Phoebe Lee faced a big decision. For two consecutive summers, she had interned with a commercial real estate firm. She was pleased by the opportunities she received to take on new responsibilities as her experience increased.  

But Phoebe was also considering the Accelerator Summer Business Immersion program, and joining the program would mean discontinuing the internship. “Initially, I was torn,” says the New Jersey native, whose family relocated to the Nashville area during her junior year of high school. After extended conversations with the Accelerator staff, Phoebe “realized the program would provide a fast-paced, hands-on environment that would push me to sharpen my business skills in ways an internship could not.”

Her Accelerator experience proved her reasoning to be sound. “Immediately upon beginning my work in the program,” she says, “I had so much responsibility. Not only did my team depend on me, but huge companies put their trust in me, and they valued my work and perspective.”

In another way, the program exceeded Phoebe’s expectations. “I expected to learn from the professors and coaches,” she says. “Vanderbilt naturally attracts world-class professors, but I was blown away by their brilliance and authenticity. Every faculty member I encountered went above and beyond to invest in students’ development. And I was surprised by how much I learned from my peers—and about myself. The talent and drive within the student cohort are unmatched, and being surrounded by such excellence raised the bar for me in every way.”

Even amid long days of working in the program, Phoebe recalls how much she enjoyed walking around the area with classmates, grabbing coffee, and spending time together. “The weekends have been a fun time to explore. Everywhere you look, there’s something exciting: live music, delicious food, or cowboys walking down Broadway.”

Midway through the program, Phoebe received news about another big decision. Earlier in the year, she had applied to transfer from the University of Georgia and finish her undergraduate education at Vanderbilt.  

“In the middle of our team time one day,” she says, “I got an email from Vanderbilt that I was offered admission. When I shared this news, one of my professors gave me a huge hug. The rest of the day was filled with hugs, high-fives, and congratulations. This community, which I had only been part of for a week, was so invested and excited about my future. That’s my favorite memory.”