Student Leadership in Action

The Winston Ambassador Series presented Professor Hession-Kunz, a senior lecturer in the Seidner Department of Finance, who brings a wealth of real-world experience from his successful career in high-tech startups. With a background in physics and chemistry, he has played instrumental roles in founding and leading companies such as Innov-X Systems, a $100M industrial materials analysis firm. 

Professor Hession-Kunz shared valuable insights into entrepreneurship's power and venture capital's role in driving innovation. He emphasized that entrepreneurship, at its core, is about value creation—and the ability to continuously generate and own this value not only incentivizes business creation but also propels societal progress.

He defined trade as a mutually beneficial exchange that generates wealth, with both parties better off by improving lives via products and services. Particularly in critical sectors like medicine and technology, he highlighted how businesses contribute to societal advancement, positioning business creation as one of the most effective means of generating public good.

Turning to venture capital, he explained its unique structure as a network of small partnerships in which investors sacrifice liquidity in pursuit of high returns. At the same time, startups gain the essential capital and guidance they would not otherwise have access to. This creates a virtuous cycle, as the funds provided by venture capitalists enable businesses to expand and reinvest in other ventures, thus magnifying this process. However, sourcing the right investments remains one of the most significant challenges in venture capital, demanding capital, good judgment, and foresight.

During the Q&A session, Professor Hession-Kunz offered personal reflections on life and career, highlighting the significance and inevitability of failure in the entrepreneurial journey. He noted that his past failures have been an important step in innovation. His advice was a reminder that the path to success is often paved with obstacles, and overcoming them is integral to creating value in the world.

Lydia Tesfai '27, Winston Ambassador