Ben Burke

Ben Burke (Director of Entrepreneurship at Arch Grants)

** Please note that when this interview was released, The Takeoff was called ExecU Weekly. We have since rebranded to The Takeoff. **

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Welcome

Thank you for subscribing to ExecU Weekly! Today is a very special day as we are releasing our first executive interview. Today's interview is with Ben Burke, Director of Entrepreneurship @ Arch Grants.

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Name: Ben Burke
Current Roles:

• Director of Entrepreneurship - Arch Grants

• Adjunct Professor, Entrepreneurship - Walker School of Business and Technology at Webster University

• Mentor, Hatchery (Capstone Entrepreneurship Course) - Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis

• Independent Distributor - Young Living Essential Oils

• Co-Creator - Patreon.com/katieandben

Prior Positions and Organizations:

• Vice President – Young Entrepreneurs Across America

• Adjunct Professor, Social Entrepreneurship - George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis

• Co-Founder – Underground Angels

• Admissions and Student Affairs Representative – Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis

• Marketing Teaching Assistant – Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis

Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Education: B.S., Integrated Marketing Communications – Illinois State University; M.B.A., Entrepreneurship – Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis

Please discuss your current company, what it does, and your role within the organization.
Arch Grants is a nonprofit organization that is building a new economy by providing $50,000 equity-free grants and pro bono support services to entrepreneurs who locate their early-stage businesses in St. Louis. Through its competitive Global Startup Competition, Arch Grants retains and attracts the most innovative entrepreneurs to the St. Louis region. This program is an aggressive effort to inspire the next generation of employers, civic leaders, and philanthropists for St. Louis.

My role as Director of Entrepreneurship is to work with the program team to lead the Global Startup Competition (sourcing, recruiting, and managing the evaluations of startup applicants) and the Entrepreneur Support Services (delivering services to those that receive grants).


What has your career path looked like so far?
I am in the process of re-defining for myself what a “career” and a “path” mean, more into the idea of “service” and “trajectory.” I basically manage my service through my emotions of what is exciting for me to do. When a thing is exciting for me to partake, I partake. When it is no longer exciting, I no longer partake.

I get involved in significant volunteering when the project or intention resonates with me. Many opportunities and new networks have been created for me through volunteering.


Do you have any favorite hobbies or passions? How do you spend your free time?
I consider all of my time to be free, and at this point do not meaningfully delineate between “work” and “non-work.” All of it is becoming more merged into “play.” I teach, write, administer programs, coach, consult, share, reflect, and advance myself in various ways.

In line with this question’s intention, the primary thing that I do that does not normally constitute a direct money-making activity is loving / spending time with my family (partner and two young children). We homeschool our children and highly value an experiential lifestyle.

We live and work/play nearly completely remotely now. Thus, we spend a relatively disproportionate amount of our time traveling and experiencing new landscapes and people.

My own personal / spiritual development is also a very high priority in my life. I spend time each day in meditation, in contemplation and in exploration of my identity as consciousness.


Do you have any advice for college students?
Allow your mind to follow your heart.
Be as recklessly curious as you can.


Do any industries stick out to you in today's economic landscape? Are there any majors/career paths that you recommend today's college students to pursue?
Cryptocurrency.


Does your organization offer any internship opportunities? If so, feel free to discuss these programs or provide a link/contact for students to find out more information.
Yes. Arch Grants has intern positions pretty much year-round. We don’t really post them, but more so meet students where they are at in their development and put together each internship based on the needs of both parties. Check out www.archgrants.org to see what we do and reach out to info@archgrants.org if you are interested in setting something up!


What made you interested in being one of ExecU Weekly's early interviewees?
I greatly appreciate the opportunities that my involvement in Washington University brought into my experience and find pleasure in providing my perspective to those that are interested. I also believe that Wash U is a high-vide arena that is attracting open-minded and open-hearted pioneers; it is exciting for me to engage with people like this regardless of age or experience.


Are there any valuable skills or lessons you wish you had known in college?
How and why to utilize intuition in decision making.


Do you have any additional advice or insights you'd like to give?
Learn how to meditate and prioritize your happiness / peace / creativity above all else.
Understand that YOU manifest your reality, not someone / anyone else.
Integrate that the only thing that prohibits you from feeling what you want to feel is the belief that you are limited.
Interact more tangibly with your belief systems and align them with your core desires.
Embody the ideal self that you want to be, now. Stop waiting.

Looking Ahead

Next week, we'll be back, bringing you a successful young WashU grad