By Zack Miklos 

“Our world needs more people that do what they love to do.” This simple, yet inspirational thought comes from one standout sophomore here at Fordham. His name is Lorenzo Obeso, GSB ‘18, and he is an entrepreneur.

Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Enzo, as he is commonly called, travelled quite a distance to come to Fordham. When asked why he decided to attend, he mentioned three specific reasons. His passion and aptitude for business, he wanted to be in New York City and he identifies closely with the university’s Jesuit values.

Enzo is planning on majoring in finance, and he is involved in several campus activities. First and foremost, he is a mentor to fifteen freshman students through the Compass Fellowship. While further elaborating on his role, Enzo said, “I help them incorporate their passions into a profession that can positively impact society.” He is also actively involved in the entrepreneurship society here on campus.

While Enzo’s involvement on campus is admirable, it only brushes the surface of who he truly is. He has a profound ability to innovate and apply his knowledge and experience to support those in need. This is most clearly exemplified in Ventir, the company he founded last year.

When asked what compelled him to start Ventir, he responded, “When I grew up, I had many creative outlooks. I enjoyed playing the violin and soccer. In high school, I stumbled upon music production and got really into photography. I then began getting really serious about school and was able to get a good internship at a private equity search fund. I began really focusing on business, but wasn’t able to incorporate my creative outlooks. So I decided to create a company that would incorporate both.”
Enzo mentioned that his company releases its first product in the coming weeks. It is a backpack designed for adventurers, photographers and other people who are enthusiastic about incorporating creativity into physical activity. He mentioned that it would have separate compartments with magnetic locks, making it very easy to store a camera or any other creative tool.

Enzo also made the social impact of his business clear, saying, “When I pitched my idea to Kenneth Cole at the end of my freshman year, part of my idea was that a portion of the profits will be donated to Gear to Dream, which partners with orphanages to give impoverished kids supplies and sports equipment.”

Gear to Dream is a non-profit organization that Enzo started when he was a junior in high school. He explained that the mission of his company was to “help people incorporate their passions into what they do every day.” Enzo emphasized how the mission is vague, but he designed it that way.

One guiding principle for his company is the idea that, “we need more people that pursue their passions.” A restrictive mission statement, like a career that it not aligned with one’s passions, would likely limit the company’s potential. “I want to change the world by creating really efficient business structures,” he concluded, saying, “I want to find the right resources, find the right people who need those resources, and find easier ways for these people to get them, changing their lives in the process.”