College Experiences That Helped a Cofounder at Pencil Energy Succeed
Kyle's six-year undergraduate journey, encompassing diverse fields like music and environmental studies, highlights the value of exploring various interests ("I tried a bunch of things"). This experimentation, coupled with developing a love for learning ("learning to love learning"), ultimately proved foundational to Kyle's success as a cofounder at Pencil Energy.
Career Exploration, Overcoming Challenges, Resilience, Motivation, Achieving Goals
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kyle Brauer
Cofounder
Pencil Energy
UCLA - 2017
UCLA Anderson FEMBA, 2023 - MBA Degree
Political Science, American Studies
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management, Energy & Utilities
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Explore diverse subjects: Don't be afraid to try different academic areas to discover your interests and passions. Kyle's experience with music, arts, anthropology, and environmental studies highlights the value of exploration in finding the right career path.
2. Embrace the learning process: Develop a love for learning itself. Kyle emphasizes that learning to enjoy the process of acquiring knowledge is fundamental to success in any field, not just focusing on grades or immediate results.
3. Persistence and time management: It's okay if your path takes longer than expected. Kyle's six-year undergraduate journey demonstrates that perseverance and effective time management are crucial for achieving goals, even if it involves adjusting plans along the way.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad that set you up for success in your career?
That's a good one. I tried a lot of things. I took more time to graduate.
I'm not technically non-traditional because I think I graduated too young for that by UC standards. But it took me six years to finish my undergrad. I was a music major for a time, and those credits didn't all transfer.
As I mentioned, I took every 101 class. I've done arts, anthropology, and environmental studies. I just tried a bunch of things because I really didn't know what I liked.
I was not a good student in high school. I had to learn to love school at community college, which I did. That set me up most for anything else because learning to love learning, as meta as that sounds, has been the basis of how I've become good at whatever I've sought to be good at.
So the message is: try a lot of stuff, and it's okay if things take time. Stick with it.