Get to Know MS in Entrepreneurship Student: Alexandria Tangas

The MS in Entrepreneurship program is made up of a diverse group of students who come from various backgrounds and experiences. We love to highlight students from the current cohort, so read on to hear more about Alex’s journey to the program!

Please tell us your name.

Alexandria Tangas

Where are you from?

I grew up in Issaquah, about 30 minutes away from UW campus! I grew up in the Seattle area and while I spent some time in Vancouver, BC for my undergrad, I love Seattle and am happy to be back.

What did you do before entering this program?

I did my bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of British Columbia, and while I made the transition to business I am still very passionate about psychology. I originally wanted to be a therapist or a researcher, but eventually decided I wanted to do something more on the creative/innovative side. Most of my work experience has been in athletics, spending the past 3 or 4 years as a swim coach for a couple of different club teams. I love working with athletes and helping them to reach their full potential.

When did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur? Did you have any entrepreneurship experience before entering this program?

I have wanted to be an entrepreneur my entire life! Even as a kid, I spent time trying to make things to sell at farmer’s markets, school fairs, etc. I attempted many small businesses throughout middle school and high school, none of which ended up being my true passion but were great practice and experience for the future. I currently am working on a handmade, ethical knitwear business that has been more successful than any of my projects in the past, and I’m excited to see how my knowledge and experience in the MsEntre program helps to grow my business even more.

Tell us why you are excited to be a part of the current cohort for the MS ENTRE degree program?

I love how the program is pushing us to get out there and really work on what we’re passionate about. I have really enjoyed talking to both my classmates and potential customers about my business and trying new things! One of my favorite parts of the program has been connecting with my cohort, which is filled with some of the coolest people I’ve met in my life. Everyone has such diverse backgrounds and experiences, and the room is always just full of great ideas. It’s been amazing to collaborate with this group of people and I think this collaborative aspect of the program has been one of my favorite things about it so far!

What advantages do you see to opening a business now?

Although starting a business can be very challenging, I think having the experience and knowledge from this program has set me up very well to enter the world as an entrepreneur. Now is also a great time to find people to help with a startup considering how difficult the job market is! Overall though, I think an advantage to having your own business is just the creative aspect and the opportunity to build your own team and set yourself up for success.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

Directly after completing this program, my plan is to try and get an industry job (ideally in the venture space) in order to gain some more real-life experience of how a business runs, and also so I can afford to continue building my own business on the side. I would love to be running my own business at the end of the next five years, especially the one I am currently working on. I love fashion and designing/creating this clothing brand has made me realize this is what I really want to pursue!

What do you like to do for fun?

I love to knit! This is where I got the inspiration to turn it into my current business – creating clothes for myself and others is my absolute favorite thing to do.

What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about applying to the MS ENTRE degree program?

This program is definitely for creative people, and for those who like to collaborate with others and try new things. It definitely pushes you to think differently and look at everything with a problem-solving lens, but I would recommend it to anyone. Don’t be afraid to test out new ideas and share them, because the environment this program creates is the perfect place to try and fail (in a good way)!

Learn About MS in Entrepreneurship

• Sign up for the MS in Entrepreneurship email list
• Watch the MS in Entrepreneurship On Demand Info Session
• Visit the MS in Entrepreneurship website

This post is part of a series where we ask current students to answer questions about their experience at Foster. Explore the 11 questions tag for more interviews.