way to success, where kindness doesn’t have to be at odds with velocity. We formed deep connections as a cohort, and many of us went on to start companies. Those connections have become invaluable. These are the people I have on speed dial whenever I need a sounding board.

The program taught me many aspects of creating and building a company, but the most important thing I took away from the program was the entrepreneurial mindset and applying it to company building and my personal life. Using the mindset has helped me be decisive in my career choices by learning to be more comfortable with ambiguity and being confident in my ability to learn.

One of the most valuable aspects of the fellow’s program for me was the human connection: to connect with like-minded individuals. Unlike an award or a big milestone, the fellowship wasn’t a one-time thing but an ongoing engagement that reinforced innovation/entrepreneurship can mean different things for each of us – it’s not a monolith. Each of us has our own path and journey. The fellowship helped me see innovation not as a single leap, but as a series of small, steady steps. Looking back, it helped me develop valuable habits, and the friendships and connections I formed continue to be incredibly rewarding.

The fellow’s program is the most impactful program I have had the opportunity to be a part of. The skills we learned and practiced are ones I continue to use regularly in my work and personal life. They are applicable to any environment — academia, industry, early-stage startups. From learning to create and be deliberate about team culture, to managing difficult conversations, to understanding fundraising and contracts, it allowed us to be better equipped to recognize, pursue, and deliver on opportunities no matter where they lie.

STVP gave me the tools, frameworks, and network to launch a company from my graduate research. When I entered the Stanford PhD program, I dreamed of leveraging my research to launch a consequential climate company – but had no idea what mattered or how to make it happen. After completing the program, I had a trusted network of advisors and the key first steps to launch Resonant Link with a solid foundation.

The STVP fellows program was one of the most formative experiences I had at Stanford, both in terms of understanding what it means to be an entrepreneur in practice and in providing me with an incredible cohort of similarly minded peers who I am lucky to still count as close friends and supporters today.