To celebrate a decade of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (ELP), we sat down with Clay Spaulding, a robotics innovator and ELP alum (2024), who leads with courage and curiosity. Whether it’s boats on the water or bots in the sky, Clay isn’t afraid to tackle what’s toughest.
Clay talked us through his journey so far, his excitement around the future of aerospace, and the ways in which ELP prepared him for future success.
Chasing Challenges
From the very beginning, Clay’s restless curiosity has fueled every step of his journey. “I’ve always been intrigued by anything that could challenge me,” Clay remembers. Growing up, he viewed complex problems as puzzles waiting to be solved, especially in the field of aerospace. “Planes always felt like boats of the sky,” he laughs, “and the hardest thing I could do.”
After high school, Clay headed to Mississippi State University, his days filled with experiments in fluid mechanics and unmanned aerial drone projects. He also worked at the campus entrepreneurship center between classes, helping students turn wild ideas into working prototypes. “I always had entrepreneurship as a backbone in my life,” he recalls.
When it came time to explore graduate programs, Clay found the ideal combination of robotics and entrepreneurship at the CFE. “The first thing I did was look up how to apply to ELP. It was the final checkmark I needed to decide on Michigan for grad school.”
From Engineer to Entrepreneur
Clay’s ELP experience turned his perspective upside down. “I came in thinking like an engineer: ‘How do I make a product?’ But I didn’t have a concept of bringing it over the finish line,” he recalls. “Making a business plan? Source funding? I had a rough idea, but no formal training. ELP gave me a really well-rounded framework outside of the engineering approach.”
Most of all, Clay learned what real leadership looked like. “You don’t need to have ‘manager’ in your title to be a leader,” says Clay. “ELP really drove that home.”
Learning by Doing
Today, Clay is a software engineer at Blue Water Autonomy, writing code for self-driving naval vessels and taking projects from design to production. “Startups are a place where you wear a lot of hats. ELP prepped me for that. Even as a software engineer, one day you’re a product manager, the next you’re a marketer. It keeps you learning, and that’s why I stick with it.”
He thanks ELP for preparing him to work in the startup world. “ELP gave me a baseline in finance and funding that engineering classes just don’t cover. The idea of raising a round or getting seed funding meant nothing to me until ELP broke it down.”
Clay also credits the program with helping him navigate between disciplines and fostering a mindset where curiosity fuels collaboration. “The best stuff happens when you mix it up. In ELP, we had software and robotics engineers, educators. Different backgrounds made us stronger.”
Advice For U-M Innovators
So, what’s Clay’s advice for students charting their own path? “Leverage every resource you have. Michigan is so unique in that it has so many resources, so much funding, and brilliant people available to you every step of the way.”
He knows it’s easy to go to school, take your classes, and go home, and warns that “not everybody will find the willpower to utilize the opportunities available.” Clay encourages students to get involved and make the most out of Michigan’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
With a fresh master’s in robotics, Clay’s excitement for what’s next is contagious. “Robotics and AI are exploding right now. The next big jump is where software and AI meet hardware. I want to ride that wave.”
The CFE’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program coaches leaders from every discipline. No matter where you start, the drive to solve tough problems and collaborate can flip your future.
Want to be the next success story? Discover what ELP can do for you and join a community where innovation is for everyone.