
Hobbies and interests
Photography and Photo Editing
Christian Witterman
1x
Finalist
Christian Witterman
1x
FinalistBio
I am a student at Duquesne University pursuing majors in Entrepreneurship, Finance, and Real Estate. Throughout my time in college, I have remained committed to academic excellence, earning Dean's List recognition each semester while balancing work and educational responsibilities. My studies have strengthened my interest in business, investing, and real estate, and I am focused on developing the skills and experience needed to build a successful career in these fields. Outside of the classroom, I work to help support my education and am dedicated to making the most of the opportunities available to me.
Education
Duquesne University
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Finance and Financial Management Services
- Real Estate
- Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
Career
Dream career field:
Real Estate
Dream career goals:
Intern
Pennsylvania Precision Cast Parts2026 – Present7 months
Sports
Volleyball
Varsity2020 – 20244 years
Future Interests
Advocacy
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
Pittsburgh Future Founders Scholarship
What motivates you to pursue entrepreneurship, and how have your experiences, challenges, or inspirations shaped this ambition?
Unlike entrepreneurship motivations derived from books or theories, my inspiration came from people. Things like the entrepreneurial journey of my grandfather started from scratch. He started with nothing apart from passion and the belief that there would be no stopping him. His ability to build an investment casting foundry fueled my dreams as it taught me that regular individuals have the capacity to build great things by sheer effort alone.
My involvement as a volunteer at Operation Better Block in Homewood, Pennsylvania, gave birth to the second aspect of my entrepreneurial experience. As I joined to lend a helping hand, I did not anticipate that it would impact my life immensely. Being involved directly with the challenges of housing in a community working towards making better decisions, interacting with residents of the neighborhood and witnessing firsthand the shortcomings of the system with respect to their needs made the idea take root.
Finally, my mother's career in real estate provided yet another insight into entrepreneurship. I observed the practical side of dealing with real estate, understanding that it is more than just an income earning mechanism; it has a capacity to bring about change.
That’s the type of entrepreneur I strive to be. My goal is to establish myself as an investment realtor, earn my true financial success, and then turn around and reinvest it back into low-cost housing and underserved neighborhoods such as Homewood, which provided my sense of purpose. My grandfather taught me how to build, and Operation Better Block taught me what was worth building for.
How have you prioritized learning about, or working in, entrepreneurship during college?
I chose Duquesne University due to its entrepreneurship major program. This wasn't random it was a conscious choice based on the knowledge that I wished to achieve real success, and that required me to learn how to do so in the appropriate environment. From the first moment at DU, I was set upon making the most of what it had to offer me.
In my classes, I have devoted myself to every assignment, especially those connected to entrepreneurship. The innovation program of DU even for incoming freshman became an important part of my studies, and every assignment became another chance for me to think entrepreneurially, analyze problems, create solutions, and learn to communicate effectively.
But I always knew that a degree would not be all that was necessary. I chose to enter the realm of real estate, but I did not let this narrow focus limit me. In order to gain entrance into this realm, I started working for a real estate agency and took on photography work for the same firm. Two completely distinct areas provided me with valuable insights into the field that no amount of coursework could have provided. The position at the agency taught me about transaction processes, relationship building, and everything else that goes on behind the scenes. Photography allowed me to see other aspects of the field, particularly positioning and marketing.
My degree from Duquesne University provided me with the blueprint. I've spent the last four years building the house.