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During their second year at ������Ƶ, students begin to consider potential career paths to follow after graduation. The seemingly endless opportunities presented to them can be both exciting and overwhelming. Sophomore Connections provides a space for students to explore how different career paths unfold by attending panel discussions with experts.

The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (E&I) will be well-represented this year by a panel of five ������Ƶ alumni who were once in the same boat of uncertainty as the students. The panel features:

• Per Sekse ’78
• Andres Echenique ’83
• Omer Jilani ’93
• Taylor Buonocore ’08
• Tim Burkly ’10
• Peter Bertone ’20

For many of these panelists, giving back to their alma mater is rooted in the mentorship they received at ������Ƶ and how it benefited their respective careers.

“As a student at ������Ƶ, I was lucky enough to land internships in banking that jump-started my career,” recalled Sekse. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without those experiences, and I’m grateful to the alumni who made them possible. Their willingness to give back and mentor students stuck with me for life.”

Burkly echoed Sekse’s sentiment, crediting a sophomore year shadowing experience that rerouted his professional goals, motivating him to do the same for current students. He also notes that he learns as much from the students as they do from him by mentoring.

This year’s team of alumni panelists is a great representation of how entrepreneurship is not a one-size-fits-all career path, but rather an umbrella term for those with a passion for collaboration, creativity, and leadership. Sekse is a strong example of a balanced entrepreneur. His vast experience includes public service and nonprofit work, serving as a fractional CFO for a ������Ƶ alumni-founded venture, and investing in “house flipping” real estate. Another panelist who is heavily involved with ������Ƶ’s E&I is Echenique. In addition to mentoring students, Echenique is a digital entrepreneur who utilizes AI tools to enhance product iteration. Currently, he is developing a word puzzle game. Along with Sekse and Echenique, Jilani is a mentor in E&I’s Thought Into Action (TIA) Incubator program. Jilani emphasizes the intersection of technology and partnerships in entrepreneurship, noting that he leads strategic partnerships at an AI advertising platform and co-founded an AI company.

The other panelists offer different perspectives on the transition from ������Ƶ to “real-world” entrepreneurship. Buonocore is highly experienced in facilitating discussions at corporate conferences in addition to crafting teams and organizational systems across various industries. Burkly is working on a financial software company that he co-founded to help nonbank investors manage all aspects of investment in a venture.

All five representing E&I during the 2026 Sophomore Connections have skills in building partnerships, collaboration, and organization.

The goal of the panel is to introduce students to the world of entrepreneurship and what the field could lead to. The panelists emphasized building relationships, leveraging curiosity, and following the path with an open mind.

“Talk to everyone, because you never know where a conversation might lead … great relationships and opportunities often come from unexpected places,” said Buonocore of the importance of networking.

Jilani went further to advise students to utilize ������Ƶ’s vast alumni network for opportunities and connections as soon as they can. At the end of the panel, the speakers hope that students will have a better understanding of the networking, risk-taking, and problem-solving skills required to pursue a career in innovation.

Entrepreneurship, as emphasized by the panelists, is not limited to students who want to launch their own startup; it is a way of thinking that encourages creativity, adaptability, and collaboration across a multitude of professional fields. All speakers expressed a strong draw into the entrepreneurial world characterized by the freedom, challenge, and curiosity that comes with the field.

“At my core, I’m a creative person and a builder. I love imagining new things and organizing people and resources to bring ideas to life. That cycle of creation and development is what keeps me firmly rooted in entrepreneurship,” exclaimed Echenique.

More than anything, the panel intends to emphasize that entrepreneurship is less about starting something new and more about learning how to move forward when the path isn’t clear.