The Growth Lab
The Farley Center’s entrepreneurship courses and programs celebrate the universal language of innovation and its impactful benefits.
Northwestern University’s Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation champions the ideal that anyone can be an innovator. Whether students are majoring in theatre or journalism, economics or environmental history, computer science or psychology, entrepreneurship is an accessible and valuable path of study.
In Farley courses and programs, students gain practical skills, develop a problem-solving orientation, and build networks to help them pursue their passions and unlock novel opportunities. Students learn to try—and try again. They sharpen their intellectual resolve and critical thinking. They strengthen soft skills like emotional intelligence and persistence and hone essential hard skills like marketing, finance, and operations. Their entrepreneurial adventures foster more curiosity, resilience, and versatility.
Four Northwestern undergraduate students discuss their Farley experiences and how the Center’s diverse offerings have nurtured their confidence and growth.
Hanna Schiciano, Third-year
Studying: communication studies major with minors in entrepreneurship and Spanish
The Farley Attraction: “I was drawn to Farley and the entrepreneurship minor because I knew it would offer a broad understanding of how to both develop and operate a business while also challenging me to think creatively.”
Her Farley Experience: Schiciano has taken five Farley courses to date covering topics such as entrepreneurial sales and marketing, leadership, and innovating for impact.
Her Project: In Principles of Entrepreneurship, Schiciano began developing a mobile app to help college students efficiently plan and prepare balanced meals and create personalized recipes. She has also continued exploring an idea to help college women design personalized workout routines.
The Farley Takeaway: While Schiciano admits she favors routine, Farley pushed her into an environment stressing discovery, innovation, and curiosity. “My experience at Farley has taught me to be comfortable being vulnerable, to adopt a growth mindset, to seek empathy, to embrace my mistakes, and to become more accepting of uncertainty.”
Aranza Noriega, Third-year
Studying: communication studies major with a minor in entrepreneurship
The Farley Attraction: “I wanted classes going beyond theory and actually teaching me how to build, test, and try things out. I was hoping to gain a foundation that would allow me to create something of my own or to bring that same mindset of innovation into a larger organization.”
Her Farley Experience: Noriega’s courseload at Farley has included foundational entrepreneurship courses as well as NUvention: Arts & Entertainment. She also served as adjunct lecturer Nick Robertson’s grader for Entrepreneurial Sales and Marketing.
Her Project: Noriega continues building a personal brand, including a podcast and Instagram page, alongside a community-centered project to support young adults as they navigate “adulting.” She aims to create both digital and physical spaces where people can share experiences and develop skills to lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
The Farley Takeaway: “First, I can build something of my own. And second, it’s okay my path does not look traditional or like others’ paths.”
Eva Poliakova, Second-year
Studying: Neuroscience major with minors in business institutions and entrepreneurship
The Farley Attraction: “I was particularly drawn to NUvention: Medical's experiential approach and the opportunity to learn about medical innovation by working in cross-disciplinary teams to solve real-world clinical problems."
Her Farley Experience: Poliakova’s course history at Farley includes topics such as leading innovative teams, financing new ventures, and improvisational storytelling. She also participated in NUvention: Medical and NUvention: Launch to advance ideas in the innovation lifecycle.
Her Project: In NUvention: Medical, Poliakova’s team created HydroFlo. The early stage neurotech company is developing a smart catheter to monitor shunt flow and improve diagnosis of shunt failure in patients with hydrocephalus, a chronic neurological condition affecting more than 1 million Americans today.
The Farley Takeaway: “Real growth comes from doing hard things—pushing yourself outside your comfort zone and continuing to show up for what you truly care about. Farley reinforced that no matter how complex something may seem, if you take initiative, ask questions, and stay curious, you will figure it out.”
Avni Bagal, Second-year
Studying: communication studies with a minor in entrepreneurship
The Farley Attraction: “I wanted something less theoretical and more applicable to the general business skills needed to succeed at starting and scaling a business, like how to build a minimum viable product and define a value proposition for customers.”
Her Farley Experience: Bagal began taking Farley classes in the second half of her first year and has enjoyed learning about core business fundamentals like product management and accounting. She also became a grader for Farley’s foundational course, Principles of Entrepreneurship.
Her Project: Bagal joined the founding team of Litterbox, a student-led company incubating at The Garage at Northwestern. She is involved in business operations at Litterbox, which offers summer storage solutions for Northwestern students.
The Farley Takeaway: “Farley has given me a clear understanding of how to navigate the business world and the distinct and essential elements necessary to build a business, such as finance, marketing, and sales.”