When Bill Gates, Class of 1977, left Harvard after his sophomore year to found his own computer software company--now known as Microsoft--few predicted how successful he would be.

Since then, many other Harvard students have followed in the now billionaire's footsteps and have created their own start-up companies--a trend that is not going unnoticed at the Office of Career Services (OCS).

While OCS is regarded more for its resources for students seeking jobs in traditional fields like investment banking and consulting, the office is trying to make its own operation reflect the newfound interest in entrepreneurship that is dramatically reshaping the world economy.

"Some students are moving away from the traditional large-bureaucratic-business world," says OCS business counselor Nancy E. Saunders. "What we've been seeing in the marketplace is students are taking an interest in starting their own companies."

And today, in recognition of this trend, OCS will hold the first of several major events for students interested in start-up companies

The event--entitled "Step Up to Start Ups"--will be held at the Gutman Conference Center at the Graduate School of Education and will consist of a panel discussion on various aspects of start-up companies. It will also include a fair in which students will be able to network with representatives from more than 30 companies.

"This is where we see business in the next century," says OCS business counselor Robert M. Cohen, who has worked with Saunders for the past few months to plan the event.

Jack of All Parts of the Trade