the Wond'ry

Nate graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2006 and went on to receive a Masters degree from Sciences Po in Paris, France two years later. He served as a Captain in the Medical Service Corps at Langley Air Force Base and deployed to Afghanistan as a mentor of medical logistics to the Afghan National Army. He has since been involved with a language learning tech start-up and an innovative meal service start-up.

Q. What excites you most about the Wond’ry?

A.I love the energy and curiosity of college students in general as well as the diversity and creativity of Vanderbilt students in particular.

Q. What do you feel are the most important skills you have to offer in your role as a mentor?

A. I learned business both in the US and in Europe, was trained to think strategically in the military, and am constantly working with different business models as the Managing Director of Bunker Labs Nashville.

Q. What has been your proudest moment in your career?

A.Getting a “Finance et Strategie” diploma from Sciences Po, Paris. Going from taking French 321 at the Air Force Academy (which is essentially a higher level grammar class) strait to Macroeconomics, Corporate Finance, Financial Math..etc. in French was one of the hardest things I’ve done. I failed 3 classes my first semester but walked away 2 years later with a Masters degree.

Q. What has surprised you most about your job?

A. How ridiculously hard yet simultaneously rewarding entrepreneurship is. It’s as if the whole world is stacked against you and yet.

Q. If you could do everything over again, would you make the same career choices?

A. 100%. It hasn’t been the easiest road but I wouldn’t trade anything for the people I’ve met and friends I’ve made all over the world.

Q. In your opinion, what is the most important quality for success?
A. Being able to define success!

Q. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A. Growing up in Tuscaloosa, I of course wanted to play football for the Crimson Tide. If I got to play in the NFL, that would be an added bonus.