My PA at UW

My Project Assistant Role in the Business & Entrepreneurship Clinic has been a Defining Part of my MBA Experience

By Hannah O'Brien

April 9, 2020

As part of the MBA program and specifically within the marketing centers, students have the opportunity to apply to Teaching Assistant (TA) and Project Assistant (PA) roles in their second year. Each position provides a valuable experience and I had a strong interest in taking on one of these roles. I chose the PA position in the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship working as an MBA Student Consultant in their Business & Entrepreneurship Clinic. I saw this as the perfect opportunity to combine my consulting work experience, marketing education, and passion for entrepreneurship to help add value to local startups facing a variety of business opportunities.

Five people working at four long desks pushed together.

In my role as an MBA Student Consultant, I have been able to work closely with my partner, Nimi Ehr, from the MBA Operations and Technology Management specialization, and our Faculty Director, Michael Williams. Each month we attend a client intake session with our sister clinic from the UW Law School (The Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic) where we determine which entrepreneurs we can assist. We hired a team of four undergraduate business analysts who Nimi and I work with to perform research and produce deliverables for our clients.

Two women seating at a table talking together

I love this PA role in that I get to work with clients from a wide array of industries and business phases. Each client we have had is facing a different hurdle, yet each shares a passion for business and entrepreneurship. Fostering the development of our business analysts has also been a highlight as we have created a tight knit team and can leverage each other’s strengths. Some of the highlights this year have been:

  • Guided a travel company through the launch of their website and organization of their first group trip
  • Prepped a medical device company to pitch to VC’s to raise capital
  • Helped a consumer health product business determine which consumer segments to target
  • Created a marketing strategy for a resource recovery product launch via Kickstarter

My experience as a PA has rounded out my development and helped shape my MBA. I am grateful for the opportunity and will take my learnings with me into my next role at S.C. Johnson in marketing management and as I continue in my career.

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