This is a round-up of advice from our series of advice to young entrepreneurs. Loan Mantra staff share commencement advice to new college graduates interested in starting their own businesses.
Graduates of 2025,
Whether you’re walking off the stage with your diplomas in Charleston, NYC, Fresno or anywhere in between, the world you’re stepping into is fast-moving, unpredictable, and full of opportunity. Your graduating class has been through some major milestones; and so we want to take a moment to say: we see you. And we believe in you.
We asked a few members from our team, across various departments and generations, to share what they’d say to this year’s grads entering into the worlds of small business, entrepreneurship, finance, and innovation.
Here’s a round-up of their advice to new entrepreneurship graduates:
From Our Founder: Business Is Still Personal
“I’ve seen firsthand what small businesses do for their communities. I’ve watched neighbors turn corner stores into legacies and families turn a single gas station into a multi-million dollar franchise. At Loan Mantra, we’re working every day to make sure capital flows to people with vision, not just perfect credit scores. However, vision and success are team sports. Your grit matters but so does your support system. Learn the numbers but above all else, find your mentors. That’s what matters most”
— Raj Tulshan, Founder, Loan Mantra
Read all of Raj’s remarks here.
From Our VP: Be an Interdisciplinary Thinker
“I know what it’s like to sit in liberal arts classrooms and wonder if your skills will translate to ‘the real world.’ Let me be absolutely clear: they will. The best businesses today are led by communicators, critical thinkers, and strategic problem-solvers. You know how to connect the dots that others miss. Finance and tech need your voice and your ability to turn complexity into clarity. Continue to be a interdisciplinary thinker (we call that a “cross-functional team” leader). The boardroom could use more people who think outside the Excel cell.”
— Emily Larsen Doxford, VP of Strategic Marketing & Communications, Loan Mantra
Read all of Emily’s remarks here.
From Our Analyst: From One Grad to Another
“I recently graduated from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and being just a few years ahead of you, here’s what I’ve learned: you don’t need to have it all figured out right now. But you do need to ask questions and use your resources wisely. The most successful founders I see are the ones who bet on themselves before anyone else did.”
— Nicholas “Cole” Richter, Analyst, Loan Mantra
Read all of Cole’s remarks here.
From Our Board: Wisdom from the Top
Our Board of Directors includes dynamic leaders at the top of the financial, business and tech industries. Many have been successful entrepreneurs themselves, from running their own startups to leading established Fortune 100 companies. Their advice for new entrepreneurship graduates?
- “Curiosity will take you further than confidence.”
- “Know your numbers even if you’re not ‘a finance person.’”
- “The smartest leaders don’t know everything. They ask better questions.”
- “Failure is tuition. Learn fast, and keep moving.”
- “The world is more automated than ever, so lead like a human.”
Congratulations
You’re graduating into a complex economy and the road ahead of you will be filled with opportunities and challenges. The good news is that no other generation has had more tools or demand for bright and bold leadership.
We’re cheering you on!
Team Loan Mantra