Business Strategy Institute
Think Like a Strategist. Decide Like a Leader.
Learn how organizations compete, grow, and adapt – by doing the work real executives and consultants do. The Business Strategy Institute is an immersive, hands-on summer experience at Wake Forest University designed for high school students who want to understand how real business decisions are made. Rather than focusing on starting a business alone, this institute explores how organizations – large and small – develop strategy, allocate resources, finance growth, build trust, and respond to competition. Students will work in teams, analyze real-world case studies, engage with industry leaders, and act as “consultants” tackling authentic business challenges in higher education, healthcare, and beyond.
The week culminates in a team-based strategy presentation, where students pitch recommendations to peers and professionals, showcasing what they’ve learned.
At a Glance
2027 Dates: Week of July 18-23, 2027
Program Length: Sunday – Friday, overnight
Tuition: $3,500
*Tuition is subject to change per year
Location: Winston-Salem, NC – Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus
Who Can Apply?: Current 9th – 12th grade students
*Courses carry no secondary school or college credit. Upon completion of the program, an official Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion will be awarded to all Biology Research Institute participants.
What You’ll Experience
Topics Covered:
- Business & Corporate Strategy
- Competitive Advantage & Market Positioning
- Financing Growth (Internal Capital, Debt, VC, Investment Banking)
- Leadership Styles & Team Dynamics (DISC Assessment)
- Business Analytics, Budgeting & Performance Tracking
- Selling Ideas, Building Trust & Client Relationships
- Career Pathways in Business, Finance, Consulting & Entrepreneurship
Hands-On Experiences:
- DISC personality assessment to identify leadership and work styles
- Team-based strategy and consulting challenges
- Interactive business case studies
- Financial decision-making simulations
- Guest speakers from corporate strategy, finance, and operations roles
- Final team presentations evaluated by industry professionals
*Hands-on experiences are subject to change.
A Day in the Life
Typical Daily Schedule
- 8:00 am – Morning Check-In & Breakfast
- 9:00 am – Welcome & Introduction to Business Strategy
- 10:00 am – Workshop: DISC Profile and Teambuilding
- 11:30 am – Business Case Study
- 12:30 pm – Lunch
- 1:30 pm – Guest Speaker: Private Equity
- 2:15 pm – Project Worktime
- 3:45 pm – Team Synthesis & Case Study Discussion
- 4:30 pm – Reflection and Preview of the Next Day
- 5:30 pm – Dinner
- 6:30 pm – Evening Activities
- 7:30 pm – Free Time
- 9:00 pm – Prepare for Bed
- 10:00 pm – Lights Out
*The “A Day in the Life” sample schedule is subject to change.
Meet the Academic Leader
Tom Ondrof
Academic Leader, Business Strategy Institute
Tom Ondrof is a highly accomplished finance executive with a distinguished, multi-decade career marked by strategic leadership roles in the foodservice and facilities management industries. He is recognized for his expertise in financial planning, corporate development, and implementing initiatives that drive significant growth and efficiency.
Ondrof most recently served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Aramark, a global leader in food, facilities, and uniform services. During his tenure from 2020 until his retirement in early 2024, he was a key architect of the company’s financial strategy and growth initiatives.
His extensive career history includes high-impact roles at several industry giants:
- Performance Food Group (PFG): Served as Executive Vice President and CFO, where he successfully led numerous working capital and strategic financial initiatives.
- Compass Group North America: Spent nearly 25 years in various senior leadership positions, including CFO, Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief Development Officer.
Early Career: Began his professional journey as an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers and held a role in planning and development at ITT Rayonier.
Ondrof holds foundational knowledge in accounting and strategic business management, having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Wake Forest University and an MBA from the University of Georgia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students work in teams to analyze real-world business cases and tackle authentic strategy challenges involving areas such as higher education and healthcare. They act as consultants, work with industry leaders, and develop recommendations that they present at the end of the week.
The Business Strategy Institute focuses specifically on how organizations make strategic decisions, compete, allocate resources, finance growth, and respond to changing markets. Students work as consultants on business challenges rather than focusing primarily on the broader fundamentals of running a company.
Students analyze case studies and tackle authentic business challenges in areas including higher education, healthcare, and other organizational settings.
Yes. The institute includes guest speakers from corporate strategy, finance, and operations, along with final presentations evaluated by industry professionals.
The week culminates in a team-based strategy presentation in which students pitch recommendations to peers and professionals based on the work they completed during the institute.