There are certain places that remind you not only where you have been, but why you continue to show up. For me, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo—and particularly the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE)—is one of those places.
My connection to Cal Poly has always been rooted in the university’s “Learn by Doing” philosophy. As a designer, entrepreneur and business owner, I believe some of our greatest education happens when ideas leave the page and encounter the realities of people, budgets, deadlines and unexpected pivots. That is exactly what the CIE encourages students to do.
For the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring and supporting Cal Poly’s young entrepreneurs, and every visit reminds me how energizing it is to be around people who are willing to ask, what if?
Meeting the Next Class of Entrepreneurs
On our latest visit to San Luis Obispo, we spent time with this year’s student cohort just before Demo Day—hearing their pitches, learning about the businesses and products they have been developing, and asking the kinds of questions they would soon hear from investors, industry leaders and the larger community.
What always strikes me is that while their projects may be completely different, the emotions behind them are universal. There is excitement and pride, certainly, but also the vulnerability that comes with standing in front of a room and presenting something you have poured yourself into.
I know that feeling well.
So rather than simply talking to them about business strategy, I wanted to talk about what happens before you walk onto that stage.
Before the Big Day
Our very casual presentation was really about helping students quiet some of the noise surrounding Demo Day. We talked about nerves, confidence, preparation and remembering that the audience is not waiting for you to fail—they are there because they want to hear what you have created.
I encouraged them to know their story rather than memorize a performance. Understand the problem you are solving. Know why you care about it. Be clear about what you are asking for. And perhaps most importantly, remember that a question you cannot immediately answer is not a failure. Curiosity and adaptability are part of entrepreneurship.
A pitch may last only a few minutes, but the work behind it represents months—and sometimes years—of learning, testing, adjusting and beginning again.
A New Home for Big Ideas
This visit was particularly meaningful because we also had the opportunity to celebrate the CIE’s new building on Chorro Street.
There is something powerful about seeing an entrepreneurial community gain a physical home that reflects the ambition of the work happening inside it. The new space feels collaborative, energetic and intentionally designed for connection—exactly what emerging entrepreneurs need.
As an interior designer, I naturally believe our environments influence how we think, work and interact. A building cannot create innovation, but it can create the conditions for people to collide with new ideas, find collaborators, ask better questions and imagine something they might not have considered on their own.
That is what this new chapter represents to me.
Why I Keep Coming Back
Mentorship is often described as giving back, but I have never experienced it as a one-way exchange.
Every time I spend time with these students, I leave inspired by their willingness to experiment and their courage to put unfinished ideas into the world. They remind me that entrepreneurship is not about having every answer. It is about being curious enough to begin, resilient enough to adjust and confident enough to keep going.
Ten years into my relationship with Cal Poly CIE, that may be what I value most.
We arrived to hear about their projects, offer a little perspective before Demo Day and celebrate a beautiful new building. We left reminded that the future of entrepreneurship is already being imagined—and built—by a remarkable group of young people willing to take the first step.
And if we can help calm a few nerves, ask a meaningful question or give someone a little more confidence before they take the stage, I will happily keep making the trip back to San Luis Obispo.
Like what you see?
There's more where that came from.
