ESTEEM Class of 2027 in Chicago
Just under two hours from Notre Dame sits Chicago, a city shaped by movement and industries that stretch far beyond a single sector. The ESTEEM Class of 2027 traveled to the third-largest city in the United States to step outside the classroom and explore opportunities waiting so close to campus. Through conversations with entrepreneurs and industry leaders, visits to companies across healthcare, finance, and technology, and time spent with ESTEEM alumni, the trip offered a glimpse into the many ways innovation can take form and the many directions an entrepreneurial career can lead.
Our day began with an early departure from Innovation Park before arriving in the heart of downtown Chicago for a panel discussion hosted by ESTEEM professor Brian Bar. The panel brought together professionals from a range of industries and career backgrounds, giving the class an early look at the variety of paths available within entrepreneurship and startups. What stood out most was hearing about the leaps of faith many of the panelists had taken throughout their careers, and seeing where those decisions had ultimately led them. For a room full of students still figuring out what our own paths may look like, hearing those stories firsthand was both enlightening and inspiring.
From there, the class split into three groups to visit Tempus AI, Portal Innovations, and Tastytrade. I had the opportunity to visit Tastytrade, a financial brokerage and technology company, where ESTEEM alumnus Gad Nishimwe gave us a tour of the office and introduced us to teams across risk, trading, software development, and research. We also had the chance to see Tastytrade’s production studios, offering a glimpse into another side of how the company communicates and engages with its community. What made the visit especially memorable was seeing how passionate each team was about its work and how that energy carried across very different parts of the company.
Next, we made our way to Google, where we were hosted by ESTEEM alumnus John Flatley, and met with a panel of employees working across data privacy, AI governance, and related areas. The panelists had taken very different paths to Google, including several Notre Dame alumni, yet many had gone on to build long careers within the company. They shared practical advice on navigating career decisions and approaching the job search in an ever-evolving job market. Afterward, we toured the office, including its cafe and rooftop, before breaking into smaller groups with the panelists. The more informal setting gave the students the opportunity to ask more personal questions, hear more about individual career journeys, and continue conversations in a much more relaxed setting before wrapping up our final company visit of the day.
We ended the day over Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, where students had the chance to mingle with ESTEEM alumni from across the Chicago area in a more laid back environment. Their stories offered one final reminder of just how versatile an ESTEEM degree can be. “Coming from a technical background, I always thought my career would have to lean either technical or business. Talking with the alumni and professionals throughout the day made me realize there are so many opportunities that combine both, including careers I had never really considered before,” said current ESTEEM student Joshua Toubia.
As we made our way back to Notre Dame, we left Chicago with new perspectives on the opportunities ahead. While none of us knows exactly where our paths will lead, the day gave us plenty to think about as we continue shaping what comes next.
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About the ESTEEM Graduate Program:
Over the course of this 11-month Master of Science degree (in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship) program at the University of Notre Dame, students from technical backgrounds are equipped with the skills and experience to launch new businesses, become innovators within large corporations, and be leaders of dynamic, innovative teams. Students are immersed in an entrepreneurial sandbox, where they get their hands dirty with entrepreneurship and innovation through a cutting-edge curriculum, a capstone commercialization project for an emerging technology, and outstanding out-of-the-classroom experiences.
To learn more about the ESTEEM Graduate Program or to apply please go to our website.