Digital Bridges Links Students to Professional Community, Jobs

Author: Chelsea Coffin

DigitalBridges2.0, a student-faculty organization, prepares Middlebury students for leadership with valuable real-world experience, one of the five peaks of excellence as laid out by President John McCardell in a 1994 speech.
In January 2000, D.K. Smith Professor of Applied Economics Michael Claudon spearheaded DigitalBridges2.0 with his Winter Term class and a weekend conference on the emerging Internet economy. Today, Claudon directs this program which provides real-world experience and network opportunities to students and alumni and support to early-stage companies in Vermont.
"Michael wants to give students a real-life experience," said Liz Robinson '84, also a director of DigitalBridges2.0. Students get this experience from consulting early stage companies, completing externships and attending conferences with Middlebury alumni, parents and friends.
The most unique aspect of DigitalBridges2.0 is Middlebury Solutions Group (MSG), the only undergraduate consultant group in the country. Today, MSG is comprised of 10 students, including leaders Laura Woodward '03 and Dave Greiner '03. These students from Claudon's Competitive Strategies economics class become venture coaches to an early stage Vermont company, providing advice on the business plan, value proposition, financial analysis, market research, marketing and building management teams.
The students' work culminates at the biannual Entrepreneur's Forum. The client companies make pitches to a panel of institutional and other investors and members of the Middlebury community. The starter companies receive feedback, visibility, networking and possible funding. "It's so unusual with what we can give students in terms of real-world experience and what we can give Vermont businesses," says Robinson.
The program also offers three-day externships over fall and spring breaks to sophomores by a lottery system. The externships give younger students a chance to shadow Middlebury alumni, parents and friends in their work environment, which varies among business, professional firms, the arts, nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations.
DigitalBridges2.0 organizes conferences every year in Middlebury, Boston, New York and San Francisco. The Middlebury conference provides two days of discussion to explore the new issues in the economy, as well as interaction with accomplished people. In the past, guests have included Middlebury alums such as Frank Sesno '77 of CNN. In the other cities, DigitalBridges2.0 forms alumni clubs that provide networking for students and alumni.
DigitalBridges2.0 is fast becoming a strong link between students, alumni and the Vermont community. It achieves its goal of "bridging the gap between thought and action," as stated by Claudon, through its hands-on experience and networking opportunities.
Upcoming events for DigitalBridges2.0 include a Boston conference on April 10 and an Entrepreneurs' Spring Forum and Boot Camp on April 26. Visit www.digitalbridges20.net for more information.