Since its inception in 1898, Northeastern University has stood out as a leader in experiential learning, pioneering the cooperative education model that blends academics with real-world experience. I’ve been fortunate to be part of that tradition in my own entrepreneurial journey.
I was honored to be featured in a recent Northeastern University article highlighting my work as the founder of Sit Stay Forever. The piece, titled “Steve Whitney’s Game-Changing Year: Harnessing the Power of Collaboration and Education”, shares how 2023 became a turning point for me and my business.
👉 Read the full Northeastern University article here
My Graduate Fellowship at Northeastern
In 2023, I was accepted as a graduate fellow at Northeastern University. Through the fellowship, I’ve taken courses in digital marketing, finance, leadership, and data analytics — all of which I’ve applied directly to growing Sit Stay Forever.
What has made this experience especially rewarding is the people. Working closely with program director Professor Francesca Grippa and collaborating with motivated students from around the world has broadened my knowledge and inspired me with fresh ideas. The Inclusive Entrepreneur Fellowship has been instrumental in shaping both my personal development and the future of my company.
Why 2023 Was a Turning Point
Running Sit Stay Forever has always been about more than making pet products — it’s about creating safe, sustainable, and healthy solutions for pets, people, and the planet. But like many entrepreneurs, I reached a point where I needed new strategies to grow the business.
Being accepted into the fellowship gave me access to world-class faculty, mentors, and students who partnered with me on everything from SEO and website redesign to pay-per-click advertising, social media strategy, and consumer research.
Collaboration That Made a Difference
Under the guidance of Professor Christina Inge, student teams conducted deep dives into consumer trends around eco-friendly and organic pet care, giving me valuable insights to better connect with customers. This collaboration sharpened my marketing and financial strategies and encouraged me to pursue certification as a disability and veteran-owned business — a step that has opened new grants and growth opportunities.
2024–2025 and Beyond
As I said in the article, “Participation in this fellowship program has been the highlight of my entrepreneurial career.” The knowledge, support, and ideas I’ve gained are already shaping the future of Sit Stay Forever, fueling everything from website and advertising enhancements to fresh images and videos, a stronger social media presence, and more effective customer outreach strategies.
I’m especially excited to be working with Northeastern students this summer in a video editing class that is producing brand videos for Sit Stay Forever — another example of how the fellowship continues to create meaningful opportunities for both my business and the students involved.
I’m eager to carry this momentum throughout 2025 and beyond, and I’m grateful to Northeastern University for shining a light on our story.
📖 Click here to read Northeastern University’s full article on my journey
✨ At Sit Stay Forever, we’ll continue setting a higher standard for safe, sustainable pet products — because our pets deserve nothing less.