Emerging Business Leaders Hero

Preparing tomorrow’s leaders – today

The Emerging Business Leaders (EBL) program at Gies College of Business is a week-long summer initiative designed for high achieving, underserved rising high school seniors with diverse experiences, perspectives, and goals. Hosted on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, students explore a variety of business disciplines, engage with faculty, students, and alumni, and develop critical skills like communication and personal branding, all while living on campus for the week. The program offers a transformative educational experience that helps prepare participants to enter into college, supports students’ consideration of pursuing a business degree, and fosters life-long relationships.

2025 Program Dates Coming Soon.

Program Activities

  • Interactive discussions featuring Gies Business staff, students, and alumni around career possibilities in business and the Gies student experience 
  • Work in groups to solve business problems
  • Learn about college admissions
  • Have fun and make new friends

Application Criteria

The EBL Program is open to underrepresented students entering their senior year of high school. You must have:

  • 3.2/4.0 GPA or higher
  • Demonstrated leadership through extracurricular, volunteer, or work experiences
  • Ability to attend the entire program 


Program Benefits 

All students who successfully complete the Emerging Business Leaders Program will receive a University of Illinois application fee waiver. Students who apply, are admitted, and enroll into Gies Business will qualify for a renewable scholarship up to $5000 to help cover their academic costs.

Admission to the Emerging Business Leaders program does not guarantee admission to Gies Business and/or the University of Illinois.

Gies News and Events

Undergraduate entrepreneur receives national recognition for disruptive startup

Jan 27, 2025, 08:58 by John Moist
Now in its fourth year, Poets&Quants’ ranking highlights the most disruptive startups founded by undergraduates at top-ranked business schools. Each startup is selected for its potential to transform its industry and become a "game-changing" force in its market.

Lost your lip balm again? For Gies Business undergraduate Pariyat Aggarwal, that small frustration led to a big idea: Omnipher, a credit-card-sized lip balm designed to help consumers keep track of the everyday necessity. This January, Omnipher earned a place on Poets&Quants’ Most Disruptive Business School Startups of 2024.

Now in its fourth year, Poets&Quants’ ranking highlights the most disruptive startups founded by undergraduates at top-ranked business schools. Each startup is selected for its potential to transform its industry and become a "game-changing" force in its market.

Aggarwal, a junior with a dual major in marketing and information systems and Omnipher’s co-founder, credits much of her success to the mentorship she received at Gies. One particular piece of advice from Elias Kourpas, clinical professor of business administration and academic director of the Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship major, shaped Omnipher's development: "Sell the problem, not just the product."

“Elias Kourpas made a profound impact by teaching us that victory in business comes not from the product itself but from the relentless dedication of the team – the jockey, not the horse,” said Aggarwal.

Omnipher's success reflects the entrepreneurial ecosystem at Gies, where learners transform classroom concepts into real-world ventures. For Aggarwal, turning an idea into a nationally recognized startup has been a journey fueled by campus resources and support.

“Illinois has been pivotal to our venture’s growth, offering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem with extensive resources,” said Aggarwal. “From ideation and mentorship to funding, the support on campus has been invaluable.”  That support helped shape early ideas into meaningful milestones.

“One of our proudest accomplishments so far was making our first sale at the campus Main Quad,” said Aggarwal. “For a startup looking to gain traction, converting sales felt monumental.”

Aggarwal joins a proud tradition of Gies entrepreneurs recognized by Poets&Quants, including Jonathan Politzki (2021), Dhanashree Mandhani (2022), and Shriya Srikanth (2023).

Like many past winners of a ranking in Poets&Quants, Aggarwal has big ambitions for the future.

“Our long-term goal is for Omnipher to become a common, everyday accessory,” said Aggarwal. “That’s why our tagline says, ‘Everyday essentials, always at hand.’”

Aggarwal co-founded Omnipher with Nick Militello, an undergraduate in engineering mechanics at The Grainger College of Engineering. To read more about the Most Disruptive Business School Startups of 2024, visit Poets&Quants. Learn more about Omnipher on its website