Meet Ivana Vera Sánchez, Industrial and Operations Engineering major, Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (ELP) cohort member, and the Director of Trailblaze for MPowered Entrepreneurship. In the short time she’s been on campus, Ivana has maximized her impact and shown a contagious drive to connect people and ideas.
Her passion? Bridging entrepreneurship and community for global impact.
How it Started
Ivana’s journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t typical. It was personal, rooted in family, and shaped by watching her sister take bold steps with CFE.
Ivana’s introduction to the CFE came from her sister, Karen Vera Sánchez, a junior minoring in entrepreneurship and a member of last year’s ELP cohort. She says that watching her sister’s success inspired her to take the leap toward entrepreneurship herself.
“Watching her go through the program, grow so much, and really expand her network was super inspiring for me,” she says. “Seeing her experience gave me the confidence to take that first step and reach out to the Center for Entrepreneurship myself.”
Once she decided to get involved, Ivana was all in. Last year, she was invited to participate in the annual Detroit Trek, immersing herself in the local startup scene.
“That experience really stuck with me,” she recalls. “Hearing entrepreneurs talk openly about their journeys, their challenges, the risks they took, and the growth they had was incredibly motivating! It honestly fuels me to think bigger and believe that building something impactful is actually possible.”
This semester, she serves as the director of Trailblaze at the MPowered student entrepreneurship club. While navigating this new role, she leaned into mentorship from CFE staff, namely Nick Moroz, Alison Smith, and Kaitlin Keahl. “They were key in helping me understand everything the CFE offers. There are so many resources for U-M students who are interested in entrepreneurship, even if they’re just starting out.”
Defining the Entrepreneurial Mindset
“To me, an entrepreneurial mindset is about believing in what you’re building and being willing to keep going, even when things get hard or exhausting.”
The lessons Ivana took away from CFE instructors and visiting entrepreneurs are powerful. “I really started to understand this during my ELP classes, where I had the opportunity to learn from people like Grace Hsia Haberl and Mitch Rohde.”
“They talked openly about the challenges they faced, the moments where things didn’t go as planned, and how they still pushed forward because they truly believed in what they were creating.”
As Ivana puts it, “Having an entrepreneurial mindset isn’t just about having a great idea. But it’s about creativity, consistent effort, and trusting both your project and your team. It’s about showing up even when you’re tired, because you care about the purpose behind what you’re building or simply love the process itself. That’s something I’ve been actively developing during my time at U-M, and it’s really shaped how I approach projects and opportunities now.”
Finding Joy & Community in Entrepreneurship
For Ivana, the ELP experience underscored how entrepreneurship is fueled by community as much as innovation.
“Entrepreneurship isn’t about competing against each other, but about supporting other entrepreneurs who are on the same journey.”
“Within that community, we constantly share ideas, concerns, and solutions. That sense of teamwork has made the process more meaningful and joyful for me.”
As she says, “The value of entrepreneurship comes not only from what you build, but from the people you grow alongside and the experiences you share together.”
What’s Next for Ivana?
Right now, Ivana’s looking forward to all the ways she can keep expanding her perspective and network across campus and beyond. “I’m really excited about the CFE treks and all the opportunities they offer to explore entrepreneurship beyond campus.”
“As a freshman, I’m also excited to expand my network and meet people from different backgrounds and with different interests, because that helps me broaden my perspective and my vision.”
She’s quick to spotlight the support she’s found here, too. “As an international student, I truly believe that the University of Michigan is the best place to experience all of this. There are so many resources, communities, and inspiring people here, and I’m excited to make the most of everything U-M has to offer. Go Blue!”
In addition to her roles with CFE and MPowered, Ivana is involved with the American Cancer Society and the Collaborative Lab for Advancing Work in Space, uniting teams and tackling meaningful projects wherever she goes.
Advice for New CFE/ENTR Students
Ivana’s advice? There is space for everyone. “Don’t ever feel overwhelmed. There is always someone or some resource within the CFE that can support exactly what you’re looking for. Don’t hesitate to reach out; the team is incredibly welcoming and genuinely wants to see students succeed. Getting involved can feel intimidating at first, but taking that first step opens so many doors.”
Professional Ambitions & Impact
Most recently, Ivana is pouring her energy into launching Savia Capital, an ambitious fintech startup with a mission to empower micro-entrepreneurs.
She’s tackling a real need and a real challenge. “Traditional banks often see micro-entrepreneurs as high-risk because of their income or limited assets. With Savia Capital, my goal is to help close that gap by creating opportunities for entrepreneurs who are often overlooked. People who, just like this community and me, have the drive and potential to build something meaningful.”
Building something meaningful is exactly what she’s doing, and her vision includes impact on a global scale. “I’m especially focused on emerging markets, starting with my home country, Mexico, and my long-term vision is to scale Savia Capital globally. Through the ELP program and other entrepreneurship courses, I’ve been able to actively develop this idea, and it has already become real with our first pilot client.”
Ivana’s journey is about using every learning opportunity, every community connection, and every challenge as fuel for a larger impact.
If you take one thing away from her story, let it be this: Entrepreneurship is about more than just building startups. It’s about finding your people, creating possibilities for others, and showing up with purpose.
Calling all students! From engineering to the arts, from freshmen to grad students: if you’re ready to take your first step, the Center for Entrepreneurship is here to welcome you. Let’s scale your impact together!