Realizing impact: Lessons from a summer business program

Formerly the Junior Executives Pre-Business Program, J’COB is a week-long residential experience offered by the Ohio University College of Business designed to build up high school students and enhance their learning experience regarding the business world. For participants, the only cost associated with J’COB is the travel to and from Athens.  

Associate Professor of Instruction in Analytics and Information Systems Nicole Antoinette Smith is the director of the J’COB program. Smith said J’COB’s structure is based on her own vision of preparing students to become global business leaders capable of addressing real-world challenges with innovative solutions. 

"The J'COB program isn't a summer camp," Smith said. "It's the first step in a five-year journey we've designed to foster creative leadership and innovation. We start by igniting that spark of creativity in high school and continue to nurture it through their college years with ongoing programs and support." 

An instrumental part of making the program possible are the counselors who help facilitate sessions, ensure resources are available, and help the high school students navigate the experience.   

Kole Clay, a senior with a double major in marketing and business management and strategic leadership, is a J’COB counselor who served at the summer camp. He has been a counselor for two years and describes how working in the program has inspired his career goals and ambitions. 

“You’re able to witness the students grow and adapt exceptionally to a college setting in a short period,” Clay said. “Most of these students come from across the state, and others [from across] the country, with some coming from across the globe. They get an exclusive experience of the college setting as they go into their senior year of high school, all while solving a certain issue.” 

J'COB’s “Hackathon,” where participants solve a real-world problem, is one of the program's unique elements. It sharpens participants’ ability to work as a cohesive unit. Clay said it also enhances creativity and “out-of-the-box thinking.” 

“This year, the problem addressed food hunger and insecurity. Throughout the week, the students worked on different products and services to combat the issue of food insecurity. They also got to go on amazing trips around Columbus, visiting places like the PNC Bank and Palmer-Donavin, a construction material wholesaler in Licking County,” Clay said. 

As much as the students learn, the counselors also pick up meaningful life lessons and profound realizations.   

“As a counselor, this camp has helped me realize the impact I can have in people's lives,” Clay said. “Being a counselor is a massive responsibility because you reflect your establishment as you care for the students. I was happy when I heard most of them say that through this camp experience, they had found and settled on the school they wanted to attend college.” 

Clay went on to describe more about what he loved about J’COB. 

“I loved watching the incoming high school seniors grow and adapt to their environment. You could tell on the first day everyone was a little bit shy, but as the camp progressed, they became friends and shared many moments,” he said. 

Clay said J’COB provided him with his own shift in perspective and that he had an experience of clarity similar to the students when it was all said and done.   

“Playing the role of a counselor in this camp helped me embrace a different perspective on project and project management,” he said. “A lot of the time, when it comes to creating business projects, I am a student. So, it was great to help coordinate and help other students achieve results. I think it translated well because my team finished in first place!”