College Experiences That Helped A Founder At GreatBuildz Succeed
Jon, a Founder and Partner at GreatBuildz and Maxable, recommends a diverse college experience to prepare for a successful career, suggesting students "do everything," explore various classes beyond their major, and actively seek internships and campus involvement. This approach, including "trying something new and trying something different," allows students to discover their passions and build valuable skills applicable to future endeavors.
Career Exploration, Networking, Leadership, Communication, Entrepreneurship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jon Grishpul
Founder, Partner
GreatBuildz, Maxable
Cal Poly - SLO
n/a
Business Management & Admin, Marketing
Architecture, Construction & Design
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Take diverse courses to explore interests and discover passions beyond a specific major.
2. Actively seek internships and on-campus jobs for practical experience and networking.
3. Get involved in clubs and organizations to develop leadership skills and build connections.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I studied business and majored in marketing. I concentrated in marketing because I thought that's where I wanted to go. However, I didn't want to pigeonhole myself.
I took many different classes within the business major. There were mandatory courses, but I also had a lot of empty credits. I used these to try different things.
I took a jazz music class, a negotiation class, and a sales class. I also took an improv class, gaining many different experiences directly from the college curriculum. The course load was super beneficial for learning about myself and what I enjoy.
Beyond that, I think getting involved is important. I had internships every summer during college at different types of companies. I also had different jobs on campus for half the time I was in school.
I got involved on different teams and with various organizations. I joined a fraternity and was in different clubs, holding leadership positions in some of them on campus. Even in high school, I was involved in youth group and leadership.
If you want something, go do it. If it doesn't exist, you can create it. Having this perspective within the college experience will prepare you for looking at the world in the same way after graduation.
Being a go-getter and outgoing, even if it's not your natural personality, by putting yourself out there and trying something new, is the ultimate way to see what your life could be like. You can visualize: "Is this something I enjoy? Is this something I want to do more of? Could this be a new hobby or a new career?" You won't know until you try it.