At the edge of innovation, rooted in purpose

Levy Inspiration Treks gather entrepreneurship students for immersive trips that champion a spirit of “go and see for yourself.” Executive MBA student LeVincia Porch ’26 reflects on her recent trek to San Francisco to explore the AI and tech ecosystem.
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A group of Kellogg students smile and pose together near colorful artwork, while on a Levy Trek in San Francisco to learn about AI and entrepreneurship.
“Every conversation peeled back another layer of what it means to build, lead and create in an AI-driven world,” says LeVincia Porch, of her experience on the trek.

Now in their second year, Levy Inspiration Treks offer students from all Kellogg degree programs the chance to visit domestic markets in person. Participants are interested in starting their own entrepreneurial ventures, and they use the time to explore real-life problems and innovative solutions in a particular field.

Executive MBA student LeVincia Porch ’26, the founder and CEO of children’s mental health platform Sprout, sat down with us to share why this cocurricular experience was so powerful for her and her classmates.

What happens when you gather a group of bold, curious minds and drop them into the heart of San Francisco’s AI ecosystem? You ignite something much bigger than a trek. You spark transformation.

In December 2024, we embarked on the San Francisco Levy Inspiration Trek: Artificial Intelligence in Entrepreneurship. Many of us took a leap of faith by applying early in our Kellogg journeys, driven by the hope that something was waiting for us on the other side. None of it would have been possible without the vision and support of Professors Mark Achler and Troy Henikoff. Their guidance, candor and commitment to meaningful learning shaped the entire experience from start to finish.

Our cohort included Mary Ann Brennan, Mengling Cui, Bryce Wilt Goodsite, Guillermo Hellmund, Ben Morton, Tejas Sudhir Niphadkar, Oji Ofong, Shehnoor Qureshi, Pranay Rekkala Venkata, Ana Sulakvelidze, Gautam Suri and me. Representing the Full-Time MBA, Evening & Weekend MBA and Executive MBA programs, we brought a rich range of experiences and perspectives. Each voice, each perspective, added a new layer to what we built together. Each person brought their energy, questions and aspirations, weaving together a journey that felt uniquely ours.

“This wasn’t just a series of meetings, it was an experience that asked us to dream bigger, think deeper and lead differently.”
LeVincia Porch ’26
Executive MBA

Over three days, we conversed with founders, investors and visionaries at organizations including OpenAI, Thomvest Ventures and Techstars. Every conversation peeled back another layer of what it means to build, lead and create in an AI-driven world. But this wasn’t just a series of meetings, it was an experience that asked us to dream bigger, think deeper and lead differently.

Our days were filled with insights, yet we always found ourselves hungry for more: more questions, more stories, more possibilities. We arrived eager to understand technology, but we left with a deeper connection to the people and purposes it should serve.

At OpenAI, we wrestled with the balance between advancing innovation and protecting humanity. At Thomvest Ventures, we explored how real disruption happens at the margins, not the mainstream. At Techstars, we sat with founders who reminded us that building something meaningful demands humility, empathy and resilience.

Kellogg students sit a long table together at dinner while on a Levy Trek trip in San Francisco
Entrepreneurially minded students from across MBA programs meet and bond during Levy Treks.

Far beyond the classroom

We weren’t just taking notes. We were absorbing lessons that will shape the way we lead. And along the way, we began to see reflections of ourselves in the very questions we were asking.

Each of us carried home different lessons, each one layered with new perspectives and deeper questions. Bryce Goodsite spoke about rethinking risk and resilience, sharing how conversations with founders reshaped his view on when to leap and when to stand firm. Ben Morton reflected on the intersection of law and technology, and how witnessing AI entrepreneurship up close confirmed his desire to build in spaces where innovation meets human impact.

Mengling Cui shared reflections that touched many of us deeply. She spoke about the importance of weaving empathy into every phase of AI development, not as an afterthought but as a foundation. Her words became a thread we carried with us, a reminder that technology at its best does not overshadow humanity. It amplifies it.

“This trek wasn’t about any one idea. It was about the collective energy, the willingness to leap into uncertainty, the deep conversations over dinner where ambitions and vulnerabilities intertwined. We didn’t just learn from the leaders we visited. We learned from each other.”
LeVincia Porch ’26
Executive MBA

As for me, this trek was a mirror and a milestone. I arrived carrying a personal dream, Sprout, a platform rooted in my own childhood experiences, built to create early emotional support for children. Sprout was born from a place of hope and driven forward by professors and mentors who challenged me to think bigger. Winning Stage One (early-stage) of the Kellogg Startup Pitch Competition was just the beginning. The trek deepened my gratitude for the journey and for the brilliant people I get to learn from and walk beside.

But Sprout is only one story among many. This trek wasn’t about any one idea. It was about the collective energy, the willingness to leap into uncertainty, the deep conversations over dinner where ambitions and vulnerabilities intertwined. We didn't just learn from the leaders we visited. We learned from each other.

And just when we thought the learning was winding down, a spark of opportunity lit up our second evening.

One of the most surprising outcomes came at dinner on our second night. Mary Ann Brennan sat across from Larry Chu of Goodwin, a Kellogg connection who had just beta-tested a new conference called HumanX, one of the world’s first gatherings focused on human-centered AI. That night, he shared his vision for the conference and handed out invitations. In classic Kellogg fashion, Mary Ann asked if we could support the event in exchange for access. Not only did Larry say yes, he followed through in a big way.

Kellogg student LaVincia Porch smiles for a selfie with a classmate
Porch and classmate Oji Ofong ’25 during the Levy Trek to San Francisco.

By March, a few of us — Mary Ann, Ben, Tejas and Gautam — found ourselves hosting private Q&A sessions with keynote speakers at HumanX. These weren’t just any speakers: we engaged directly with leaders like Bhavin Shah (whose company sold days earlier for nearly $3B), the cofounder of Databricks, the CTO of Zoom, the CPO of OpenAI, and Vinod Khosla himself. The connections and exposure were invaluable, but even more striking was the spirit of generosity from Larry and the Kellogg community. It reminded us that our network stretches far beyond what we see in the classroom and that those who came before us are deeply invested in those rising next. None of it would have happened without this trek, our professors and the magic of being part of the Levy and Kellogg family.

We carried home more than notes and contacts. We carried a deeper responsibility. What kind of future are we building? How do we center humanity even as technology races ahead?

A heartfelt thank you to Professor Mark Achler, Professor Troy Henikoff and Jennifer Herold for guiding us, challenging us and supporting us both during and after the trek. Your belief in our potential helped shape this unforgettable journey.

The future is still being written. And together, we are ready to help write it with courage, with care and with a commitment to doing good.

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