With Biomedical Science and Enterprise Degree, Graduate Plans to Pursue Entrepreneurship

Shivani Patel didn’t let the global pandemic hold her back from following her dreams. While working hard to master online classes, she launched her own social commerce business and landed a coveted internship at Procter & Gamble in Fayetteville, Ark.

Now she’s graduating a semester early from the Biomedical Science and Enterprise bachelor’s program in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences and the Honors College, and she already has a full-time account executive position at Procter & Gamble.

“My role is very entrepreneurial,” Patel said. “I get to manage a massive business account and learn a lot about the business world. I’m excited for that as a starting point for my end goal, which is to be a full-time entrepreneur.”

Patel has a passion for business because her parents are hotel owners. She started college at 17 as an undeclared business major. To make herself more competitive, she wanted to find a concentration, and she came across the newly launched Biomedical Science and Enterprise program.

“I pursued this degree to figure out what area I want to tap into,” Patel said. “I had exposure to ethics, law, business and entrepreneurship courses. It allowed me to be very well rounded. That’s what interested me.”

The pandemic had a significant impact on Patel’s academic experience. During her first year, she was active on campus until everyone was sent home. One and a half years of her schooling was fully online. Sophomore year was extremely challenging because online classes weren’t an ideal way of learning for her, she said.

Patel made the best of the circumstances and applied to the Honors College, getting accepted for her sophomore year. She also took extra classes over the summer, allowing her to graduate early.

She knew she needed to gain valuable experience to achieve her dream of becoming a businesswoman and later an entrepreneur. In fall 2020, she was accepted into Procter & Gamble’s Standout Emerging Leaders camp. At the end of the camp, she was offered an opportunity to interview for Procter & Gamble’s internship program and landed a spot.

During the 11-week internship with Procter & Gamble’s largest worldwide team, Patel worked as a sales intern on the baby care team. Her team’s customer was Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville, Ark. Patel worked with interns from across the country.

“They gave us real business problems that they were facing,” Patel said. “They presented us with a challenge growing a specific segment of their business. Then we had to provide creative business solutions, such as coming up with a new product, new size of product or marketing it differently in stores.”

Because of her excellent work during the internship, Patel was offered a full-time job, and she’s excited to start her professional career.

“The culture at P&G is awesome,” she said. “Having internship and real-world experience is extremely important.”

During the pandemic, Patel also took advantage of online business coaching, which empowered her to launch a social commerce business that she wants to continue growing. Ultimately, her goal is to become an entrepreneur and business coach.

Patel wants to thank her professors Zachary Saylor and Adani Pujada and academic adviser Paige Breuers for their instrumental support in her academic journey.

Photo by Carolyn Richardson