Student-made bread, challah and jewelry abound on the Whitman campus. Although student entrepreneurship may be booming, it is often hard to imagine that those who receive their degrees at a liberal arts school will put their entrepreneurial experience to good use in a future career.
In reality, exploring entrepreneurship can help create a skill set that will enhance the effects of a liberal arts education. Assistant Dean for Student Engagement Noah Leavitt is insistent on the importance of an entrepreneurial approach in all aspects of life. Just weeks ago, interest was shown in the development of an alumni network specifically applicable to entrepreneurship. The SEC has plans to get one up and running, as well as to bring successful alumni to campus.
“We are very excited to be sponsoring the Nov. 9 visit of Whitman alumni Chantal Valentine ’96 and her husband, Shane, who are successful entrepreneurs in the burgeoning healthy baby food industry and will have a special lunch workshop for students who are interested in how entrepreneurs develop small businesses like theirs,” said Leavitt.
Leavitt noted that many Whitman alumni succeed with their ideas in the national marketplace. Michael Winnike ’07 started Happy Goat Caramel in the Bay Area, a company that makes Kosher, free-range goat milk caramels and other sweets. Alumni products like these come full circle; not only are they sold nationwide at well-known establishments such as Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table, but they are also sold at the Whitman College Bookstore. Winnike, along with many other Whitman grads, benefited from the liberal arts education as well as entrepreneurial experience.
While selling homemade bread and jewelry may be a good way to make money during college, those who do so do not necessarily go on to own a small business. It is the experience and the skills learned that will be effective in the long run.
“It is important to think of entrepreneurialism as an approach and not just as a job title. Rather, we should all think about being entrepreneurial no matter what we’re trying to do,” said Leavitt.
