BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Two Illinois Wesleyan University physics majors, Roshan Prakash '24 and Joelle McMillan '25, attended the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sept. 22-25.
According to Associate Director for Career Engagement Patrick Zajac, this is the first time IWU students have attended the highly selective event.
“It is a testament to their skills, passions and dedication to impacting others,” Zajac said. “Forbes Under 30 is a gathering of renowned leaders from all across industries and the globe. Attendees are able to learn and network with individuals, participate in enriching workshops and grow professionally and personally.”
The Forbes 30 Summit is a four-day experience that featured speakers, performers and useful insights surrounding networking. Zajac said networking can be exciting and students should treat each opportunity as a chance to learn new concepts, skills or career possibilities.
Roshan Prakash is currently in his final year of the 3-2 program with IWU and Columbia University for computer engineering. Prakash said he had the chance to meet other attendees at the event and learn about their goals, as well as attend meeting tables where students were able to schedule one-on-one networking sessions with individuals whose careers sparked interest.
“I had the opportunity to connect with a diverse group of people, including investment bankers, startup founders and other students,” said Prakash.
Prakash said the chance to meet other undergraduate students at the event was “motivating and exciting,” allowing him to make meaningful connections with peers and build new relationships.
“Meeting them and hearing about their diverse interests and career ambitions was truly eye-opening,” said Prakash. “It allowed me to see the world from the perspective of many talented individuals. I also felt a strong sense of community throughout the event, as everyone was incredibly positive and friendly."
Prakash said he has always wanted to be an entrepreneur, despite the unknowns that can come with building a new venture.
“There are so many ‘what if’ situations that I wasn’t sure how to navigate, and without a clear-cut path, it felt like a daunting task to pursue,” he said, adding that the Forbes Summit helped relieve some of that uncertainty, broadening his perspective on various entrepreneurial fields he can explore.
Joelle McMillan, who is minoring in economics and environmental studies, said she appreciated the diversity at the summit as speakers, performers and other students “came from various backgrounds, cultures and identities, enriching the conversations and perspectives."
Attending the summit, McMillan said, offered invaluable insights into venture capital, policy and tech innovation, areas she is keen to pursue.
“My internship with Her Health AI has already emphasized the potential of emerging technologies in healthcare, and the summit reinforced my excitement for ventures like these,” she said.
Joining the Under 30 network of leaders who put forward advice and support provided McMillan with a boost of confidence to follow her entrepreneurship goals.
“The summit broadened my perspective, helping me explore new interests and build connections with industry leaders. The Forbes Under 30 community confirmed my belief that my generation is driving meaningful change, and I’m excited to be part of it,” McMillan said.