Many post-secondary students take time during summer break to relax and catch up with friends or family, but not Natalia Burkic.
The honours business student at Western University’s Ivey School of Business had one goal last summer: learn.
That’s why Burkic pitched herself on the show Dragons Den without a business. Her pitch was to get a mentorship from entrepreneur Michele Romanow and learn how to become a successful entrepreneur.
Inside of the Dragons Den set (Via Natalia Burkic)
Her pitch worked out in the end and during the summer Burkic did an internship on Dragons Den.
Dragons Den is a Canadian show where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business concept and products to a panel of Canadian business moguls.
Burkic learned a lot during her time as an intern which includes how the people who are running the show are normal everyday people just like us.
“The moment I walked onto set, everyone was so open to teaching me, being open to hearing my story, and allowing me to go and experience different parts of how they actually create an episode,” says Burkic.
Burkic learned a lot from the business side but learned even more from the people’s side.
“I learned that it doesn’t matter what aspect of business you’re in, you have to give people a good reason to take a chance on you. The way you do that is you don’t wait for an opportunity to walk in the door. You have to go out there and build it,” Burkic says
The Richard Ivey Building of Business at Western University (Noah Paradis/XFM News)
Her piece of advice for student entrepreneurs? Pitch yourself to as many companies as you can.
“If you’re in year two, three or four of your undergrad experience, go pitch yourself. You have nothing to lose.”
Burkic continues, “Go find a company that you love, that’s in the industry that you love, go and give them a pitch or walk in the door, show up, and give them a reason to hire you. If you don’t try, you really never know what will happen,” says Burkic.
The sign showing the Richard Ivey Building of Business (Noah Paradis/XFM News)
The main takeaway from Burkic’s experience?
“You have to take a chance on yourself. You never know what the outcome is unless you try.”
