Written by Davidson College student, Ceyda Yesillik ’28
What do a lawyer’s memoir, the Charlotte Ballet’s $60 million expansion, and a meningitis-fighting thermometer have in common? They’re all projects we’ve worked on as part of the Davidson College Consulting Group (DCCG), a Davidson College student group based in the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation & Entrepreneurship that consults small businesses and entrepreneurs. Our team of 36 students, spans 20 majors and 20 languages. We’ve completed 29 projects, and our diversity of experience means we can cover almost any consulting need. But, just like Rome, the current structure of our team wasn’t built in a day.
During the last few years, the Jay Hurt Hub has been expanding its student consulting arm. Amy Tirpak joined the Hurt Hub team in 2024 as the Consulting Operations Manager, and part of her work involves using feedback from students and businesses to improve how student consulting operates at Davidson College. There are three big changes between the old model (Gig-Hub) and the new model: the leadership structure, an educational element, and the client experience.
The Gig-Hub program was built on a micro-internship model that gave students direct, hands-on exposure to real client work, an approach that proved valuable and earned meaningful support from our community. Through years of careful research, student and client feedback, and a deeper understanding of what the market demands from entry-level consultants, we identified an opportunity to evolve the model even further. That research led us to the DCCG consulting team structure, where consultants are embedded within collaborative teams, assigned to two or three projects at a time, and supported by peers who share accountability for outcomes. This team-based approach builds on the foundation Gig-Hub established while creating an opportunity for professional development. In this model, project success is a shared responsibility, deadlines are met with greater consistency, and the quality of every deliverable reflects the strength of the team behind it.
Leadership Structure
The leadership operates under a three-tier structure: the Project Lead handles execution, Amy oversees the Project Lead, and the Client sits at the top with the final say. Each project is staffed by a small team of students and supported by Amy. One student is designated as the Project Lead based on prior experience with similar projects, and leads no more than two projects at a time to ensure each deliverable receives the attention it deserves. Any questions are directed to the project lead first, then Amy, then the client, and this in turn creates a seamless experience for clients, freeing them to focus on what matters most. Molly O’Brien ’26, who worked with the team as a Project Lead over the summer, recalls the experience as uniquely educational.
“Learning how to work with different people’s schedules, different personalities – I really enjoyed that challenge. And I think you don’t get that just through classes.” – Molly O’Brien ’26
Educational Element
Project Leads continue to get the experience of directing teams while also making sure interdisciplinary teams have the direction they need in order to succeed. With the new leadership structure, DCCG also encourages collaboration and teaches communication skills alongside technical skill-building. Interdisciplinary teams create the perfect environment for peer-to-peer learning, and the effect is amplified by intentionally pairing consultants experienced in a project with those who want to learn more. When Tanaka Makoni ’28 was improving a website for a photographer, he needed creative direction from Emma Huff ’26, who owns an art business herself.
“I can work to implement the website, but … I don’t always have the greatest design eye. So, having somebody from a different discipline be there and guide the design process to elicit the emotion that the client wanted her users to experience was useful.” -Tanaka Makoni ’28
Education is a big part of student consulting at the Hurt Hub. Tanaka, who specializes in website building, makes great use of his academic interests in consulting. Majoring in computer science, Tanaka loves to apply what he learns in his classes, and working on consulting projects gives him practical experience he wouldn’t get anywhere else, like converting websites built in outdated coding languages into modern, editable ones.. Aside from academics, student consultants also get to hear from experienced consultants and speakers at our biweekly meetings.
Client Experience
The student consulting team is a great stepping stone to full-time consulting, but Davidson’s liberal arts environment makes it an especially ideal place to pursue the field. Unlike many other consulting groups, not all students on the team are hoping to work in management consulting after college. The group genuinely enjoys the work because of the impact.
“I really like the idea of consulting. To me, it’s just working together with the businesses and helping them with identifying the most suitable strategic business development plans, either through research, data, or creative activities.” -Trang Dang ’27
The DCCG is eager to help businesses flourish. As we continue to learn and grow, all of our improvements are reflected in our clients’ experiences. Our new leadership structure and educational programming ensure clients receive seamless, end-to-end service. The interdisciplinary group also creates a holistic experience that doesn’t rely solely on the limited skills of a single person. Many of our clients, such as the Charlotte Ballet or small businesses in Chimney Rock, have complex problems that need to be considered through different perspectives, and our liberal arts education equips us to approach problems from multiple angles.
Being on the Davidson College Consulting Group really feels special. I feel supported by my peers: it’s a collaborative environment where everyone is invested in one another’s success. Everyone in the group seems grateful to be there, and seeing the impact I get to have on small businesses is truly a rewarding experience. I’m proud to be a part of our Chimney Rock projects, which aim to help the community recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. I also feel ready for my career with the DCCG, being a mini professional environment on-campus. The dedication and effort Amy Tirpak puts into our team really shows. Amy actively seeks out new opportunities, develops new training, handpicks relevant speakers, and solicits feedback to ensure the DCCG remains a valuable and highly respected resource for both students and businesses. With its constant improvements and impactful projects, Davidson College Consulting Group, in my opinion, is the best job on campus.
