The Business & Entrepreneurship (B&E) Clinic stands out as a program that offers free business advice and services to Wisconsin-based small businesses and entrepreneurs. Established in August of 2013, the clinic, funded by the Wisconsin School of Business and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), has thrived under the leadership of Director Michael Williams, a seasoned financial and operations executive with over 23 years of experience.
Michael, along with a dynamic team of MBA students and senior-level undergraduates, includes consultant Barry Shepherd (Fellows ’24), who undertakes the various projects that these businesses require. Barry, who initially pursued an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina State University before transferring to UW-Madison, has become an important part of the B&E Clinic. Graduating with his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2017, Barry transitioned into the Wisconsin School of Business MBA program in September 2022, expanding his focus from engineering to marketing and the business world.
Reflecting this shift, Barry expresses, “In engineering, I was always so deep inside the product itself and I always wanted to start my own business. I realized that I needed more business-customer centric training to be able to do that.” Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Barry knew that he eventually wanted to do the same. The B&E Clinic posed as a great opportunity for Barry to apply the business skills taught in his MBA classes to the issues that startups and small businesses face in the real world through the mentorship of Michael Williams.
Barry seamlessly integrated into his role as a consultant at the Clinic, aided by his prior experience at Intuit, which laid out the business framework for his knowledge. While this experience was initially daunting, Barry notes: “I think in the beginning it was, just because I didn’t really know what to expect. But now, everyone has been just so grateful to have the help and now when we have meetings with a new client it is exciting. We are generally confident that we are able to help them in some way and they are appreciative.”
The B&E Clinic takes pride in serving its clients at various stages in their ventures, tailoring solutions to meet their needs even if they just meet once. Some, such as the Oh Happy Day Class (OHDC), are recurring clients that are continually evolving in their business that Barry is always happy to consult with. The clinic, with three consultants: Barry Shepherd, Hector Aviles, and Shokhrukh Shodiev, works hard to assign each client with a consultant that can pair with their individual skill sets and expertise. Barry’s background in Mechanical Engineering provides tactical skills, while his marketing experience adds a creative dimension. As a student, he feels confident in offering creative solutions and relates well to clients, emphasizing: “Half of our clients were students themselves…And on the other end, there are UW grads, or Ph.D. students that needed help with starting a business or people with no affiliation with UW-Madison, so it really varies.”
This student staff serves an important role as consultants, leveraging their business backgrounds and experiences to foster success in the businesses they collaborate with. With each person’s individual knowledge, they can bring unique expertise to the clinic. In addition to Michael’s hiring and training experience with these students, it is clear to see that the services that the B&E clinic can offer are invaluable.
Expressing gratitude to the Clinic, Barry looks forward to applying his knowledge in the Weinert Applied Ventures in Entrepreneurship (WAVE) class. Collaborating with his future business partner, Amber Bushey, Barry aims to develop a virtual reality game, showcasing the breadth of his skills acquired through his experiences. Looking forward, with the B&E Clinic standing as a key piece in his entrepreneurial interest, Barry is eager to channel his entrepreneurial spirit into his future endeavors.
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