Interview with Alumnus, Charlie Mohn

1. What college or university did you attend after SAAS (or what did you pursue instead?) What did you major in? Did you get other degrees?
 
After graduating from SAAS, I attended Georgetown University, where I double-majored in Finance and International Business, and minored in Theology. 

2. What unique experiences have you had since leaving SAAS? Trips, internships, jobs, etc.

After graduating from college in 2013, I was fortunate to be selected as part of the second class of Venture for America (VFA) fellows. Venture for America is a program that sends recent college graduates to work in the trenches for startups in underserved cities across the country. Through VFA, I moved to Cleveland, OH and worked in a operations role for a startup in the college admissions and enrollment space. Over the three years I lived in Cleveland and worked at the company, I had a fantastic immersive experience that really pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I’d highly recommend the program to any SAAS alumni currently in college and interested in entrepreneurship!

The “culture of performance” at SAAS had a really strong impact on me. I was a shy kid growing up, but by the time I graduated from SAAS, I was never afraid to get up in front of an audience. In the environment I’m in now, an idea is only as good as how well you’re able to present it! 

3. What are your favorite memories from SAAS? What programs, teams, extracurriculars were you involved in while at SAAS? Who were your most influential teachers at SAAS? 
 
My fondest memory from my SAAS experience was traveling to Zambia with a fantastic group of students and faculty. The Zambia program was such an important part of my experience at SAAS, and I’d strongly encourage any current students to get involved. I am very thankful to Melinda Mueller and Don Zwiers for getting me involved in the program (as well as being fantastic teachers). The relationship the SAAS has built with multiple schools in Zambia is quite remarkable, and it’s been fun to see the program continue to grow since I graduated.

4. Where are you now and what do you do? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? How did SAAS help prepare you for your job today?

After three years in Cleveland, I decided I missed the West Coast and took a job at a financial technology startup in San Francisco, where I work on the marketing team. It’s tough to predict what the future will hold, but I’d love to continue working for startups trying to gain traction, and potentially try to start my own company. 

The “culture of performance” at SAAS had a really strong impact on me. I was a shy kid growing up, but by the time I graduated from SAAS, I was never afraid to get up in front of an audience. In the environment I’m in now, an idea is only as good as how well you’re able to present it! 

Below: Charlie and the Cleveland basketball team he coached.