Entering college, I was eager to explore entrepreneurship. I had already consumed books like Shoe Dog, No Rules Rules, and Trailblazer, each revealing how bold ideas, resilience, and customer obsession build great companies. On a tour of Washington University in St. Louis, I discovered the St. Louis Student Enterprise Program (StEP) – a program where students own and operate businesses on campus. StEP offered the hands-on experience I wanted.
By the end of my first year, I became a co-owner of Wash U Wash, a student-run laundry and dry-cleaning delivery service serving the WashU community for over 30 years. What followed has been one of the most rewarding, educational, and challenging experiences at college. Being an owner of Wash U Wash means having total ownership over every decision, from creating employees’ weekly schedules to allocating cash flow. Over the past two years, I focused on several key initiatives with guidance from previous owners. I renegotiated contracts with our service provider, improved our refund and customer service policies, and worked to strengthen our partnerships with various university departments and student organizations. Every initiative came with a learning curve, but also created opportunities for future success.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned is the importance of clear communication and collaboration. As part of a six-person ownership team, I work closely with other students to align our business strategy, divide responsibilities, and solve problems. Whether we are designing new marketing campaigns, handling deliveries in adverse weather, or reviewing our finances, the success of our business depends on our ability to work as a unified team. This experience has strengthened my ability to lead projects and contribute meaningfully in group settings—skills that have helped me in my classes, consulting projects, and summer internships.
More than anything, running a StEP business has given me a sense of responsibility. You are accountable for the day-to-day operations of the business and the satisfaction of your customers. You come to appreciate the impact of your hard work on directly improving someone’s daily life. It has given me confidence to take initiative, solve problems, and adapt quickly to changing environments. I’ve learned firsthand what it takes to run a business, and I’ve developed a deep respect for the day-to-day hustle that goes into serving customers, staying competitive, and operating profitably.
As I enter my final year and look to sell my shares of Wash U Wash, which is a requirement of all the StEP owners, I look forward to mentoring the next owners and watching how they will implement new and creative ideas to grow and strengthen the business. I’m incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity to learn through managing and co-owning a business during college. It’s been a formative part of my WashU experience, and I recommend more students take advantage of what StEP has to offer. There’s no better way to learn than by doing and no better classroom than a business you call your own.
If you are interested in learning more about owning a StEP business, you can contact me at t.j.welo@wustl.edu. I would be happy to speak more about my experience and the steps to becoming an owner.
The WashU Student Enterprise Program (StEP) provides a unique opportunity for students to own a business on campus that serves the Washington University community. Student owners can supplement the valuable business and entrepreneurial skills they learn in the classroom while gaining real-world experience as they manage and lead their own businesses.