This article appeared as "Back to Business” in the Winter 2026 issue of Independent School.
On a spring morning last year, the halls of The Potomac School (VA) buzzed with anticipation as students prepared for the annual Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Business (EFEB) Senior Capstone Project Showcase. Posters lined the walls, reflecting months of diligent research, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. Parents, mentors, and faculty mingled, pausing to listen as students confidently presented their findings—from a deep dive into private equity, an analysis of Washington, DC’s Eastern Market redevelopment, and a study on the evolving landscape of student-athlete compensation.
The Capstone Project Showcase is the culminating piece of the EFEB program, which launched in fall 2022 and is a partnership between chief financial and operations officer Dyana Conroy and upper school economics teacher Giorgio Secondi. Designed to combine rigorous academics with real-world experience, the program is open to juniors and seniors and includes internships, industry connections, and more. What started with 17 students has grown to 40, highlighting an increased interest in business education.
EFEB builds on The Potomac School’s foundational courses in macroeconomics, microeconomics, and entrepreneurship. After junior year, EFEB students complete a summer experience, such as an internship at companies like General Dynamics and Clark Construction or conducting research with industry experts on topics like real estate development and investment analysis. The expectations for these four-week experiences come close to real workplace demands: 30 hours per week exploring subjects from urban market redevelopment to international business operations.
As part of the program, every year the school hosts guest speakers from diverse industries to share their journeys and insights; last year’s speakers included venture capitalist Stefanie A. Thomas, health care innovator Nitin Goyal, and Cvent founder Reggie Aggarwal.
Looking ahead, the school plans to introduce a dedicated curriculum for sophomores that covers behavioral finance, credit, investments, and budgeting so that all students, not just those in the EFEB concentration, gain practical money-management skills. The school is also committed to strengthening community partnerships by organizing more industry field trips, expanding its network of internship and mentorship opportunities, and actively engaging parents, alumni, and local professionals as guest speakers and collaborators. With these initiatives, the school aims to equip students with both the knowledge and the connections they need to thrive in an ever-evolving economic landscape.
A student presents her poster at The Potomac School’s Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Business Senior Capstone Project Showcase.
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