Eccles Business Buzz

David Eccles School of Business
  • 5.0 (17)
  • CAREERS

Welcome to the Eccles Business Buzz Podcast. My name is Frances Johnson, and your host for our podcast show. We know the Eccles community is only as strong as its alumni network and as I have built relationships with alumni across the nation, I’ve learned how truly remarkable our network is. Our goal is to share alumni stories, perspectives, and voices on topics that are driving conversations around the globe and within our school today. The core values of the Eccles community will underlie everything we discuss here: Entrepreneurial Grit, Continuous Curiosity, Empathetic Global Citizenship, and Impacting Your World. Eccles Business Buzz is a production of David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University FM.

  1. S9E9: The Non-Linear Path to Venture Capital Success with Dalton Wright: From Venture Fund to Venture Forward

    2D AGO

    S9E9: The Non-Linear Path to Venture Capital Success with Dalton Wright: From Venture Fund to Venture Forward

    As we approach the end of our season highlighting alumni from the University and the impact that the David Eccles School of Business has had on their lives and careers, we welcome back guest-host Annesley Womble, who talks with Dalton Wright, General Partner at Kickstart, a seed-stage venture capital firm with offices in Salt Lake City and Denver. Dalton shares his unique career journey, which began with his involvement in the University Venture Fund and progressed to significant roles in venture capital, including helping to develop Utah’s first seed fund through Kickstart. He also discusses his non-linear career path, which included launching a startup and strategically working in venture capital in Mexico. The University of Utah played a critical role in supporting Kickstart during its early formation, providing guidance and infrastructure as the company navigated the challenges of launching a startup. Kickstart’s initial investment meetings were held at the University of Utah Technology Transfer Office, and the University was instrumental in the firm’s successful launch. Dalton also helped develop the Campus Founders Fund, a student-run investment fund established after his return to Utah. Today, the fund has invested in more than 30 student startups, including one that now generates several hundred million dollars in annual revenue. This University of Utah initiative has helped launch the careers of many students into the venture capital industry. Dalton emphasizes the importance of embracing change, redefining risk, and maintaining curiosity amid the evolving technological landscape. This episode is filled with insights on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and the value of pursuing passion over a linear career path. Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm. Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts.  Episode Quotes: Why the best career opportunities often look uncertain at first [10:31] When Kickstart was launching, I saw that as my opportunity to learn seed-stage venture capital with somebody who was the founder, the entrepreneur in that category. And so I was lucky enough to get the job as the first hire with the fund. We had $4 million under management at the time. This is the 2008 Great Recession. So I can empathize with any cohort of students who's graduating and wondering, like, is the world going to change forever? And will there ever be employment opportunities for me again? You know, nobody wanted to fund our fund. People saw it as like a community service project support entrepreneurs, but nobody was looking at it as these guys are going to go build like a franchise venture capital fund. But, you know, most good things look like that in the beginning. They're not yet exciting, they're not yet successful, and you have to be able to suspend what you see in the present moment and imagine what this thing can become in the future. Getting comfortable with fear and risk can help you explore a non-linear career path [11:57] There's one point right after graduating from college where my peers were all pursuing the linear path, and I'm not in any way saying, "Oh, like, they made the wrong choice," because, like, I mean, so many people have different preferences, values, things that they're trying to optimize for. So I never am trying to, like, say, "But my way is like, let me give someone else advice," because my way was my way, and it might not work for somebody else who even wants the same thing, let alone something entirely different. So I decided very early on that I was going to condition myself to feel comfortable with my fears and feel comfortable with the risks that I was taking. And so I think reframing what a risk is is really important if you want to take the nonlinear path. On why knowing your “why” matters more than money when building a startup [35:16] I've encouraged students to really think about the why behind what they're doing. And if it's to make money, a lot of money, it's like you can use that as a motivator, but there's also a lot of maybe easier ways or better ways, faster ways to have that need met. And so when you're grinding it out and you're not making money as a founder, and all of a sudden it's like, Hey, you can go take the consulting job and immediately have like a nice salary. Or you could potentially go get that, what causes you to say, Why would I ever consider that? And so I think if you know why you're building the thing and it's like truly rooted in the problem that you're trying to solve, the customers that you're serving, the change that you want to make in the world, if it's rooted in that, then you can lean on that through the down times to inspire you through that. Show Links:Dalton Wright | LinkedInProfile | Kickstart FundDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

    35 min
  2. S9E8: Curiosity is the Key that Unlocks Success feat. Ben Holley

    JAN 29

    S9E8: Curiosity is the Key that Unlocks Success feat. Ben Holley

    We’re back for more stories about the impact the David Eccles School of Business has on the lives and careers of our alumni, and today we are sharing another success story of connections made through the David Eccles Alumni Network with Ben Holley. Frances talks to Ben about how he went from earning a music degree at the University of Utah  and an MBA from Harvard Business School to now the VP of Finance for Disney Entertainment Television.  Ben discusses his career journey, the importance of curiosity, and how it has consistently opened unexpected opportunities along the way. Ben shares insights from his varied roles throughout his tenure with Disney and emphasizes the value of building relationships and connections along the way. He also touches on his philanthropic efforts supporting Ukrainian families affected by war through the efforts of To Ukraine with Love. This episode offers valuable advice for anyone navigating career changes, fostering curiosity, and maintaining optimism. Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm. Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts.  Episode Quotes: Ben reveals how building relationships and connections shaped his career path [12:41] The other theme besides curiosity that might emerge in this conversation you'll hear me say again and again is the importance of building relationships and building connections. Whether that be, as we've been discussing, to help manage a business that you're part of, or whether it's building your career, connecting to those that are further on in their careers that may be able to provide advice or guidance. I remember an experience as a student when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I didn't really know what I wanted to do, and so I sat down and interviewed, in effect, 10 or 12 local businesspeople and asked them all about their jobs. I'd say, What do you like about your job? What do you hate about your job? What does your family think of your job? Do you make a lot of money? Do you not make a lot of money? What education did you have? Should I be thinking about an MBA? All of those questions. And the lesson I learned from that, walking away from all those interactions, there's not one that stands out to me as, Oh, that was the one; that was the silver bullet; that person knew everything that needed to be known. In reality, what happened was it was me talking about my interests and hearing other people react to those interests, and hearing a little bit about that helped me in my own mind to crystallize what I thought was sort of the right path for me, and that process of discussing and exploring different opportunities in different fields was really what helped me shape my own direction. On why students shouldn’t be afraid to approach mentors and industry leaders [15:43] At the outset you do have to have a little bit of self-confidence to pick up the phone or send an email or a text or whatever to reach out and make that connection. But what I found, and I think what most people will find, is that people are eager to share their own experience and eager to give advice. They feel flattered, right? When you reach out to them and say, “Hey, you're smarter than me; tell me what I should do.” And so, if I could dispel the fear that some people feel about reaching out, know that most people are eager to share their experience and talk to especially students. How being curious and making bold moves helped Ben get to where he is today [17:18] I thought to myself, I'm capable. I can certainly explore it, right? Figure it out and try and make that move, and through a series of interactions and connections and opportunities that I was able to find myself in the role I'm in now supporting the television side of the business, which is so funny. I came into this a little bit naive, right? Thinking, oh, finance is finance and Disney is Disney. But in reality, the television business is very different than the parks and resorts business, and it took a long time for me to learn the business, to get to know the people, but it's the same thing. It's the same thing I was doing at the call center, right? It's, you know, find the guy who's running the tech, who's asking you questions, figure out how the business works, how the business runs. Connect with the people, understand who's making decisions and guiding the business, and get to know them and let them get to know you, and that'll serve you well. It served me well, certainly. Show Links:Ben Holley | LinkedInTo Ukraine with LoveUtah Entrepreneur ChallengeDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

    30 min
  3. S9E7: From Banking to Building: Real Estate Revelations with Ashley Atkinson Williamson

    JAN 15

    S9E7: From Banking to Building: Real Estate Revelations with Ashley Atkinson Williamson

    We’re back for more stories about the impact the David Eccles School of Business has on their lives and careers, and for this episode, host Frances Johnson is joined by Ashley Atkinson Williamson, Founder and Principal at Williamson Development.  In this episode, Frances talks to Ashley about her journey from med school to finance and then real estate, and what valuable lessons she learned from each segment, and how it all helps her now in her passion for real estate development.  Ashley discusses her other significant projects, including the co-founding of Utah’s Perpetual Housing Fund, and highlights the importance of adaptability, intuition, continuous learning, and building strong relationships. Ashley also emphasizes the value of grit and open-mindedness in navigating career changes and underscores the importance of community involvement and giving back. Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm. Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts.  Episode Quotes: Being a lifelong learner helps you embrace change and every pivot that comes with it. [21:21] I think that intuitiveness comes from experiences and learning. Now I'm 30, almost 35, and I still am like, well, now what am I going to learn? Like now I learned LIHTC; what should I learn next? Because you just have no idea where that's going to help you somewhere else. Anyway, I think continuing to want to learn and enjoy it, even if it's like architecture or planning or art or something that really, maybe it's adjacent, maybe it has nothing to do with your career, I think reading books about anything will help you somewhere. So I think just that mindset of enjoying learning—try to keep that up even when you're in the thick of long workweeks and your late twenties and early thirties. Find a way to learn and enjoy what you're learning. Ashley reveals what it took for her to push past the fear of changing careers. [16:42] Frances Johnson: Talk to us about how you motivated yourself and how you prepared yourself. What was it, maybe a mantra or a ritual or something that allowed you to overcome that fear and just really go for the opportunity? [16:58] Ashley Atkinson Williamson: I think it was just this self-knowing that this is where I want to be. I could have stayed at the bank; I could have worked my way up, but looking like five or ten years ahead, would I just have wasted those five or ten years, or would I be putting my effort into something else? And I have to attribute it to just grit. Like I just knew that this is where I was supposed to be. There were a lot of miserable days. Some of those days dragged on for a very long time, but I just, if this is what I wanted to do, I had to start somewhere. I had to get my foot in the door, and I do think that's one of my most valuable skills, especially being a developer. How staying connected to the alumni network opened doors for Ashley [30:52] I have gotten job offers, partnership opportunities from the relationships that I made years later. Like you talked about, maybe these relationships are going to bring opportunities years in the future. I'm really busy now. I'm running a business, and I'm a mom to a one-and-a-half-year-old, but I still make a point to say yes anytime I get invited to the U because, and I'm sure this is the same for most alums, we just want to give back to the school that gave so much to us. And I love getting invited to come back, and I love meeting with the students, and I really hope that I can inspire someone that maybe is nervous about jumping into something that seems scary or not following exactly the trajectory that seems like either their other classmates are doing or their mentors are kind of pushing them. Like just be open to doing something a little different. Anyway, I am always excited to come and tell my story and to try to help any students that I can. Show Links:Ashley Atkinson Williamson | LinkedInUtah’s Perpetual Housing Fund | WebsiteDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

    33 min
  4. S9E6: Generations of Success: Continuity and Innovation feat. Jeff Young

    JAN 5

    S9E6: Generations of Success: Continuity and Innovation feat. Jeff Young

    This season we are exploring all the different ways the David Eccles School of Business has impacted our alums, and today we are exploring the benefit of generational engagement with the Eccles School and the U, for businesses, communities, and families. We’re back for more stories about the impact the David Eccles School of Business has on their lives and careers, and for this episode, host Frances Johnson is joined by Jeff Young, Executive Vice President at YESCO.  In this episode, host Frances Johnson is joined by Jeff Young, Executive Vice President at YESCO, a custom electric sign company. Frances talks to Jeff about his multi-generational family business, its origins, and its evolution, including key projects like the 2002 Winter Olympics and the massive screen installation at the Las Vegas Sphere.  Jeff discusses the deep-rooted connection between his family and the University of Utah, including a 100 year legacy of family alumni. He also emphasizes the impact of the David Eccles School of Business on their success. Jeff highlights the importance of continuous learning, leveraging networks, and investing in education for the company's growth. This episode underscores the reciprocal relationship between YESCO and the Eccles School, illustrating how education and community engagement drive long-term business success. Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm. Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts.  Episode Quotes: Why investing in the U is a growth strategy for business owners  [25:34] If you go to the Small Business Administration statistics, we know that businesses just don't… You have a higher chance of failing than not. And with the headwind we have in our economy, in our world, you've got to pursue every possible avenue to create a successful trajectory. And that means hitting all channels. If you are not investing in yourselves and in your organizations and your people, you're going to fail, probably. And the university… I can't think of a more beautiful, well-situated campus, meaning the business school campus, a set of buildings, and a group of more capable people to help host events, and a more capable group of people who can help bring material and content to the training than the University of Utah. I mean, I'm practically looking at it out my window. I'm facing north. Having grown up in, basically, in the University of Utah neighborhood, I have a real deep feeling of love and appreciation for everything that you do and the value you bring. And so, we, as an organization, you just wonder where we'd be without the benefit of having this university so close and all the insights, thoughts, skills, aptitudes that have come because of that. How Jeff’s ties to the U and the Eccles School help sustain a multi-generation family business [10:02] Frances Johnson: I'd love to hear from you how your connection to the U and to the Eccles School has helped sustain your family business into so many generations. [10:13] Jeff Young: That's really a great question. Without the knowledge of how family businesses operate within the state, we've been able to meet dozens and dozens of other family businesses that strangely are also centennial-long businesses, and it's amazing to know that our grandfathers knew each other. Our grandmothers knew each other. Our fathers and mothers knew each other. And in current generations, a lot of them have gone through the University of Utah. And so, it's great to have the familiarity and that point of reference. And so, the business building in particular, we know where to go. We know who the people are, and it just feels like home to us. And we look around the room and see everyone else in that conference, and we say, "Yeah, we started here. We're still here. And we continue to decide to be here for all the right reasons." So, that continuing education and connection is vital.  On how Eccles School equipped Jeff for success [4:00] The challenges we're facing today are much different than they were when we went to school. But the aptitude to want to learn, to apply, and to continue to learn and apply remains true. As recently as this morning, I had my face in a book. I've just purchased it. I've got 90 people coming to a training next Tuesday. This training has to be fresh and to the point, and pertinent to what they're facing. It's a sales group, right? And you say, "Okay, here's some additional tools that you can apply in your life to make your lives better." And the idea that we're not fearful of learning more is we've got to continue the learning and the application of that learning. Every day, every week, every month. That spirit of that is as alive today as it was when I was walking in and out, it's a new building, walking in and out those buildings that are long since gone. It's as fresh today as it ever will be. There's no way that I could do any of that today as well as I am if it hadn't been for the education I received at the University of Utah. There's just no way. Show Links:Jeff Young | LinkedInJeff Young | Family Business Magazine ProfileYESCO.comDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

    26 min
  5. S9E5: Mentors and Milestones: The Power of Networking feat. Jeff Lewis and Alexandra Floor

    12/18/2025

    S9E5: Mentors and Milestones: The Power of Networking feat. Jeff Lewis and Alexandra Floor

    We’re back for more stories about the impact the David Eccles School of Business has on the lives and careers of our alums, and today we are sharing another success story of connections made through the David Eccles Alumni Network with Jeff Lewis and Alexandra Floor. Continuing our focus on mentorship and networking, Frances talks to Jeff and Alexandra about how they connected through the Eccles School, and how that connection led to an internship opportunity that created benefits for both Jeff and Alexandra.  Jeff, a wealth management advisor at Northwestern Mutual and Founder/CEO of Gelder Generational Wealth, served as a member of the David Eccles Alumni Network Board for 15 years, and Alexandra, set to graduate from the David Eccles School of Business this spring, serves as the director of Mentorship for Women in Finance and vice president of recruitment for Alpha Phi. Jeff has been involved with the school as an alum and a mentor, while Alexandra shares her experiences as a student benefiting from these connections. They discuss the value of internships, mentorship, and the ways in which the alumni network fosters professional growth for both current students and graduates.  Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm. Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts.  Episode Quotes: Alexandra reveals the real secret to building and growing your network [27:48] You're only as smart as the people you surround yourself by. And if you don't reach out to people who are smarter than you and intelligent and not in a negative way, but as students, there's so much opportunity out there. And for people with such high levels of experience, I mean, Jeff's been in the business for almost 30 years and for just taking that step to reach out and be around them and surround yourself, even if it's just lunch, even if you know it does turn into an internship, is the only way you're going to grow so significantly and build your network.  Why experiential opportunities build student confidence [13:46] When you think about an internship, it's really that you're test driving a career, and you're doing it without high consequence. You're not going into it with this expectation of being there for years on end. You're going into it with the parameters that are dialed out, like in this case, a semester. In some cases, it's just summer. But I think that's where the opportunity lies with an intern opportunity: to really have the student engage in that experiential learning and do it in order to build their confidence and really stretch themselves because I think that's what's going to differentiate them, not only on a resume, but really in the marketplace to be able to say, “Look, I've done something; I've done something different here, and here's why I know I do or don't want to continue to do that.” And I think that's something that, from my standpoint, if we find out that it's not a good fit, we're going to hopefully help that intern find something else that's a better fit. And when I was mentoring some students years ago, when they started the mentoring program at the University of Utah formally, I remember being in the union, and there were so many students that wanted to have mentors, and I had a table of about 10 students. And I learned very quickly that some of them just really wanted to have that interaction, to have discussions, have conversations, and some of them just wanted to be walked down the road.  Jeff reminds alumni that simply showing up makes a big impact on a student’s life [25:58] It's always fun to have that connection with people that you just have been able to do some good with and to be able to raise money for scholarships or to be able to mentor incoming students or outgoing students or those that are right in the middle. So all of the above. And I would encourage anybody if they're having second thoughts about doing it, like, “Well, I don't know if I can really help.” There's always something you can do. Showing up is such a great thing. There are so many people that come up and just invest a little bit of time, and it really yields some great benefits for the students and all those that are participating. Show Links:Jeff Lewis | LinkedInJeffrey Gelder Lewis | Northwestern MutualAlexandra Floor | LinkedInDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

    33 min
  6. S9E4: Unlocking the Value of Alumni Connections feat. Justin Spangler and Diego Alvarez

    12/04/2025

    S9E4: Unlocking the Value of Alumni Connections feat. Justin Spangler and Diego Alvarez

    We’re back for more stories about the impact the David Eccles School of Business has on the lives and careers of our alums. In this episode, host Frances Johnson is joined by Justin Spangler and Diego Alvarez for a conversation about the power of making connections through the David Eccles Alumni Network.  Frances talks to Justin and Diego about the start of their mentor/mentee relationship, as well as discussing some of the benefits of staying involved with the Eccles Alumni Network. Justin, an Information Systems graduate and current executive MBA student, serves as the chair of the David Eccles Alumni Network Board and is actively involved in mentoring students like Diego. Diego, a senior studying marketing and information systems, shares how his connection with Justin helped him secure a Google internship and offers insights on the value of building strong alumni ties. Both of them emphasize the importance of relationships, mentorship, and staying engaged with the alumni network to enhance career success and personal growth. Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm. Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts.  Episode Quotes: Diego reveals the mistake he made when connecting with alumni and what he’s learned since [06:58] Diego Alvarez: Going back to my early college career, and especially when I met Justin my sophomore year, the idea of meeting alumni at the beginning was pretty intimidating, especially when you think about networking too, and reaching out to people and like, oh, what does that look like? What does that mean? But as I've gotten to meet so many great alumni, I've realized just how great of a resource they are and how many people are out there willing to speak to you, willing to help you out. And what I really appreciate about it is it connects the theory or skills that you learn in classes to your actual career work. [08:03] And in my experience, I admit this is a mistake I've done in the past too. I think people jump all the way to the end where it's like, "Hey, can I have a referral?" or "Hey, I'm applying for this position; can you help me out?" But starting to build those relationships now during your undergrad experience and not at the end of your undergrad experience is super valuable because, like both of you mentioned, it is a relationship, and if you just look at it as, "Oh, I just want that referral," or "I just want that extra push in a position that I'm applying for," I feel like you're missing out on the entire experience that you can have. How having Justin as a mentor helped Diego find direction as a first-generation college student [19:36] Diego Alvarez: Just the feedback and practice that I received with Justin was monumental [and] was huge for me. Being able to have that person to bounce ideas back and forth to practice. We did a few interview prep sessions. He really helped me learn how to kind of sell myself as an individual when it comes to, not just interviews, but the moment you meet someone, the moment you talk to someone. And that was huge. Just in making myself more personal, making myself a friendlier person just in general, but also with my career as well. So having that feedback was massive, and not having someone to bounce those ideas back with, honestly, it would've been like wandering around in the dark, not knowing, okay, is it working or not? And when I find out if it is working or if it's not working, I'm probably finding out once they're sending me an email saying, "Hey, we're going to move on with someone else," or, "Hey, we'd like to continue on." So having that feedback, having that input, was awesome. And then going back to that support, just having those people who are champion for you, who push for you, is awesome. Those people who remove barriers for you has been huge. So those things, like knowing the barriers that could have been in my way if I didn't have someone like Justin or have the other mentors that I've had in my life, knowing the feedback and the conversation I've had. If I didn't have that, I don't know if I would've been able to go as far as I have.  Justin shares how mentoring a first-gen student reignited his own motivation [23:40] Justin Spangler: I learned a lot from Diego. As I mentioned, Diego's a self-starter. He's overcome a lot. First generation in college, as we've talked about on this podcast, that inspires me as a mentor to be better and think of ways that I can help. And you know, when you're in that rut that I spoke about just a couple of minutes ago, you know, I'll get you out of it, and Diego's a shining great example of that. So definitely from a motivation perspective, relationships are a gem. I think we spoke about that earlier in the podcast, and there's value in having relationships and not just thinking those so short-term, as you mentioned, Frances, but long-term. I think there's a huge benefit to having friends and friends that you care about for a long period of time. It's been fun to watch Diego learn and grow over these last couple of years, and in my life, that helps me be more motivated to continue to learn and grow. When you get to where I am, about almost 10 years into the working field, you can kind of hit a low, you can kind of hit a plateau, and sometimes you need that motivation to help you keep coming up. Show Links:Justin Spangler | LinkedInDiego Alvarez | LinkedInMy Eccles Experience: Diego Alvarez | ArticleDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

    36 min
  7. S9E3: Mastering the Art of Career Pivoting feat. Nikita Siddamsettiwar

    11/20/2025

    S9E3: Mastering the Art of Career Pivoting feat. Nikita Siddamsettiwar

    This season of the Eccles Business Buzz podcast continues by highlighting alums from the David Eccles School of Business and the meaningful impact their degrees have had on their lives and careers. In this episode, we welcome guest-host Annesley Womble, who talks with Nikita Siddamsettiwar, a 2020 Finance graduate of the Eccles School of Business and a Senior Business Architect, Compete for AI Business Process at Microsoft. Nikita shares her journey from initially aiming for a career in investment banking to pivoting into corporate finance and landing a role at Microsoft. She discusses the importance of being open to new experiences, leveraging networking, and constantly adapting to change, especially in challenging times like after the COVID-19 pandemic. Nikita's story demonstrates the value of taking informed risks, the benefits of a supportive alumni network, and her continuous quest for growth, including her current and future aspirations in AI and startup environments. Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm. Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts.  Episode Quotes: Nikita on her biggest mindset shift [10:54] The biggest mindset shift that I've had to tell myself is that what you do right now does not define what you're doing in five years. I genuinely thought that because I was majoring in finance, and because everyone was doing banking, equity research, you know, investment management, that that's the path that I had to choose and, what I was doing in college was going to dictate my entire career. And I quickly took that mindset and changed it, and did that in my career at Microsoft as well. So I was like, if I leave finance and, let's say I do a job in engineering, I realize I don't like it, I have already made such great connections in finance, and I'm confident in myself that I can go back. Real leaders don’t stay in one lane, they explore every side of the business [11:55] One of the biggest pieces of advice one of my mentors at Microsoft told me is that really successful leaders, at least at Microsoft, have truly taken a role or a stint in every part of the organization, whether that's horizontally or vertically. So when I say vertically, I'm talking about different products or different solutions. And at global companies, each product works as a completely different part of the business. They have different rhythms of business. Or horizontally, where I could either do engineering, or I could do strategy, or I could do marketing, or I could do finance. So that was like something that really stuck to me. Conquering the fear of stepping into the unknown [13:39] What advice would you give to young professionals who feel stuck or afraid to make that change because they feel like they’re totally getting rid of that foundation and stepping into the unknown? [15:32] If you have a good leader, they will make sure that they're progressing your career. And so find those champions in your company, or I've done this on LinkedIn and I've reached out to people outside of my company and been very transparent like, ‘Hey, you can see that I'm in a finance role right now through LinkedIn, but I'm really curious to see how a role in product management would work. Like, could we chat? If so, I would love to talk to you about my concerns about leaving finance’ And I find people who have done very similar career paths as  me, and there's so many people who have pivoted. And so I think reach out to people and be very transparent about why you're doing it and do it inside your company and outside of the company. How the alumni network helped Nikita and others navigate career pivots [21:07] What this alumni chapter really gives me is, one, a network that says, "Hey, we're all from the University of Utah. We all kind of had a similar education, and that's something that we can relate to regardless of what field we're in." And so second, let's just say I'm trying to do another pivot and I'm trying to go to a different company or try something new. I find if someone reaches out to me and they're from the University of Utah, I'm way more likely to trust them and their expertise, even though I haven't actually worked with them. And so, I mean, I've reached out to our alumni so many times when trying to maybe see if I want to work at a different company or maybe see if I want to go into a different field like engineering or something. And they were the most helpful. And so selfishly, that's what I gained from this chapter. Show Links:Nikita Siddamsettiwar | LinkedInDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

    26 min
  8. S9E2: Activating Potential Through Relentless Effort feat. Carnell ‘Nelly’ Griffin

    11/06/2025

    S9E2: Activating Potential Through Relentless Effort feat. Carnell ‘Nelly’ Griffin

    The season continues as we talk with alumni about the impact the David Eccles School of Business has on their lives and careers. In this episode host Frances Johnson talks with Carnell (Nelly) Griffin, an MBA graduate who is now an Indirect Buyer with NVIDIA, and has also established a scholarship at the Eccles School for first generation students in the Opportunity Scholars Program. Nelly shares his remarkable journey of attending North Carolina State University, working at IBM, pursuing an MBA from the David Eccles School of Business, and now working at Nvidia. But he reflects on where it all started when at a young age he recognized the importance of mentorship and took strides to take on a mentor and follow their advice. Nelly also discusses overcoming personal hardships, and the value he has found in staying curious and open to new possibilities. Emphasizing the need for discipline, persistence, and constant self-improvement to succeed, this episode highlights Nelly's unyielding mindset, the importance of creating your own path despite challenges, and what can be gained in life by never giving up. Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm. Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts.  Episode Quotes: Nelly shares that while results take time, it’s important to keep going. [31:55] But the satisfaction you're going to feel when you finally overcome whatever hurdle is in your way… It's going to get to the point where you're, like, receiving dividends from things that you forgot about, the struggles that you did, that you forgot about. So, just keep going. And, also, that is an important thing I did not mention before, and I probably definitely should have started with that. Things take longer to come back to you than you think they do. They really do. The person that referred me into Nvidia met me in 2013, and I had no idea she was that impressed with me, and I did not seek this job out. I came to her asking for help because we're in the same profession with my job. And her advice to me was to apply to, and I was like, wait, wait. I was like, I didn't even know she thought of me on that level, right? Where she would see me as a peer to hers, right? In a working world.  Successful leaders thrive in the unknown [07:22] How many of them actually know where they're going before they get there? They don't. You got to have the confidence. You got to be willing to take a risk. And that risk often comes with more ambiguity. If you want to be successful, you need to be prepared not to fit in. [03:29] I learned that I'm going to have to reach out to people that do not look like me, that do not sound like me, that are not from the same place that I'm from, to get where I want to go. Because I do not see anyone else going there. And I think that was the time I became what I would call, it was really big affirmation to myself that ″success looks weird." And that's when I became a weirdo. Like, if you want to be successful, you need to be prepared not to fit in. And from there on, I became comfortable being the different person because the things she had me doing, even then, those small things like, "Don't waste your summer, do an extracurricular activity. You need to build up a list of things that you can say you do so you can go to college." So, like I had all these thoughts in my head early, and it kind of just pushed me through, and I still keep that mentality today, like, what am I doing that's different, that's going to give someone a reason to push me forward. Nelly opens up about why his alumni network still matters more than ever. [37:19] So, me staying connected and doing the scholarship and giving back is keeping me connected with where I came from personally, which is going to keep me motivated and keep me from complaining when my boss asks me to stay late on a Friday to close a big deal or do anything like that. Professionally, oh my God, even though that was wake up at 4:30 every morning and not go to bed till midnight type of thing, while I was in the MBA program, I met some amazing people, like absolutely amazing people. And it was, I would say, that part of my life where the movie version of life and real life kind of aligned a little bit, right? Like, I met some really cool people. [38:31] We call each other about work and stuff like that. But yeah, those two reasons. They both keep me humble. And then I'm just excited to grow and be part of this network. And at my age, I realize the university isn't great because it's the university. It's great because of the people that continue to contribute and come back to it. That's what makes any organization great. It's not because it's the organization. It's because, collectively, when you all add your knowledge and power, and experience together, it creates this amazing thing. So, I want to be part of that. So that's what I'm trying to do. Show Links:Carnell (Nelly) Griffin | LinkedInDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

    41 min
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5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Eccles Business Buzz Podcast. My name is Frances Johnson, and your host for our podcast show. We know the Eccles community is only as strong as its alumni network and as I have built relationships with alumni across the nation, I’ve learned how truly remarkable our network is. Our goal is to share alumni stories, perspectives, and voices on topics that are driving conversations around the globe and within our school today. The core values of the Eccles community will underlie everything we discuss here: Entrepreneurial Grit, Continuous Curiosity, Empathetic Global Citizenship, and Impacting Your World. Eccles Business Buzz is a production of David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University FM.

Information

  • Creator
    David Eccles School of Business
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    92
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Eccles Business Buzz