School of Business Alumni Embrace the Entrepreneurial Spirit

Jefferson helps students innovate and succeed in a world where business as usual no longer reflects our reality.

“The entrepreneurial mindset of risk-taking innovators has greatly impacted the U.S. economy,” says School of Business Dean Dr. Philip Russel. “We focus on entrepreneurial thinking through a dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum drawing from innovative design principles. Our program offers critical business knowledge, necessary soft skills and valuable networking opportunities required for identifying and launching successful startups.”

These inspiring alumni stories show the true power of a cutting-edge education coupled with passion, perseverance and an eye on the greater good.

A Fashion Career Built on Solid Business Basics
As businesses reopened after the worst of the pandemic, Melasia Pinder saw an opportunity to produce events focused on local arts and creativity. Her first event, the Almost Famous Art Market, showcased creative entrepreneurs and vendors selling clothes, jewelry, art, accessories, home goods and more.

Now, Almost Famous produces markets, fashion shows, festivals, panel discussions, clothing swaps and other events. A 2020 fashion management and merchandising alumna, Pinder credits part of her success to her education and experience at Jefferson.

“I got such a breadth of experience—from collaboration and event management to learning key skills like accounting, graphic design and product placement,” she says. “I learned how to create professional presentations, design marketing materials and more. These skills have proven incredibly useful to my business, especially in the early days when I did everything from finance to marketing by myself.”

Post-Graduate Education With a Focus on Networking
Jefferson’s business curriculum supports developing an entrepreneurial, creative and innovative mindset. Some alumni use this approach to improve existing business practices. For example, alumnus Rohit Murthy took his master’s in textile marketing and management back to his family business, PVRInternational, in southern India.

“Through my education at Jefferson, I started to understand how things work from the customer end, which helped improve our business on the manufacturing end,” says Murthy, PVRInternational managing partner and the first in his family to get a post-graduate education. “I gained experience in design, retail, fabric testing and more.”

The connections Murthy made at Jefferson also proved invaluable, says the Class of 2012 grad. “The textile industry depends a lot on networking, and many people in the apparel industry graduated from Jefferson. Knowing someone goes a long way.”

Hands-On Experience With a Mentor
For alumna Janine Cascio, connecting with a mentor gave her an edge in her career. She got involved in private lending after graduating with a degree in accounting in 2015. After learning about the business from her mentor, Cascio branched off and started her own business, Simplending Financial.

The intimate nature of Jefferson’s classes allowed Cascio to get a lot of hands-on experience and attention. “The professors created an environment for students to excel,” she says. “Even as a student, I attended conferences and connected with others in the financial industry to help me learn as much as possible.”

Key Takeaways
For students looking to start their own business, Cascio suggests staying curious and asking many questions, even after you graduate. “Learn as much as possible and find a mentor to lean on as you grow your business,” she says.

Pinder has similar advice: “Study everything you can in college. Some courses may not seem directly relevant to your major, but they will all help you in the long run. Plus, seek real-world experiences outside the classroom, and always harness the connections you’ve made with professors and other students.”