How College Helped a Co-Founder of SolarGroup and FleekSleek Succeed
Michael leveraged college as a "launchpad" to connect and network with others, prioritizing learning from other's mistakes to accelerate growth; this approach led to unexpected client acquisition, with a simple compliment on a shirt at the campus gym sparking connections that fueled their entry into the fitness-related website and content creation space. College enabled opportunities to meet a wide range of people that ultimately shaped Michael's current career trajectory as a Co-Founder at SolarGroup & FleekSleek.
Networking, Communication, Opportunity Creation, Building Connections, Real-World Examples
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michael Gombert
Co-Founder
SolarGroup & FleekSleek
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Business Management & Admin
Technology, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Communication and Marketing
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Networking is key: College provides a great environment to meet people who can open doors to future opportunities. Don't underestimate the power of casual connections.
2. Learn from others: Utilize college as a place to learn from the experiences and mistakes of others to accelerate your own growth.
3. College as a launchpad: View college as a place to experiment, connect, and launch yourself into your desired career path.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
Before college, a friend told me, "You have to learn from other people's mistakes because you can't learn them all yourself." So, I used college as a launchpad to learn from and connect with others. I learned so much.
Honestly, most of my connections came from people I just met, and many of them were from college. I wouldn't be in the space I am today, nor would I have met my clients, if I hadn't gone to the campus gym.
I met a guy there and complimented his shirt. A week later, I saw him again on campus at the gym. He introduced me to multiple people and several different gym spaces. We started in the fitness side, making websites and shooting content.
I've never met most of my beginning and some of my bigger clients if I hadn't said I liked that guy's shirt. So, I used college more as a launching pad and a place to connect and network with people.