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The CR Fellows program is a collaboration between Ernst & Young LLP and
When I arrived, my entrepreneurs were preparing to raise capital and expand market share so I was able to assist them by performing a company valuation, risk assessment, strategic analysis, product-pricing assessment and competitor analysis. I was also able to share some helpful tips on pitching to investors, human capital planning, and managing risk to enable their growth strategy.
Towards the end of the program, I had the chance to meet the broader Chilean entrepreneurial community through an Endeavor/Ernst & Young Knowledge Sharing Conference where I presented on the topic of Turning Risk into Results, discussing key global business risks, and why they matter to companies of all sizes and geographies.
However, it wasn’t all business. The CR Fellows experience allows for a true cultural immersion. I lived in a standard apartment, shopped at the local grocery store, rode public transportation every day and found my way around, despite my weak sense of direction and broken Spanish–thanks to the unforgettable kindness of locals.
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The program also afforded me the opportunity to travel to some remarkable places including the driest desert in the world–the Atacama–and the southernmost city in the world in the Chilean Antarctic. Through work, play and travels, I made great friendships, learned just how small the world is, and discovered more similarities than differences. I also participated in the cultural exchange by sharing my background as a South Asian American and introducing authentic Indian food and an American-style Halloween to my new friends.
My goal as a Fellow was to leave my entrepreneurs with sustainable and adaptable solutions that help them realize their vision, but I too gained so much. Being a Fellow has made me more passionate about entrepreneurship and has strengthened my global mindset. As the world becomes more technology enabled, the impact of entrepreneurs becomes increasingly borderless and their role in community and economic development more vital.
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Tamil Chellaiah is an advisory manager in Ernst & Young’s Louisville, Ky., office.