Catalyst Changemaker Award Recipient Ella Swimmer was an Entrepreneurship Intern at the Idea Village in New Orleans, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the rapid growth of local technology startups. Ella graduated in May 2020 as an Economics Major and Sociology Minor, and plans to pursue a career in a field in which both her passions for marketing and entrepreneurship are explored.

This semester was my final semester at Tulane University as an undergraduate student. I knew I wanted to not only spend time participating in on-campus events and organizations, but I also wanted to step outside of Tulane and into the New Orleans community further. In January, I had just begun taking a course titled “The Digital Revolution” with Walter Isaacson, which piqued my interest for all things technology, media and innovation. While I was in this class, I learned about The Idea Village, a nonprofit organization that works to help technology-driven startups grow rapidly in New Orleans, ultimately boosting the economy and retaining top talent in the city.

I decided to reach out and explore opportunities they had for students like myself, whether it be a volunteer position or something more. I was delighted to discover that they had open internship positions available, so I applied and interviewed and was offered the role shortly after.

I applied for the Changemaker Catalyst Award, because I knew the Taylor Center was aligned with my personal and professional goals at the Idea Village. The Idea Village supports and uplifts the changemakers of New Orleans and I was enthusiastic to know that the Taylor Center would be behind me in pursuing a role at this organization

I learned so much during my time at the Idea Village, not only about the technology and startup space in New Orleans, but about myself as well. I was primarily responsible for tracking hours put in for the accelerator, which was critical because as a nonprofit, tracking mentor hours is vital for qualifying and receiving funding for the organization. I gained great organizational, time management, and communication skills from this project, as it pushed me to be proactive and on top of things, no matter what. I learned the various challenges that entrepreneurs face, how they must constantly adapt their business models, and how mentors and successful tech companies can support them in the process of growth. Of course, with COVID-19, many of the entrepreneurs we worked with were facing detrimental hardships to their companies that required great innovation and hard work to overcome. It was inspiring to see the resilience of these great entrepreneurs, and I felt honored to be a part of an organization that was working equally as hard to ensure that the companies were supported during the unprecedented times.

From this experience, I have gained numerous new skills, and I have heightened my passion for startup growth. It was an incredible experience to work alongside some of the most hardworking people creating the most innovative ideas in a variety of different sectors. I have now steered my career search in the direction of accelerator programs, and the Idea Village will always be my first exposure to this new and exciting field.