ATHENA Entrepreneurship Boot Camp for Women

It's nice to know that there is a program out there that encourages women to challenge the system and be better versions of themselves. The boot camp is an unforgettable and life changing experience. I have a long way to go, but I wouldn't be the person I am without this program.

I went to the Hydra II program with Exosphere in March 2015 and I have to say it was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. The program was set up so that whether you are very experienced to clueless, like myself about entrepreneurship, it’s balanced because together with all the staff, lecturers, and participants we create, discuss, and collaborate with one another. I was with about 28 other people and I have to say they have become family to me; we cried, we laughed, we struggled and learned together. Each week had a theme which would help set the foundations to being independent in business. The diversity of backgrounds and experiences in the group made growing individually as well as learning a constant. At the conclusion of the 8 week program I felt like learned more in Chile than in my 4 year duration of University.

I think the most meaningful part was the community I established with the other participants. We all would come up with projects and several people within the two months collaborated together. There were 8 girls including myself and one day after talking we decided to write a book about impossible love stories from our own experiences and within the week had it up for publishing. This program really gave me the time, resources as well as the push to find what it is I enjoy most and start projects in them. Even 4 months after the end of the program I find myself taking on new challenges and all of the relationships I have made with the participants and staff are still there. If I could I would do this program again and I would suggest it to others who like a challenge, want a change in their life, or hope to gain a push in entrepreneurship. It made a major impact on my life and I have taken a much more independent approach on my career because of it.