During the 2024-25 year, early-stage Booth MBA founders will have the opportunity to convene monthly as a group with Entrepreneur in-Residence Mia Saini Duchnowski.

These monthly meetups will help founders advance their ventures, be inspired, and connect with their peers. In these 1-hour long sessions, the group will cover entrepreneurial frameworks, models, and strategies for those students who are in the early stages of their founder journey. The sessions will be held in-person only from 12pm-1pm on October 24, November 7, December 5, January 16, February 13, March 27, April 24, and May 8 from 12pm-1pm CST in person at the Harper Center. There is no option to join virtually. If you register to attend, we ask that you at a minimum be able to attend six of the eight sessions.

It’s lonely at the top and often early-stage founders have the same practical questions when beginning to launch a venture. The group will walk through these questions and offer guidance. These sessions will rely heavily on the value of peer-to-peer sharing, collaboration, and support. There will also be one reading (an article) shared out in advance of each meeting, which you will be expected to read. Those readings will serve as an anchor for the discussion our group has around challenges you are facing with your startup.

While there is no blueprint for success, surrounding yourself with founders or founders-to-be can provide a sense of community and calm among the startup storm!

Guided by Mia Saini Duchnowski, Founder of skincare brand Oars + Alps, these sessions aim to foster genuine relationships among students that will give each student the opportunity to learn from, support, and inspire one another both personally and professionally.

These sessions are for Booth MBA students only.

For more information contact Kate Turvy at kate.turvy@chicagobooth.edu.