Koch Center begins new fellowship and launches new MBA pathway

The Koch Center for Family Enterprise has launched the  Own-Operate-Invest Fellowship. It’s an opportunity for Olin students who aspire to become next-generation owners, operators, and investors through entrepreneurial acquisition or family business.

The inaugural Spring 2025 cohort of five students has kicked off — and the Fall 2025 cohort applications opened on February 14. (The application deadline is April 15.)

The fellowship provides students with hands-on experience, mentorship from industry leaders, and a deeper understanding of the complexities of managing and growing privately held businesses.

Five students are in the inaugural cohort: Yabsira Ayele, MBA 2025; Ian Forsyth, PMBA 2025; Mike Morrow, MBA 2026; Chris Pitts, MBA 2025; and Curtis Rother, PMBA 2026.

The fellows receive support in several ways:

• Networking opportunities — Fellows attend sessions and other networking events, introducing them to influential professionals.

• Mentorships — The program facilitates 1:1 mentorships with seasoned entrepreneurs, business operators, and industry leaders to help guide their individualized journeys. The students were assigned their mentors last week.

• Real-world experience — Fellows gain practical experience through hands-on work with businesses undergoing ownership transition or seeking acquisition.

• Financial support — The program pays each fellow a $3,000 stipend for expenses related to their key focus area.

These are the mentors for the fellows:

Chris Hoffmann of Hoffmann Brothers for Rother; John Stupp III of Stupp Fiber for Morrow; Bryce Boman of People 1^st Advisors for Ayele; Adam Kurkiewicz of WashU Investment Management for Pitts; and David Hadini of Hineni Foundation Inc. for Forsyth.

After nearly a decade helping large financial companies manage their investment data, Forsyth returned to St. Louis to join his family’s business and now works as the director of operations for its mid-size gas station and convenience store chain.

He said the fellowship “presents an incredible pathway to advance my insight into the privately held, family business space. "

“I hope to develop both a skill set and a perspective that will help my family business succeed in a rapidly changing business environment.” His goal is to create as much value as possible for employees, customers, and the communities where the company does business, he said. “I believe the fellowship will give me a tailored toolkit to do exactly this.”

Pitts' goal is entrepreneurship through acquisition. For his first acquisition, he's searching for companies that generate between $500,000 and $1 million in adjusted EBITDA.

Pitts said he’s grateful for the alumni network and friends of WashU who are willing to connect and share their wisdom. “Joining the fellowship is a direct avenue to be in touch with those individuals,” he said.

He also appreciates the financial support. “One key piece of being a searcher is to ensure that you are professional and credible and investing in infrastructure like a website and the right software to search for companies is an efficient, professional way to do this.”

The fellowship is funded through the Koch Center and its key donors: Paul Koch and his wife, Elke, and Paul's brother Roger Koch and his wife, Fran. The Kochs aim to deepen Olin's focus on family business.

New MBA pathway

In addition to the Koch Center’s new fellowship, the Olin MBA program is introducing a new pathway for students who want to specialize in private capital and strategic ownership.

This pathway will provide future leaders with the critical skills and knowledge necessary to strategically lead private businesses, whether through ownership transitions, governance, or long-term value creation.

“We look forward to seeing how this specialized training will empower students to become effective stewards of family enterprises and make Olin the home for the strategic owner,” said Peter Boumgarden, director of the Koch Center for Family Enterprise.