When FabNewport alum Teo Janiga headed to Fordham University, he thought his future might be in marketing. Three years later, after a semester studying abroad in London, a job behind the bar at a New York City restaurant, and a growing fascination with how organizations work, his path has evolved.
This summer, Teo will intern with a small business consulting firm that helps organizations improve operations, understand their finances, and solve complex business challenges.
The opportunity grew out of an unexpected place.
After returning from studying abroad, Teo took a job at a restaurant where he had previously worked as a busser. This time, he found himself closer to the business side of things.
“Working behind the bar made me curious about how the restaurant actually made money—and how it could make more,” he said. “One thing led to another.”
That curiosity led him beyond marketing and toward business operations, finance, and consulting.
But when asked how FabNewport influenced his journey, Teo didn’t talk first about specific skills or projects. Instead, he reflected on a mindset.
“I think one of the biggest things I got from FabNewport was an entrepreneurial mindset—not just in business, but in life,” he said.
For Teo, entrepreneurship is less about starting companies and more about creating value.
“I’ve always thought entrepreneurship is really about providing value to people. FabNewport was always about helping people find value for themselves and for others.”
As a college junior looking ahead to life after graduation, Teo says he and many of his peers are wrestling with the same questions.
“Everybody my age is asking: What do I want to do? What’s next? What now?”
What stands out to him now is how early FabNewport encouraged young people to explore those questions through their interests and passions. “It’s not as common as you’d think for people to lean into their interests and passions when they’re trying to answer those questions,” he said. “I think I do that by default, and a big part of that comes from my experiences at FabNewport.”
When asked about a memory that has stayed with him, Teo didn’t recall a particular project or achievement. Instead, he remembered a feeling.
“I remember being in the basement in Olneyville after school, helping a group work on projects,” he said. “I don’t remember exactly what we were making—we were sewing something—but that’s not what stuck with me.”
What he remembers is looking around the room.
“No one was on their phones. Everyone was talking to each other. Kids were making things for friends and family. I remember this feeling of calm all around. What I remember is community.”
More than a decade later, that feeling still stands out.
“It was special.”
Today, whether he’s analyzing business operations, helping organizations solve problems, or preparing for a career in consulting, Teo continues to follow the same approach that first took root years ago: stay curious, create value, and invest in community.