George Lee ’18 Discusses the Private Equity Venture Capital Fellows Program

Victor Mullins, associate dean of the undergraduate program at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, recently interviewed  George Lee ’18 to discuss his involvement with Private Equity Venture Capital Fellows and how it is part of his SMITH JOURNEY.  Successful navigation of the Smith journey requires involvement with colleagues, professors, professionals, clubs and organizations here at the Smith School, across campus and in the outside “real” world of business. Here is what students are challenged to do in each of their four years at Smith:

Freshmen: “Build Your Brand” through the SmithStart program.

Sophomores: “Pioneer Your Path” to success by focusing on an overall academic and career strategy.

Juniors: ”Command Your Career” to ensure that you are well positioned for your professional journey.

Seniors: “Embrace Your Experience” with an arsenal of tools, knowledge and networks, so that you are able to embrace your experience and celebrate your success.

Dean Mullins: Tell us about your involvement with Private Equity Venture Capital Fellows. Why did you apply for it and what are you learning? 

George:  I applied for the Private Equity Venture Capital Fellows (PEVC) program because I have both current and past entrepreneurial experiences that I wanted to expand on in the classroom. I believed that this program would help me better understand the process of starting, growing and exiting a business. In class, I have learned how to value early stage companies, how to develop term sheets and navigate deal terms. More recently, I have learned the process of building a company from start to exit.

Dean Mullins: Tell us how your participation in Private Equity Venture Capital Fellows is helping and/or has helped you navigate the Smith journey.

George: The PEVC Fellows Program has helped me explore my entrepreneurial interests in much more depth. As there are a variety of careers in finance, I think I have found that growing a company from scratch to acquisition is something that I would really enjoy doing full time.

Dean Mullins: Reflect on your other involvements and activities here at Smith that have been a part of the Smith journey.

George: At Smith, I am involved heavily as a teaching assistant for BMGT340, corporate finance club and as the treasurer of CASH, the community of aspiring shareholders. I really enjoy helping students understand the basics of finance and investing as it is the core to any business, and serving as a teaching assistant and the treasurer of an investment club at Smith allows me to spread that knowledge.

Dean Mullins: What advice would you give to your fellow Smith peers and community?

George: I would advise my fellow Smith peers and community to definitely get involved in the various Smith clubs, Fellows Programs and events. These are very helpful for networking, meeting people with like-minded interests, and getting to know what your real passion is.

Dean Mullins: What is your dream?

George: My dream is to work full-time and grow my cybersecurity company, Dark Sonar (www.darksonar.com) which helps protect web and mobile applications from cyber threats. The ability to protect and help both people and organizations is something I can feel good about at the end of the day.  

Dean Mullins: Why are you passionate about the Smith School?

George:  The Smith school is a dynamic and diverse environment which allowed me to discover the various career opportunities and avenues that I could pursue. I am passionate that I’ve met lifelong friends at Smith who are on different journeys and being able to be part of each other’s journeys and the collaborative environment at Smith have really been the key to my experience here.

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Students in one of the Smith School’s many one-year Fellows programs join a cohort of like-minded peers to engage in an intense study of a specific area of business, ranging from major-specific topics such as finance and supply chain to general interests such as sport management or global consulting.

Out-of-the-classroom and reality-based learning experiences are at the forefront of the Fellows programs. Whether through special speakers, workshops, site visits, case competitions, or networking events with corporate partners and Smith alumni, students gain practical insights into the business community. 

Small class sizes in reserved Fellows sections of business courses are a hallmark of all Fellows programs, facilitating strong working relationships among Fellows students and the faculty who advise and teach in the programs. Students engage, explore, and experience the Smith Community through Fellows!

For more information on the 15 unique Fellows Programs available, go to:  Smith Fellows.