Insights

During my spring semester as a first-year MBA student at Duke, I wanted more than a typical class project. As someone building a company while pivoting into consulting, I was searching for something immersive, an experience that would stretch me as a strategist, founder, and leader. I wanted to understand what really makes a startup thrive—not just in theory but in practice. That is when I found CED’s Startup TNT Program.

From the moment I joined, I could feel it. This was not just an opportunity to observe. It was a space to contribute, shape, and build. I worked hand in hand with JP Maloney and Preet Mankad, two brilliant minds who were walking encyclopedias of knowledge, resources, and connections. What struck me most was how open they were, willing to answer every question, challenge every idea, and invest in my growth. That tends to be the hardest part about succeeding in the startup world, knowing who to go to, and having people around who genuinely want to help you grow. At CED, that access was constant.

This experience did not just live in strategy documents or meetings. I was in the room. I sat at a board meeting, hearing from the leaders who built the Triangle’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. I had direct access to founder stories and strategy, learning what it takes behind the scenes to go from idea to execution. I supported both backstage and on stage at Venture Connect, watching the magic unfold while also helping execute it behind the scenes. The energy, the ideas, the stakes, it was real, and I loved every second of it. Turning vision into something tangible, that was my favorite part.

Startup TNT was not about checking boxes. It was about transformation. I learned what it takes to support a founder beyond capital, structure, clarity, strategy, and people who believe in your vision. I saw how high-performing teams operate when driven by mission and metrics. And I got to practice communicating value, aligning stakeholders, and translating complexity into action.

These are the exact skills I will take with me into consulting, helping businesses scale with precision and purpose, and into Women’s Space, the platform I am building to transform how women experience leadership and psychological safety in the workplace.

This experience gave me clarity, not just on what I want to do, but how I want to do it. The CED programs team trusted me. I was treated like a co-worker and a thought leader, not just an intern. And that made all the difference.

If you are looking for an experience where you will grow as a strategist, learn the real ins and outs of the startup world, and leave with the confidence to lead, Startup TNT is where you want to be.

Ogechi Onyeukwu is a first-year MBA student at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Her anticipated graduation date is May 2026.