“This week was eye-opening, inspiring, and filled with connections that I know will shape my path moving forward. Villanova’s network and support truly go above and beyond, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have been part of this experience.”
Student: Noah Buscaglia, Villanova University Class of 2026
Area of Study: Real Estate and Business Analytics Major with Management Information Systems Minor | Villanova School of Business
Immersion Program: Villanova in the Valley | January 2025
I had the incredible opportunity to participate in Villanova in the Valley, an immersion program that took our cohort of students to the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the course of the week, we connected with executives, engineers, and investors from cutting-edge companies like NVIDIA, Google, and Meta, as well as venture capital firms, private equity groups, and medical technology innovators. The professional development education we receive at Villanova University prepared us extremely well for networking, presenting a well-crafted resume, sharing an elevator pitch, and asking intelligent questions.
One of the highlights was learning about the values that guide these organizations—many of which prioritize innovation alongside environmental and social responsibility. We also gained practical insights into building a career post-college, especially in the fast-paced world of Silicon Valley.
Beyond the company visits, the program included a half-day of service at a local food bank and donation center, offering a chance to give back to a community deeply impacted by housing insecurity. It was a grounding experience that reminded me how important it is to align professional success with making a positive impact.
This week was eye-opening, inspiring, and filled with connections that I know will shape my path moving forward. Villanova’s network and support truly go above and beyond, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have been part of this experience. A special thanks goes out to the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Career Center, and all of the amazing people who planned and showed up for the week– Ann Goody, Vanessa Schmidt, Michelle Ky, Mike Gardner, Will Horyn, Jayshree Ullal, Miguel and Olga Maria Solares, A.J. Rohde, Laura Yoo, Bill Tanona, and so many more. This wouldn’t have been possible without them.
