Co-Founder and CMO at Shinesty
Where has life taken you since graduating Leeds? After graduating, I worked in brand听strategy and innovation consulting for large CPG companies (think Coca-Cola, Nestl猫, Starbucks, New Belgium, etc.). I 听learned a lot about businesses from the inside, as well as the way consumers think. But I鈥檝e always wanted to start my own business, so I left consulting to start with another Leeds alumnus, Chris White (JD/MBA听鈥�15). We wanted to create an outrageous clothing line with a brand and business to match. It鈥檚 been three years since then. We听employ about 40 incredible people, have filmed a six-episode TV series called Shinesty on MTV2, and I have more fun coming to work every听day than I ever could have imagined. It鈥檚 by far the most stressful, enjoyable, and fulfilling thing (all at once) I鈥檝e ever undertaken. I get to run the marketing team, which at Shinesty basically means creating听entertaining content and finding the best ways to get it in front of听people.
How did your time at Leeds impact you as a person? It was transformative. It鈥檚 where I met almost all of my close friends and my (now) wife. It鈥檚 also where I got exposure to some really incredible professors and learned to push my thinking. When I got听to Leeds I became genuinely excited and invested in my education. My Leeds education is a huge reason why I鈥檝e been successful in my career.
What experience was particularly memorable? The Leadership听Challenges experience as a whole. Not only did I meet my wife at a challenge, but the format of the class, hearing stories directly from听influential executives, really learning how to think critically鈥t was truly听a standout experience for so many reasons and probably one of the most incredible experiences offered anywhere in higher education.
What is one piece of advice that has stuck with you? "Do听what you love and you鈥檒l never work a day in your life.鈥� My Dad used to tell me this all the time because he was so enamored with his work. What he didn鈥檛 say was how many听temptations there are to prioritize other things. I鈥檝e had a ton of friends who took jobs for the wrong reason, only to have to press the reset buttons to work toward听something they were truly passionate about. When we were starting Shinesty, I was able to think about what I really wanted to be fulfilled holistically and tactically in my day-to-day. So, even听though it鈥檚 often more stressful than anything else I鈥檝e ever done, and even听though I work longer and harder than I ever have, there鈥檚 still nothing I would rather be doing.听
To nominate yourself or a fellow Leeds alumnus or alumna to be in an upcoming alumni newsletter, email LeedsSuccess@colorado.edu.
August 2017