The UCI ANTrepreneur Center is excited to announce the launch of our new Financial Friday workshops and office hours. This initiative is designed to provide students with essential financial knowledge and resources, addressing a growing demand among UC Irvine’s entrepreneurial community. While our primary focus is on serving undergraduate students, we also aim to support our alumni network, recognizing the value of ongoing support and resources as graduates navigate the challenges of post-college life.
Introducing Financial Fridays
Financial Fridays will be held every Friday from 1:00-2:00 pm and will consist of discussions, activities, and Q&A segments. The workshops will cover a range of topics, including personal finance, accounting, and financial projections for business competitions and side hustles. These sessions will be complemented by dedicated office hours, where students can drop in for personalized financial guidance.
History and Inspiration
The idea for Financial Fridays was sparked by Ruby Mejia, the ANTrepreneur Center’s Unit Business Coordinator. In her role, Ruby frequently assists with financial questions and noticed a significant interest in financial education among student startups. As a summer project, Ruby developed these workshops to address this need.
Ruby’s inspiration for these workshops came from her involvement with the Stella Zhang, New Venture Competition, the Blackstone Launchpad, and RevHub OC. She recently attended the Council for Economic Education’s Educator Conference, further fueling her passion for financial literacy. Additionally, Ruby teaches financial literacy at the Latinx Resource Center through her company, Puerta Abierta, which focuses on financial and mindset empowerment.
According to Mejia:
“The ANTrepreneur Center was my starting point when I was an undergrad at UC Irvine, and the support I received led me to numerous opportunities, including the Blackstone LaunchPad Fellowship and RevHub OC. My goal is for these workshops and office hours to inspire other students to discover the wealth of resources available to them. The learning shouldn’t stop once you graduate; we want to ignite a passion for continuous learning and implementation in a supportive environment.”
Workshop Structure and Content
The workshops will leverage software provided by Intuit, which Ruby has access to and will use as the foundation for the series. The curriculum has been tested and refined based on feedback from a previous collaboration on campus and a successful run during the Side Hustle Challenge. Each session will include interactive discussions and practical activities, ensuring that students gain hands-on experience with financial concepts.
Workshop Topics:
- The Importance of Financial Literacy – Understanding financial literacy is crucial for both personal and business finance. It equips individuals with the knowledge to make informed decisions, manage resources effectively, and build a strong financial foundation for future endeavors.
- Money Mindsets – Developing a positive money mindset can transform how students view and manage their finances. This workshop will explore various attitudes towards money and how they impact financial decisions, helping students adopt a growth mindset that supports financial success.
- Banking – Banking fundamentals are essential for managing both personal and business finances. This session will cover topics such as choosing the right bank, understanding different types of accounts, and managing transactions efficiently.
- Budgeting – Creating and maintaining a budget is a foundational skill for financial health. This workshop will teach students how to develop a realistic budget, track expenses, and adjust spending habits to achieve financial goals.
- Saving – Building a habit of saving is critical for financial security. This session will discuss strategies for saving money, setting financial goals, and understanding the importance of emergency funds.
- Credit – Understanding credit is vital for personal and business finance. This workshop will cover how to build and maintain good credit, the impact of credit scores, and how to use credit responsibly.
- Investing – Investing wisely can help students grow their wealth over time. This session will introduce basic investment principles, different types of investments, and how to develop a long-term investment strategy.
Enhancing Student Engagement
At the ANTrepreneur Center, connecting students with resources is a key part of our mission. The combination of workshops and office hours allows students to learn and drive conversations about what matters most to them. Just like academic office hours, these sessions provide a familiar and accessible format for students to seek help.
Mejia emphasized the importance of financial education, saying, “Two out of five Gen Z individuals say they lack personal finance education. I wanted to bring awareness and help UC Irvine undergrads create financial habits that will benefit both them and their startups.”
Community Involvement and Additional Resources
We plan to invite community members who work in finance, including UC Irvine alumni, to attend as office hour guests. These professionals will share their knowledge and experiences, providing valuable insights and real-world perspectives to our students. Additionally, Ruby plans to write weekly recap blogs, making the information accessible to students who cannot attend the sessions. Guest speakers from the community with finance and accounting backgrounds will further enhance the learning experience.
Ryan Foland, Director of the ANTrepreneur Center, stated:
“We love to listen to what students want and then try to provide it. We are a small but mighty staff, and our power lies in connecting students with real-time resources. A student might come in for a Financial Friday workshop, learn something, work on an idea, come back with more questions, and we can connect them with faculty members, mentors, or additional resources.”
Larry Wilk, Continuing Lecturer and Faculty Director at the ANTrepreneur Center, highlighted the significance of financial literacy, saying, “Entrepreneurs need a strong financial foundation to launch their dreams. Having the ANTrepreneur Center be a familiar and friendly place to build that foundation is great”.
Call to Action
We encourage all students and alumni to join us for a Financial Friday workshop or drop in during office hours with any financial questions they may have. Learn more about these opportunities on the ANTrepreneur Center website.
We look forward to seeing you at our Financial Friday workshops and office hours, and we are excited to support your entrepreneurial journey both during your time at UC Irvine and beyond.