All undergraduates begin their time at Wharton with Wharton 1010: Business and You, the gateway course that introduces students to business disciplines and their applications to real-world problems. As part of the four-module Leadership Journey, Wharton 1010 helps students discover curricular opportunities (business pathways), understand their own strengths and leadership potential, and prepare for the Wharton experience.
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​Teaching assistants (TAs) support the class by assisting instructors with class management, coaching student groups through the Innovation Challenge, and mentoring roughly 20 students each throughout their first semester.

MLP recently interviewed the head TA, Francesco Salamone, to hear his perspective on the class, what he has learned, and how he plans on continuing his leadership education.

When Francesco left Palermo, Italy, for Wharton, he imagined a future filled with corporate strategy and boardroom decisions. However, from his participation in the mandatory freshman course and now as a TA for that same class, Francesco discovered that leadership isn’t about titles or hierarchy. It’s about empathy, reflection, and the quiet power of connection.

From Student to Mentor

Francesco’s journey began like many others: navigating the whirlwind of team projects and self-discovery. But stepping into the TA role opened his eyes to something deeper. “The best way to make an impact is through one-on-one conversations,” he says. He recalls a new student who felt out of place after being waitlisted from Wharton. “He kept asking, ‘Why am I here?’ and I told him, ‘It doesn’t matter how you got here; what matters is that you did get here.’ That student later became a TA himself.”

These moments, he explains, are the heartbeat of the Wharton 1010 experience. “There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to facilitation,” Francesco reflects. “I start with the assumption that we’re all in this together. I have as much to learn from them as they do from me.”

​Leadership Without Hierarchy

Francesco leads bi-weekly community meetings with fellow TAs and facilitates spaces for candid conversations about boundaries, mental health, and the art of listening. “Our goal isn’t just to manage projects,” he says. “It’s to create a culture of trust and growth.” For him, leadership means dismantling power dynamics and fostering interdependence. “I’m not the biggest fan of hierarchy,” he admits. “I lead by empathy and meeting students where they are.”

A Shift in Perspective

Initially drawn to the corporate world, Francesco now envisions a future in higher education or student advising. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you might need to change your environment to suit who you are, rather than change yourself to fit the environment,” he says. This insight came from countless hours observing team dynamics and reflecting on his own values. “I don’t believe in rigid destinations. It’s about staying true to yourself.”

The Power of Reflection

MLP played a pivotal role in shaping his approach. Its emphasis on after-action reviews taught him to pause and absorb his experiences. “People at Penn are great at planning but not at pausing,” Francesco notes. “You chew, and you eat, but you don’t take time to enjoy and absorb the meal—the experience.”

Mentorship That Lasts

Francesco credits Dr. Anne Greenhalgh as a guiding force. “She taught me to bring the entire person into the conversation—pain, grief, work, and education,” he says. “We share a belief in bridging the humanities and the business world.”

Paying It Forward

For Francesco, leadership at Wharton means responsibility. “My first year, I didn’t have many friends. My TA was the first person who really took the time to sit down and talk to me. Now, I feel a responsibility to do the same. My definition of leadership is simple yet profound: empathy, interdependence, and paying it forward."

Click here to read more about the Wharton 1010 class and the role of a TA.