Mentor

As a student working her way through undergrad and graduate school, Carol was looking for an opportunity—for a way to turn her hard work into a better life.

As a professional, she now gives back through collaborative work with her alma mater’s DePaul University and the University of Chicago—coordinating programs that give hard working young entrepreneurs the best gift they could ask for—an opportunity. With both universities, Carol is involved in programs that support the development of new business owners through financial support and expert guidance.

It was at her alma mater, DePaul University, where Carol learned many valuable lessons that would prove applicable in her professional and personal life. It was there, on the corner of Jackson and Wabash in downtown Chicago, that she got a crash course in grit, determination, and perseverance while commuting between the worlds of a student and an employee—learning firsthand the impact and rewards of hard work. During the day she worked at the Chicago Board of Trade for E.F. Hutton & Co., at night from six to nine she completed a full course load in DePaul’s challenging business program.

One of DePaul’s own, Carol keeps the connection healthy between herself and the university that helped start her career. At the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center—a hub populated by students, professors, and business leaders that acts as an incubator for the growth and development of groundbreaking businesses—she is a sitting Advisory Board member and is currently focused on the development of a mentorship program that will connect professional women with female students. Learn more about the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center, and see why Carol is such a passionate support of all they do to empower tomorrow’s entrepreneurs.

For Carol it was always an honor to have been accepted to the University of Chicago’s graduate program. From day one of her time there, she loved the culture of intelligence and ambition that thrived in both students and staff. While still a newly matriculated student, the innovation center on campus, that would evolve into the current Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, was just being formed. Carol watched with increasing interest as the center grew and began to offer invaluable support to young entrepreneurs from every school and discipline.

Today, Carol is proud to support the Polsky Accelerator program, a mini incubator for entrepreneurial students with budding business ventures that gives them access to mentors and financial support. It’s here that students brimming with passion and ambition are paired with experienced, pragmatic professionals ready to offer guidance and advice. Learn more about the Polsky Accelerator Program, and see what happens when an innovation center connects passion with practicality.