College Experiences That Helped a Cofounder and CEO at Unconventional Ventures Succeed
Aaron believes two key things prepared them for success: deeply understanding the finance industry, going beyond just numbers to grasp its context and workings, and the "undervalued" skill of networking, which involved strategically understanding the campus landscape and cultivating relationships to build a network where give and take was a constant. This early emphasis on relationship management and showing up taught them invaluable lessons about business that transcended academics, and ultimately set the foundation for Unconventional Ventures.
Networking, Relationship Management, Industry Knowledge, Finance, Understanding Business Context
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Aaron Chavez
Cofounder/CEO/CFO
Unconventional Ventures
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey | Barrett
Finance
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Business Strategy
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Deeply understand your industry: Aaron emphasized understanding the context of how finance worked beyond just the numbers.
2. Value of Networking: Aaron prioritized knowing where different groups of students (business, engineering, med school) were on campus to build a network for problem-solving and relationship management.
3. Proactive Relationship Management: Aaron actively scheduled time to chat with people, took an interest in the world around him, and managed relationships by giving and taking value.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
There were two big things I did in college that helped set me up. The first was really understanding my industry. I knew finance and I understood what investment banking was going to be. I had read the guides, put in the work, and was just interested in it. This allowed me to understand more than just the numbers, but the context of how it worked and where it fit.
The other thing, which I think is pretty undervalued, is the value of knowing how to network. I started this in high school but continued it in college. I wondered where everyone on campus was: where the business school kids were, where the engineers hung out, and where the med school kids were.
Because if I knew where everyone was, and I had a problem, I knew who to call. This little exercise of making friends and understanding the school better, even within the micro-world of ASU, gave me a real sense of what it meant to network, manage relationships, and give and take value.
Sometimes you're hanging out, sometimes you're asking for a favor, and sometimes they're asking for one. Managing that over years taught me so much about business. It taught me what it means to balance a relationship, to show up, and to check in.
People would laugh at me because I'd say I had to run to another club meeting. They'd ask why I had meetings as a sophomore, and I'd respond, "Why don't you have meetings? Don't you set up times to chat with people? Don't you take an interest in the world around you?" Are you just "vibe living" this whole time? There's more to do than just vibe.