This summer I conducted research for the Tamer Institute’s Inclusive Entrepreneurship Initiative, which seeks to expand equitable access to entrepreneurship. I used qualitative interviews to explore how identity, community, and structural barriers shape underrepresented founders’ business journeys. By documenting lived experiences, the project aims to inform the design of future research, such as surveys that capture meaningful metrics. The work advances the initiative’s mission by centering the voices of entrepreneurs who navigate limited access to networks, funding, and institutional support. Collaborating with Professor Dan Wang and a team of sociologists and business researchers gave me a multidisciplinary perspective on inclusive entrepreneurship.

As an MBA student I drew on business frameworks for decision‑making, entrepreneurship, and negotiations to interpret the challenges founders described. Strategy and economics classes helped me connect individual stories to broader patterns of market dynamics and resource constraints. My experience with MBA recruiting and networking provided a toolkit for conducting qualitative interviews: I adapted the open‑ended questions and rapport‑building techniques I use in career conversations to encourage entrepreneurs to share nuanced stories. This blend of business and social‑science perspectives allowed me to approach the research analytically and empathetically.

Logistics proved challenging. Securing time with busy entrepreneurs required persistence and flexibility. Developing interviewing skills beyond casual conversation was another learning curve; sociological interviewing demands careful pacing, trust building, and phrasing to elicit detailed responses while staying on track. Bridging the entrepreneurs’ immediate operational focus with the research emphasis on identity and systemic factors meant refining my questions and connecting their narratives to broader themes. Finally, synthesizing qualitative data required careful interpretation. Unlike quantitative analysis, qualitative work depends on context and narrative, which demands sensitivity and critical thinking.

The fellowship reinforced my belief that inclusive entrepreneurship must prioritize the experiences of underrepresented founders. Hearing their stories highlighted how inequities in capital access, networks, and support systems shape outcomes. The project improved my interviewing, synthesis, and cross‑cultural communication skills. It also deepened my interest in the intersection of venture capital and inclusion. I plan to pursue opportunities that use capital to expand opportunities for underrepresented founders and to build a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.