From my first year to a full-time job and beyond!
By Nolan Sulpizio (B’24)
As a freshman at Duquesne in 2020, I was already passionate about business. I even likened myself to a young Warren Buffet but quickly realized I had much to learn. To broaden my horizons and shape my perspective, I took advantage of every opportunity to avoid regrets. Despite my ambition and sometimes misguided confidence, I never imagined I would be where I am today—working for Wesco as a Supply Chain Analyst and accepted to Innovation Works Scalable Residency Program to support my start-up, Clean Plate Innovations.
Being business-minded runs in my family. My father owns Sulpizio Mechanical, an HVAC company in Philadelphia. During my sophomore year, I had weekly calls with him and applied the concepts I learned in class to his company. I designed grand restructuring and expansion plans but knew I needed experience outside the family business. I began searching for an internship, and with Duquesne’s network of caring and connected faculty, I was offered five internships.
In my junior year, after deciding to double-major in Supply Chain Management and Entrepreneurship, I used my supply chain knowledge to optimize Sulpizio Mechanical’s business operations and used the experience as a case study. My courses used the experiential learning model, so I worked with real-world clients, adding a priceless, hands-on element to my education. I learned to quickly problem-solve and use critical thinking skills across disciplines. With my developing knowledge and experience, my goals began to feel achievable.
I met representatives from WESCO at Duquesne’s Career Fair and was offered a summer internship. With an exciting opportunity locked in place, I had the freedom to develop my passion for entrepreneurship during the remainder of the academic year.
Staci Offutt joined the School of Business as Director of the Center for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, empowering us to reach new heights. On the first day of class, my peers and I were allowed to create a new student organization, The Duquesne Entrepreneurship Council. Staci advised and encouraged us to take ownership and build the club in our collective vision. Serving as co-president, I became immersed in the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. I wasn’t just attending events; I was leading them. I wasn’t just competing in competitions; I was facilitating them. This built my reputation in the School and the greater entrepreneurial community.
I took a giant leap of faith and competed in several School competitions, including Innopitch, PDMA’s pitch competition. I developed my current entrepreneurial venture, Clean Plate Innovations, over a 54-hour hackathon during Techstars Startup Weekend. And I was a semi-finalist in the Duquesne New Venture Challenge.
I graduated in May and joined Wesco’s Sales and Operations Early Career program. I am working remotely on the Global Accounts Implementation Team and will travel extensively this year to assist with supply chain implementations at various US sites. The job is going well, and I’m excited to share that I took my first business trip to Mobile, Alabama in August! I’m also continuing my work as the Founder of Clean Plate Innovations. Clean Plate uses AI-enabled food waste tracking to help large-scale dining operators optimize inventory and reduce costs. With our residency at Innovation Work’s Robotics Factory, we improved our legitimacy and internal collaboration to test and finalize our prototype. I am still proudly consulting for Sulpizio Mechanical and implementing new ideas.
At Duquesne, each first day of class felt like a new door opening for me. I gained extensive experience and was well-prepared to launch my career. With the club that turned into family and the teachers that turned into mentors, I developed a new mindset that will be with me for the rest of my life. I can tell you how I got to where I am today, but I can’t tell you where I’ll be tomorrow. Sometimes, the fun of life is not knowing what’s next. That’s the beauty of growth.
Header image left to right: Nolan on the first day of classes of his first year, sophomore, junior, and senior years.
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