Our new executive director of entrepreneurial programs featured on Utah Public Radio

To be honest, as a student, I’m nervous to enter the workforce.

I often find myself asking, “Will I be able to find employment in this economy?” and “Do I have the skill sets necessary to compete in a competitive market?” While this anxiety might be valid in the uncertain climate of today’s workforce, it’s important to remain optimistic.

Rob Goates

There are exciting changes going on around us, and it’s a great experience for students to have professors with academic and professional backgrounds that we can learn from in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business.

Michael Glauser is a good example. The new executive director of entrepreneurial programs was interviewed on Utah Public Radio yesterday.

Speaking on nurturing a passion for something, he said, “You have to really be excited about what you’re doing, and passion is the fuel that carries you through all the ups and downs.”

I thought that this was a marvelous point because everyone has a passion for something (mine is Aggie ice cream). You might laugh, but Dr. Glauser turned his passion for yogurt into a very successful business.

He said it is important to know your industry. The Huntsman School of Business works hard to make certain that the students here are given opportunities to study abroad, intern at businesses and rub shoulders with real-life professionals because, as Dr. Glauser stated, “Good ideas emerge in industry; you need to be out in the field.”

He emphasized the importance of teamwork. He said business leaders should share the load of carrying a company because “a lot of entrepreneurs want to fly solo and keep all the ownership, but statistics have shown that they won’t get far.” I’ve found this in group projects. To achieve the common goal (in many cases, to get an A) and do something extraordinary oftentimes requires the contributions of every group member.

With 50 percent of startup businesses only lasting three to five years and another 20 percent not making it past seven, it can be intimidating. Dr. Glauser said it takes a lot of work to get a business off the ground.

“I always joke with my students that they, as entrepreneurs, have complete freedom to choose when they work their 80 hours a week.”

He talked about Jon M. Huntsman, his entrepreneurial spirit and the principle that Dr. Glauser learned from him to “give back” to the community. With that ideology and the need to be ethical in business, Mr. Huntsman found enormous success and now acts as an inspiration, especially to the students that study here.

As an ending note, Dr. Glauser stated that “Our ultimate goal is to help to as many people as we can start successful companies.”

It will always be scary to graduate and move into the unknown, but knowing we have faculty that have been there and done that certainly helps.

Rob Goates