Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring CEOs And Co-Founders
Bill, CEO & Co-Founder at Wild One, suggests entry-level roles in consulting, finance, or banking provide a "solid foundation of analytical skills," though it's not mandatory to remain in those fields. Alternatively, startups, marketing, and tech offer rich opportunities, advising that early career exploration should focus on gaining experience and identifying "what aspects of a job or industry are not attractive."
Analytical Skills, Business Experience, Startups, Marketing, Career Exploration
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Bill Wells
CEO & Co-Founder
Wild One
University of Pennsylvania
UCLA Anderson MBA
Economics
Apparel, Beauty, Retail & Fashion, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. A foundation in analytical skills and business experience from fields like consulting, finance, or banking can be valuable, but it's not mandatory for a career in startups or related fields.
2. Entry-level positions in startups, marketing, and tech offer rich opportunities, but it's crucial to choose a company with good traction and alignment with your goals.
3. Early career experiences help you discover not only what you like but also what you don't, enabling you to focus on areas where your skills and interests align, making the most of your energy and passion
Transcript
Q10: Entry-level positions
What entry-level positions in this field might an undergraduate college student consider?
Rewinding to my initial career search and first four years in consulting, I think that was a really valuable learning experience and early career path. By no means do you have to stay in consulting, finance, banking, or similar intensive professional services tracks forever.
However, those roles do provide a solid foundation of analytical skills, business experience, and exposure to many things you might not otherwise encounter. Generally, I recommend those paths, but don't get stuck in them if they aren't what you ultimately want to do.
Outside of those fields, there's a lot of rich opportunity in startups and marketing. Many tech roles and similar positions are also available. If you join a startup, make sure it's something you truly align with and that has good traction or trajectory.
It's hard to go wrong in your very early career stage. It's all about gaining experience and learning about your field. Critically, you also learn what you don't like and which aspects of jobs or industries aren't attractive to you. This allows you to focus more on what you do enjoy and where your skills shine the most, giving you the most energy.