Bearcats Mean Business podcast

Grant Freking: (00:00)
Every Bearcat has a story, but some stories remind us exactly why hard work, persistence, and a little bit of risk taking can change everything. Today's guest, Bobby Shuckmann, proves that a big dream backed by focus and relentless effort can turn into a career that once felt out of reach. Bobby knew early on that he wanted to work in sports. That dream wasn't easy and it wasn't guaranteed. But through smart career choices, a willingness to invest in himself and a co-op experience that demanded more than most people would dare take on, he built the foundation for long-term success. In our conversation today, Bobby will share how an unpaid co-op with the Indiana Pacers became a defining chapter in his career. The lessons gained from picking a craft and excelling at it, and the mindset it takes to break into a competitive industry. Welcome, Bobby. Thanks for joining me today.

Bobby Schuckmann: (00:50)
Good morning. Thanks for having me.

Grant Freking: (00:52)
Of course. Now, Bobby, for those who don't know you, what do you do and how do you describe the moment you are in right now, professionally?

Bobby Schuckmann: (01:00)
Well, first I'm a, a proud west sider. I grew up in Cincinnati, went to Oak Hills High School, um, and eventually married my, my wife, uh, while I went to, went to uc as well. Um, so I'm proud, proud Bearcat, um, proud, um, uc sports fan. Um, I have a 15-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. Uh, so it's, it's crazy to think about the conversations I'm having now with my daughter about college and reflecting back on 20 plus years. And, you know, and here we are. Uh, my, my career today, uh, for the past 20 years has been in the wealth management space as a wealth advisor and private banker, uh, primarily to professional athletes, coaches, uh, team executives and bus business centers in this space. Um, so it's been fun to, uh, reflect on, on the journey that I've been, and I try not to, to forget what it was like starting out at uc and, and not necessarily having a game plan to where I am today, and being very thankful for my time at uc. Uh, and for, for Dean Lewis for getting me here.

Grant Freking: (01:57)
Now you got right to Dean Lewis. And that was my first question. Now, Dean Lewis mentioned to me recently that you had this dream of a career in sports while you were a student at Lindner, the old Lindner Hall. We all know a lot of people have that dream, but it's not so easy to get in this to the business, especially in the sports business. When did you know you wanted to work in sports, and why did you want to get into the field?

Bobby Schuckmann: (02:17)
So I started out going to, to uc. I was fortunate to get into the, you know, to the business school and didn't really have a, a plan other than I'm gonna go to school, uh, do the co-op program and, and hopefully get a job when I'm done. There wasn't a, a game plan in place. Um, I was really figuring things out, um, on my own. And I have a, a twin sister who went to, uh, to uc as well, and graduated from the business school. And we were just figuring things out, um, along the way. And I, I did a three rounds of co-op, um, you know, midway through my, my journey. And that's when I started thinking more about, all right, where do I wanna find a, an area that I have a deep interest in. And like many of the students I speak to today, you know, I love sports.

Bobby Schuckmann: (02:55)
I enjoyed business, you know, how could I combine the two and did not have a game plan, uh, of any sort of, of what I should be doing, where I should get to. Um, you know, back then, you know, uh, 20 plus years ago, there was not many sports business internships or, or co-ops even available. And, um, I had to, to try to go out and find those opportunities on my own. Um, and so yeah, I'm, I'm very fortunate, so to be where I am today, because I did not have a, a plan in place whatsoever to get to where I want to be.

Grant Freking: (03:26)
Now, what did people around you say back then when you told them about your dream about being in sports?

Bobby Schuckmann: (03:31)
It was, it was a mixture. Um, you know, my, my family of course, were very supportive of it. Uh, Dean Lewis was, was very supportive. I think she, she knew how hard this was going to to be, uh, for a career field for the opportunities that are out there, for ones that actually may pay you a, a reasonable, uh, living. Um, but she, she wanted to support me if I was a hundred percent on board. And I, I remember, um, you know, going to meet with her to, to talk about this and just how supportive she was and, and it, it didn't feel like I was making a wrong decision. Um, you know, looking back, uh, I'm glad things worked out the way that they did. But, you know, going from faring my way to, to go to school, um, I commuted my first year. I was eventually living on campus and to then to take a, a, a job, um, you know, a co-op where I was going to not get paid. I was not going to get school credit. Um, I was still going to the school part-time that summer and working some side jobs to make some money. It was not the ideal scenario, but, uh, glad glad that I pursued that and it was, um, something that will last me forever.

Grant Freking: (04:33)
Right. Now, we'll get to that co-op in a second, but I wanna go back to the specific advice that maybe Dean Lewis gave to you that stuck with you. And I think maybe the conversation started with, are you sure?

Bobby Schuckmann: (04:44)
Yes. Um, I, I, I think, I thought I was, I was probably so naive to think that, oh, like I, I can do this, right? Um, not knowing how hard it was was going to be. And so, you know, sports is such a broad area, like, I wanna work in sports. Well, what does that mean? And I think at the time it was, I wanna work maybe for a college, for a sports team, you know, eventually start looking into, um, you know, brands like Nike or Adidas. Um, I had no idea that specializing in the sports industry within wealth management was even a career option for me, even though I was, you know, a finance major initially and, and thought I had interest in that space. So it really helped me start to think more narrowly about what skills do I need? What kind of job, what I want, want to have?

Bobby Schuckmann: (05:29)
Um, you know, what's the, the requirement and the experience to maybe get there. Um, you're, you're now opening yourself up to the nation, right? Or globally, right, of where these jobs are. There's only so many sports teams or companies and, and, you know, especially, you know, bigger cities may have more opportunities such as Atlanta, where I am today, or New York or LA. And I never thought about any of that in, in that sort of way. So she really helped me try to think about things more strategically from, from a, you know, a business mindset to not get so over, um, excited about being in sports necessarily. And really to start, build, building the skills and the experience I needed to get to where I want to go.

Grant Freking: (06:08)
What was the scariest or maybe the most uncertain moment in this journey for you, and what sort of pushed you through it? Was it sort of the optimism that you kind of referenced there?

Bobby Schuckmann: (06:17)
Originally, it was the optimism. As I start getting into the, the sports side of things, I, I got a, a quick understanding of how hard it was going to be. Um, even if you had all the skills, even if you had all the experience, uh, such as many things in, in life, you needed to know the right people. And I did not have that, that background. I did not have so much, such as myself to, to lean on for, um, advice. Um, and that was a very, very, uh, I think challenging part, um, of, you do so much work, you think you're doing all the right things, and it still may not be good enough. But I think to be successful in life, you, you can't take the approach that, you know, is this worth it or not? You, you have to know in your heart that if you do the right things and you work hard, maybe it's not the exact thing you had in mind when you started, but good things will come. And I think that's definitely been not the case for myself.

Grant Freking: (07:09)
Now, the co-op was one part of this, but you also were, were going to school here. So what was, what discipline did you choose when you were, uh, at Lindner, and why, and how did you work on becoming, you know, excellent in that discipline?

Bobby Schuckmann: (07:21)
Yeah, so I, I first chose finance as, as my discipline. And, but the technology maybe at the time isn't what the students are experiencing today. But, you know, going in and, um, you know, sitting in a large, uh, large classroom and with the, the projector screens, it was, it was not as exciting to me. Again, my idea what I thought finance was and what it really is, was different. Um, and it wasn't until I started getting experience in the finance space where I realized my perception of the, the role and the roles in the industry are very different, um, than what I thought they were. So I, uh, started out in finance and, and actually switched over to marketing, uh, thinking that would be a different journey. But it was really through my, my co-op experience is what gave me the, the most insight. You know, the, the classes were helpful, but it was definitely the on-hand experience, um, that I had there. And, you know, I, I think now as I, uh, you know, reconnected more and more with, with Dean Lewis and the business school the past several years, and hearing about all the opportunities and all the different programs within the business school, let alone the university, it, it does make me a little jealous of, of what these students are experiencing today. Um, but it, it definitely was something where I had to learn, uh, through experience. I had to learn through kind of trial and error to really understand what I wanted to do.

Grant Freking: (08:39)
Yeah. Let's talk about that co-op, the Pacers, Indianapolis, no pay, and a daily road trip of, what is it, three, three hours roughly from,

Bobby Schuckmann: (08:49)
I think it was about an hour and 40 minutes each way, um,

Bobby Schuckmann: (08:52)
Depending on traffic.

Grant Freking: (08:53)
Yeah. So walk us back to the day you, where you, you, we mentioned this earlier, but you did tell Dean Lewis, I have sort of, it was like a good news, bad news scenario. I have this amazing opportunity, but I'm gonna have to drive there every day and I'm not gonna get paid for it. Tell us about that.

Bobby Schuckmann: (09:07)
Yeah, I'm, I'm sure she was wondering why are you leaving a, a paid co-op, uh, positions, um, you know, again, to go work, uh, for free, um, and then drive, you know, um, an hour and 45 minutes, you know, each day. Um, and so, um, you know, it was a unique opportunity. I, I actually attended a, a workshop that the Pacers had held. Um, it was through another, uh, fraternity brother of mine and a, a a business school student, uh, Ben Zimmerman, uh, who told me about this. And he, um, brought me along, uh, to this, uh, career fair. And I applied thinking, there's no way I'm gonna get hired. And, and, um, and eventually I had to figure out, figure out the rest. But I think it was just the willingness to, uh, take on that, that opportunity where she could, she could see that I really wanted to, to, to make this an option for myself. Um, I think, you know, by being, uh, willing to do this, I think it showed I was willing to, to do what it took to, to be successful or at least put in the effort, uh, and do things that many people wouldn't do. And I think she could see how much I wanted this, that she was so supportive of it. 'cause she really knew that I was willing to not be in love with the idea of sports. I was really willing to do the work.

Grant Freking: (10:21)
Right. So what exactly were you doing during this co-op, and what did you gain and learn from this experience beyond a, a really nice looking entry in your resume?

Bobby Schuckmann: (10:30)
So this was a game operations, uh, internship role that summer with the Indiana Fever for game operations, um, where we actually worked the games, and then we were also doing off season, you know, marketing and events, uh, for the Indiana Pacers as well. Uh, so, you know, you would work, uh, you know, maybe a 930 to five o'clock shift, um, let's call it, uh, you know, four to five days a week. And then you would also, uh, work the Indiana Fever games. And so it could be when you're walking through the concourse, uh, ahead of time, of all the fan interaction, it could be what's going on, uh, at the timeout, you know, this is, you know, this is entertainment happens to be basketball, um, or, you know, whatever sport that you're working in, but you're really in the entertainment space. And so it was fun because we got to be very hands on with the opportunities.

Bobby Schuckmann: (11:16)
Um, we, you know, we would take, uh, the mascots to different appearances and see how, how they interact with people and, um, and learn kind of how they got there. And, you know, I have, you know, you know, we actually shared our little cubicle area with the, with a couple of the mascots and learned about how they got into the space and what they did. And, um, it was just a really hands-on where you felt like you were doing, you know, kind of meaningful work and you weren't just, um, you know, filling envelopes all day long, which may be some of the other folks were doing in different internship roles. Um, and so that, that it was really fun and exciting, but also a lot of work, a lot of long hours. And it really started to have me look at things differently than just working for a sports team.

Grant Freking: (11:57)
Was there a moment during the co-op when you knew, this is what I wanna do, or maybe on the other end of the spectrum where you questioned if this was the right thing for you?

Bobby Schuckmann: (12:05)
It was more of, I don't know, this is the right thing in this particular part of the industry that, that I want to do. Uh, obviously the commute made it, made it challenging enough, uh, then balancing some, you know, schoolwork and, and some, some part-time jobs and trying to have a social life. But it was really the, the grind of the, the day job itself, and then the nice, and then the weekends, and then really speaking with other, um, employees there and getting a background of where they are and what that took and maybe having some, um, genuine, you know, authentic conversations with them and advice that really helped me start thinking about things more and that, hey, this, I, I really love this experience, but maybe this isn't necessarily what I wanna hone my, my journey.

Grant Freking: (12:52)
Yeah. Do you have any other, like, memorable moments during the co-op experience besides, uh, pining around with the mascots?

Bobby Schuckmann: (12:58)
Yeah, so, um, you know, because of the, the commute on the way back, I was generally waiting for rush hour traffic to die down to, to drive back to Cincinnati. So, you know, at the, the, the Pacers practice courts, you know, with the, with the other interns and with the other staff, we would play pick up basketball games, you know, which is pretty fun to play games where the, the team actually, you know, the teams would practice. Um, they had a workout area you could go work out in as well. So it was fun to, to do those things. Um, you know, the, I guess kinda other fun part of that was my, um, I mentioned my wife was uc grad as well, and she was in the ballet program and she was coming off a hip injury, had hip surgery, was recovering from her surgery and rehab, and not able to dance anymore.

Bobby Schuckmann: (13:44)
So I encouraged her with the, the dance team tryouts happening with the Indiana Pace mates that she should audition. And she was not going to do it. She did not think that was what she, you know, would want it to do. She was a ballet dancer by trade, uh, all these years. And, uh, she ended up last minute, uh, auditioning for the Indiana Pace Mates and was the only new person that, uh, they brought onto the team that year. And so I ended up stopping my internship at the end of the summer, and then she started that, that commute as well as a uc student, uh, to, to drive there, um, even more often than I did for practice and for games. Um, and kind of a fun, uh, story with that was at the end they had, uh, my internship, they were doing the dance team, uh, team picture and the mascots were going to be in it, but the, the real mascot, uh, were not available that day. So myself and another, um, intern were asked to be, to dress up as being the mascot. So you can look back from this 2004 picture of the dance team photo with my wife in it, and then me, uh, in this mascot outfit with my, my shoes hanging out to identify me. So, um, it's been, we were just actually talking about that to somebody the other day and, uh, I need to track down that picture.

Grant Freking: (14:59)
Yeah, that's a fun story. So co-op was the starting point of your career. How did this grind open up doors for you immediately after or later on after you graduated?

Bobby Schuckmann: (15:12)
Yeah, so I, I continued to pursue more sports, uh, co-ops and internships and really trying to find what I enjoyed doing. Um, and was actually through a sports marketing class at uc that I, I was told about that a, uh, a sports agent and attorney was teaching, and I started to do some work for him, um, on the sports agency side, working with an indi, you know, individual players on, on more of the marketing. And I really enjoyed the business side of, of what that entailed and, and really helping the athletes with everything off the, the court or the field. And that actually got me start thinking more, I like working more with the individuals as, as opposed to maybe working on the team side of the sport. Um, again, very hard, uh, industry to, to get in. Um, but I was able to to, to do that.

Bobby Schuckmann: (15:58)
And that really got me start thinking more about what I want to do, um, in the sports space. Um, probably even a harder area, you know, to, to get into. And it was through some of those internships where I saw how hard it was to get clients in the space. So it's one thing to be very good at your job, to have all the skills and all the experience in the world, but you have to find people that are willing to hire you and pay you. And I saw how hard that, that really, really was, which then tempered my, my interest in, in possibly going the sports agent route. Um, so the fact that I'm in wealth management today, it's still very similar with having to find clients that want to trust you and trust you with their, their life savings. Um, but it was through those experiences, I had a better appreciation for what I was getting into in my career today.

Grant Freking: (16:41)
And so how did you ascend from taking the possible agent path to the wealth path to where you are now? How did that maybe winding journey get you to where you are now?

Bobby Schuckmann: (16:51)
So after all these experiences that I, that I had, it came back to who do you know? And I didn't know enough people, and I really thought the journey of being in sports business was going to stop at graduation before it would even get started. Um, and it was through my uc, uh, network and fraternity network that I reached out to anyone I could, that I was looking for a job. Um, and it was through my fraternity brother Jay, who was working at US Bank and their wealth group, and I said, Jay, I'm looking for a job. You know who I am, you know, my experience, you know, you know hard of a worker I am. And he said, we have a sports entertainment group here that I never heard of, even though it was in my own city. And they're looking to hire someone, they have a, they have an opening, um, for someone that looks, looks like you would be a great fit. And so it was me doing all this work and thinking that this was maybe not the right approach. , right? This was this all for nothing. And because of my network and because of, of going to uc, um, and the connections that I built there and the friendships that I built and reaching out for people for help that I was able to, to land on at US Bank and their sports group, um, outta college.

Grant Freking: (18:04)
Let's move into some lessons for audience, maybe more specifically for current or prospective students. From your perspective, what were, what are the key factors of reaching your career goals or, and perhaps even broad broadening it out to more of a wider audience of our current students and perspective students?

Bobby Schuckmann: (18:22)
I definitely encourage you pursuing your dreams. I, I would say, you know, listen to the people around you as well that have perspectives. You know, they're not trying to diminish what you wanna achieve, but they're, you know, you're, you're trying to get experience from, from all, uh, of, of parts of, of someone's journey, right? And so I think that was something where, again, it, it ended up working out for me, but I was maybe a little naive to, to the fact of, of what this may that may truly be. And, um, again, I'm happy that it did work out, but I think when I speak to a lot of students, uh, today, uh, whether it be, you know, in front of 'em in person or just phone calls that I'll take, I really encourage them to find the, the true skills and role that they, that they really are good at and that they enjoy.

Bobby Schuckmann: (19:06)
Um, you can always specialize in something later. I know accountants that specialize working with athletes and entertainers. I know I have clients that broker cars and find, you know, the, the right car and, um, you know, for celebrities and, and, and athletes. I, um, you know, people in the culinary arts that, that work in this space. So you can always find a way to specialize later. And the specialization may be 'cause you're really good at it and you're having success, or maybe I'm just having success over here and that's where I should really specialize. And when I went and, and in turn for the Pacers, I thought I'm going to get a good job, or hopefully a great job someday in business. I went to uc and to Lindner to get a business degree and a job and hopefully earn a a, a good living. And someday I'll just buy my own tickets to the event. I won't have to work the event itself. And so I, I am, I'm very happy that I, within all the exciting things I, I was able to do, I still tried to keep a, a future mindset of where I wanted to be, you know, in the next five, 10 or 15 years, not knowing what the job may be. But I did not want sports to get in the way of not taking advantage of, of my uc, um, you know, business degree.

Grant Freking: (20:16)
Sure. Aside from keeping that future mindset that you just mentioned, what other habits did, did you develop or that maybe even still practice today that helped you stay focused on your goals?

Bobby Schuckmann: (20:26)
The, the willingness and, and to, to always keep learning? Uh, you know, I think a lot, a lot myself included, you know, went to to college, it was the next thing that you did and you kind of did it 'cause you feel you had to, uh, to some extent. Um, all, all of the things I've done post uc be because I want to do it. Um, so I've gone on to, to graduate school for my MBA part-time over a two year program. I've done two different, uh, financial, uh, you know, planning and wealth management programs and, and gotten my, uh, certified financial planner and certified private wealth advisor designations. So you, you never stop learning, you know, I'm listening to the podcast quite often on I'm various topics, um, some very technical, some more general that you can probably relay to your client a lot easier.

Bobby Schuckmann: (21:08)
Um, I do a lot of reading, whether it be books or just, um, you know, the, the news in the morning. Um, so I think the, the willingness and desire to, and to, to always want to keep learning, I think has been, been fun for me. I enjoy it. And, you know, there's the very exciting time and I also have to know what my clients are interested in. Um, you know, the, the industry and, and the, the, the world I grew up in is, you know, I have to remind myself now I'm, you know, my, my kids are closer in age to some of the clients that I work with. And so, um, I think the, the, the willingness and desire, uh, to, to always keep learning and, and, uh, to be curious, I think is what's benefited me

Grant Freking: (21:44)
Be a lifelong learner. That is, that is great advice. So what's one thing maybe students should stop worrying about so much you think during their, their time in college and or, and what's one thing that maybe they should take a little bit more seriously?

Bobby Schuckmann: (22:00)
Things are going to work out the way they're supposed to eventually. Uh, there's no straight line to your success. Um, there's no, there's no linear path to, to get to where you want to go. You know, even going to college is a great opportunity to find out a lot about yourself, about what you think you want to do. Um, trying to, to pick a major when you're 17, 18, 19 years old, um, is, it's a great start. But you know, you can be open to, uh, some opportunities if you kind of put it out there that you don't need to be sued. So narrow focused, um, you know, there's a lot of adversity. Uh, there's a lot of of things. So there's gonna be self-doubt. Um, even in, you know, in my, in my own career, you know, today, you know, imposter syndrome can, can definitely, uh, make itself present a lot of times.

Bobby Schuckmann: (22:44)
And, but, but I think that also makes you successful when you, when you don't get satisfied, you don't get complacent. So, um, don't be too hard on yourself. Um, things are gonna work out the way that they need to. Um, and, and don't be afraid to ask for help. There are so many people out there, uh, that want to that, that wanna help you, but they don't wake up every day thinking about how they can help you. You have to go in and find them, uh, with, you know, myself included. Um, you know, I think when it comes to putting in the work, um, if you put in the work while you're, you're younger, you maybe have less things going on in your life and you can kind of maximize your, your, your time, still have time for a social life, still have time for your family and the things that you wanna pursue.

Bobby Schuckmann: (23:23)
But if you put in the work when you're younger, it's, it's no different than the investing space is the, the more money that you can put away early on that the time value of that is gonna give you way more optionality and flexibility later. So, uh, the more you can do now while you're in school, the first several years of your career, you know, once you maybe have a family, once you, once you maybe have other, uh, responsibilities that are gonna pop, pop up, um, it gets harder and harder to do that. So, you know, work life balance I know is very important to a lot of people, but the more work you do while you can early on, it gives you way more optionality to have that balance that you want later, uh, in your career, in your family life.

Grant Freking: (23:59)
Last one, before I let you go from your unique position in the sports business world, what has being in this space taught you about people, about business and about leadership?

Bobby Schuckmann: (24:10)
Everyone starts in very similar positions. Um, we all started, you know, maybe having a dream to be in, in the sports industry. Um, maybe that wasn't even something we even thought about, um, until later on. Um, you know, I think with the, the Pacers internship, I was able to carve out some time with the chief, uh, marketing officer as well as the CFO. And I learned that they did not start in the mail room and work their way up. They got jobs in finance, they got jobs in marketing and entertainment, and eventually found their way, um, and that point in their career to the Pacers. So I think that was very enlightening that, um, go get your experience wherever you can get it, and you, you can wind up where you want to later on. I think given that some of the, the folks that I work with and, and maybe the high profileness of them, they're all just people.

Bobby Schuckmann: (24:54)
They're, they're all just people trying to figure it out who have a great opportunity, who maybe a little more pressure than the average 20 or 30-year-old to get it right the first time. But everyone is out there with the same experiences, with the same struggles. Um, you know, money can help alleviate some of those things, but it doesn't take away many of them. And it's been, it reminding to me that we're all, we're all the same, whether you went to uc or you went to, you know, uh, an Ivy League school, um, we all had the same opportunities. We all, uh, if we work hard and we, you know, get a little luck along the way. And, um, same thing I was telling some uc students that were down in Atlanta, uh, back in in December, is that we can compete with anybody. Um, you know, I'm a a proven success, success story of that. I have tons and tons of friends who have better stories than my own. And that uc is a, a phenomenal place to go. That the amount of resources that they have today, uh, with the leadership that is there is, is phenomenal. And, uh, it just really makes me proud to be a Bearcat.

Grant Freking: (25:57)
Bobby Schuckmann's path from unpaid Pacers co-op to a career in sports proves that grit, focus and saying yes to tough opportunities can change everything. For him, co-op wasn't just an experience, it was the foundation for lasting success. Thanks for tuning in the Bearcats Business. Be sure to subscribe. Leave a review and share this episode with someone who's ready to take the leap. Your feedback helps more Bearcats discover the show. Until next time, keep showing the world how Bearcat Mean Business.

Grant Freking: (00:00)
From an inventive co-op with Airborne Express as a Lindner student to founding a healthcare startup just two years after law school, to now launching a first of its kind franchising opportunity in the medical distribution space. Today's guest on Bearcats Mean business has never been afraid to break new ground. He also possesses some trademark Lindner and Bearcat grit. Reza Yazdian, a proud Lindner alum and founder of Synchrocare, joins us to share how his time at uc shaped his bold approach to business and leadership. We'll dive into the lessons that fueled his entrepreneurial journey, confronting risk and business, and how students today can take their big business idea from concept to launch and beyond. Let's get into it. Welcome, Reza.

Reza Yazdian: (00:41)
Thank you so much, uh, for, like I told you, Grant, uh, I was very kind of you and Sam to take time to, uh, bring me in here today and speak. So thank you so much.

Grant Freking: (00:50)
You're welcome, man. So let's start with this. What experiences or lessons from Lindner and UC shaped your business and leadership journey? How, what do you kind of still rely on from your, from your college days?

Reza Yazdian: (01:02)
Look, when I look back at it, you know, UC, like I said, when I come here and look at the campus, it's amazing how much it's evolved, right, Grant? Yep. And you know, I, I've told all of you that, and you know, one, I take pride in that as an alumni. Um, but one other thing I can say is what I took away from the program when I was here was the network, right? One thing about Cincinnati, you have so many students from the local area coming here, and I think any student that comes here, you want to really tap into that because there's so many people you can learn from here and grow with that. And that's one of the things I've enjoyed over the years, just through the alumni base reaching out. Look at me here today, doing a podcast with all of you. I mean, that shows you the type of program you guys are running. You want to try to foster that.

Grant Freking: (01:49)
Exactly. So you found a way to co-op with Airborne Express in a unique way. How did you make this happen? And how did your experience help connect your theory, what you were learning in the classroom at the time into practice into like, you know, real-world learning that you learned with Airborne Express?

Reza Yazdian: (02:04)
Yeah, so when it was so funny, I was telling Sam about this, it's amazing. Your program now. I was reading it's top five in the country now. Uh, congratulations.

Grant Freking: (02:15)
Yeah.

Reza Yazdian: (02:15)
And one, I'm proud of that for obvious reasons as alumni, but you gotta remember when I went, from what I'm hearing now, it's mandatory. Am I correct on this? Yes.

Grant Freking: (02:27)
Universal co-op. Yep.

Reza Yazdian: (02:29)
Yeah. Back then, I don't believe it was mandatory. It was not. No. Yeah. And so to answer your question, they were limited on how many they would get. So one of the things I've learned over the years, that's one thing UC was very innovative on, was when I saw a posting on Airborne and Airborne at that time, if I recall, was a Fortune 500. They were doing very well. They were in Wilmington, Ohio. They had their just booming. And logistics was a big market at the time. You know, FedEx, every company was just really at that expansion stage. One of the things I learned, um, when I saw the posting, it was just for a job for packaging. You know, nothing spectacular. Right? Okay. Again, it's important, but it wasn't like, you know, oh my God, it's gonna be a great co-op. You know, it was nothing like that.

Reza Yazdian: (03:13)
So I decided to go out there and meet with the sales management team, and I told them, look, I'm at UC. I'd like to see is there any way you guys would be considered to do some type of program with UC and let me be a part of it. So, in a sense, they agreed to it. I brought a sales manager down, excellent guy, and we came down, we met with the dean at the time, and we put together a program, and that's kind of how it evolved. And then I did it, and then it turned out, uh, from individuals that were in my fraternity, they were all telling me, my God, you're, you got the best job compared to all of us. And we had to go through a whole process. But the one thing I enjoyed, uh, to see how UC operated, very innovative. They didn't, uh, I guess what I'm trying to get at Grant, they didn't just say, Hey, we're gonna do it this way. And that's it. They kept an open mind. They looked at it, it shows innovation. And then next thing, it allowed me an opportunity, right. And to me, if I have to say to anybody is, you wanna work with people that are always gonna wanna see you grow, and the school wanted to see that, or they wouldn't have taken that initiative.

Grant Freking: (04:21)
Right. They didn't keep you in the, in

Reza Yazdian: (04:22)
The box. Yeah. Yeah.

Grant Freking: (04:23)
Not at all. Right. Yeah. And that sort of, sort of a little taste of your entrepreneurial mindset, I think right there from college and two years after graduating from law school, a couple years down the road, you founded Synchrocare. What was the inspiration behind this move? And what business problems did you see that needed to be solved in this move?

Reza Yazdian: (04:40)
Yeah. So, you know, Grant, as we were talking, I think it was your uncle, he's an attorney. Am I correct? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So for me, my background, my parents, when they came to this country, they were big in education. Um, and education for us was huge. So for me, I, you know, I won. I was the first lawyer in the family. Okay. And I was very proud to do it. But my roots has always been business. I just, I love business and I, I can't tell you how proud I am being here today, seeing what you all have done. So thank you for that. But when I look at it, business is, um, what's the word I'm looking for? It's, it's quick. You gotta go fast.

Grant Freking: (05:23)
Law, constantly adapting. Yeah.

Reza Yazdian: (05:25)
Law is a little more slow process. Nothing wrong with that. But businesses really, it's that adrenaline rush. You know, everything's gotta move quick. You gotta be competitive. It's like a fighter, right? You gotta get in there and really go at it. And that's what drove me. And so, to answer your question, you know, before law school, I was with Johnson and Johnson, um, excellent organization. Uh, I, I, I can't say from when I was there, just one of my favorite places I've worked at. And I was given a leave of absence to attend law school. But it was tough for me. And I'll tell you why. Grant, you know, when I was doing so well there and I was doing something I enjoyed, I didn't wanna make the change, but I knew, man, I'm not getting any younger and I want my doctorate in law and I want to do that and accomplish it.

Reza Yazdian: (06:18)
So I took a leave and they granted it to me. And then I went to law school. But my desire was always medical. And I love sales and marketing, and a lot of that was due 'cause one of my degrees here was marketing. Mm-hmm . You know, my majors. And you know, when I look back at it, you know, I said to myself, God, this is an industry that it's fragmented and God, someone's gotta come in and really button this thing up somehow. And then that's when I came up with the concept of Synchrocare. It didn't happen overnight, right? It, it, it's, it evolved. But I can honestly say now with where we're heading, Grant, you know, when you can kind of start seeing the light, it's starting to blossom, you know? And it's taken time to get there, but it's not because it wasn't there, grant, it's, it had to evolve. You know, it's no different than UC. With what you said, with the co-op program, look, when they first started it, I'm assuming back then it wasn't number five. Am I correct?

Grant Freking: (07:26)
Well, we, yeah, we found, we founded co-op back in the day, but yeah, we've had to, you had to work up the rankings and show, and show your up

Reza Yazdian: (07:32)
There. Yeah. Am I right? Yeah. Yeah. So, but, but that's neat. It's evolved. I mean, look at the facility. This facility was nothing like when I went here, but that's took time. Mm-hmm . And they kept advancing it like an army, right? Moving forward. Well, that's what we've done here. And now we're kind of at that stage now, Hey, we're ready to go. Let's take this to the next level.

Grant Freking: (07:56)
Right. What advice would you give current students that maybe wanna look to either emulate your path or do something similar and with their ent, their own entrepreneurial endeavors, how they can get from, you know, conception to launch and actually do and actually get off the ground?

Reza Yazdian: (08:14)
You know, I can't sit there and say what I have done has been excellent. It, it's been tough. Mm-hmm . If I had to share any insight though, Grant, like I was telling to your colleague, Sam, you know, um, I think whatever you do in this life, it's not just about having the right place, right at the right time. You gotta be able to execute. If I have to give any advice to anyone from this school, go with your gut. If you truly believe in something and you think it's the right path, don't let outside people tell you no. You go with what you believe and then you make that move. That's where the risk comes in. Right? But I think also the other thing I want to say is too, um, being a father of two, one of the things with my two boys, I don't want them just doing what people tell 'em to do.

Reza Yazdian: (09:11)
I want them leading. You're gonna have certain dynamics in this society that some people just wanna work for people. There's nothing wrong with that. But I truly believe for someone to do something on their own, you gotta be willing to take the risk and you gotta be willing to fail. And if I had to give any advice to anyone on that, don't be worried about failing. What's the worst case? You start over again. You know, I, I mean what I mean, seriously, what, what's the worst case? At least you tried, you know? And I'm also a too, a big believer in on this Grant. I don't like to look back at regrets. I like enjoying that. Hey, I did that. There's so many things I still want to do. But for me, perfect example was law school. I wanted to do it. I did it. I accomplished it. You know, that to me is something I don't have to look back and regret saying, God, I wish I would've done that. And so I always tell people, if you're gonna do something, just do it. You know, if it doesn't work out, you try again.

Grant Freking: (10:23)
Take the leap. Yeah. Take the leap at least. And yeah, don't live with the regret of not at least trying it. So Synchrocare has just taken a leap with what you say is a first of its kind franchising opportunity in the medical distribution space. Walk me through your process of launching a business initiative like this, as well as your viewpoint on risk and business.

Reza Yazdian: (10:43)
Yeah, so, you know, when I looked at this, you know, it's kinda like I was saying earlier. I think when you look at, okay, you break it down a couple ways, right here, Grant, the medical device industry, it's like a good old boy network. Um, however words we want to use, whatever phrase we'd like to use of it. And is that bad? No. It's just, it's outta sight, outta mind. It's just, it's the way it's been done. You know, you'll have somebody that either inherited it or, or been involved in it, and then they take over the other model. Is Grant going to work the traditional route for the big corporations like a Johnson and Johnson? Nothing wrong with that. I did it. Very proud of the company. I think they're a very good company. Um, the problem with that model, not everybody's gonna get a job, right?

Reza Yazdian: (11:40)
You know, because look at it, and America, you have 348 million Americans, and then you gotta look at the population. Then you look at college graduates coming out, there's only so many spots, right? And then you gotta deal with the competition. What do I mean by that? You can't just have just the education. You're gonna have to have a lot of other tools to show why sales and marketing isn't easy. I mean, look at the program here. Now they have an entrepreneurship program. They do all, there's a reason they're doing that right grant, because there's a need for it. And a lot of people want to be entrepreneurs. Most people I truly believe with where everything is going, they're gonna want to be on their own. Um, does that mean everybody? No, but a lot of people would like to own their own business. Um, you know, sometimes it's a cliche, you really own it. The business really, in my opinion, owns you sometimes . Yeah, for sure. I mean, so I don't know if you really owed it. Yep. But the thing is, um, there's something to say about that, right? But looking back at it, when I'm going into this, I would rather, if I'm gonna put in time into something, build something that I have equity in, that's how I look at it.

Grant Freking: (12:49)
Seems fair to me.

Reza Yazdian: (12:50)
You know, I mean, your time is limited, man on this earth, I'd wanna maximize it. So to me, I kind of, when I developed this, I thought, okay, this is a good balance. You could build this away. You build what you want. You're also in technology, which who doesn't wanna be in that? And then medical, I'm not gonna say it's not recession proof, but it's pretty close to it. You know, I mean, medical ain't going anywhere. So when I looked at it, I looked at it, you know what, we bring a package together to provide to the individuals that wanna be on their own, but they're also, they're really workers. Does that make sense what I'm saying? Mm-hmm . There's a big dynamic out there for that. And way I want to design this with someone that doesn't really wanna be involved in the weeds of running a business, but they're good at selling, they're good at marketing, but they like to have their own piece of the pie. And that's why I thought, you know what, there's a model here for this because there's a lot of people that want to be in the industry, they couldn't get into it or they don't know how to Mm. So let's provide them that opportunity.

Grant Freking: (14:08)
Okay, interesting. So tying that back into leadership, what hard and soft skills do you look for in potential leadership hires of maybe people you wanna partner with?

Reza Yazdian: (14:17)
Over the years, when I looked at it from the companies I've been with to now running a business and doing all this, I don't know if there's a perfect answer on that, right? But if I have to say for what we're trying to do, I would want an individual, he or she that is gonna be very independent. Um, and what do I mean by that? He or she doesn't have to be spoonfed that they'll take the lead on their own

Grant Freking: (14:48)
Initiative.

Reza Yazdian: (14:48)
Yeah. The initiative to start that to me is entrepreneurship, right? Mm-hmm. They're gonna take that momentum and go with it. And not everybody can do that. So to me, that's the key piece. Um, no different. I told you, a friend of mine from high school, he's a CEO of McDonald's. You know, when you look at the history of McDonald's, you know, and how they evolved on franchising, they went back and forth on which ones to go with what, what worked, right?

Grant Freking: (15:16)
Mm-hmm .

Reza Yazdian: (15:17)
Because only certain ones worked. When I look at this model with what we're doing, I think you're gonna need someone that's he or she that could really take the stance to get out there, make the moves, not afraid to go talk to people, open up doors, follow through, follow up. They gotta have that initiative, as you stated. And if they don't have that, I just don't think that person will probably be that successful in a model like this. So to answer your question, again, that's what I'm gonna be looking for. I want someone that's willing to take that initiative doesn't mean they have to do it all on their own.

Grant Freking: (15:59)
Mm-hmm .

Reza Yazdian: (15:59)
They're not alone. You know, we're there with them, but they gotta be able to wake up, go make the calls, and go do that. That's half the battle.

Grant Freking: (16:08)
You have the drive the passion for it. Yeah. Yeah.

Reza Yazdian: (16:10)
And not everybody's gonna have that. I think for where we're heading. I think when you look at the franchise models that are out there, I think for what we're trying to accomplish, I think it's unique. And I think it allows a lot of freedom, flexibility, but where I enjoy it is it's not as much of an investment as you would in a lot of these other models.

Grant Freking: (16:33)
Hmm.

Reza Yazdian: (16:33)
And I think the bigger one I wanna highlight is the freedom, you know, making your schedule, not having to depend on all these type of people to do the work, to produce. I mean, that's what a lot of these franchisees require so much. And you really, you get pretty caved into that. My closing point on this, I'd have to say to everybody, and we've all been there, and I said it myself, I remember back in law school, I kept talking about, God, I wanna go to law school. I wanna go to law school. I kept talking about it, talking about it with people. I mean, friends of mine probably got tired of listening to it, but I took the initiative, went and did it. If I have to say is what you stated, that's the key element. Okay. I think is taking that first step and then it all evolve.

Grant Freking: (17:17)
Right. Now you're here with us at our still relatively new building, Lindner Hall. In what ways do you like to stay connected to, to the Lindner College of Business and, and UC at large?

Reza Yazdian: (17:28)
So Grant, I would be lying if I didn't say I have not been involved like I should be. Hmm. And you know, the involvement I had over the years, um, was reading all the successes you guys have been having. I'm so honored to see what you guys have done. And I, I, you guys should be very proud and I'm proud as alumni. So one of the things I want to try to be involved, anything I can do to help out and try to bolster the reputation and help it grow. And so that's one thing I plan on doing. Um, and I'm hoping with the company we're able to do that as well.

Grant Freking: (18:08)
Now, you've also spent a lot of time in energy championing underserved populations during your career to make a difference and not a profit. Why is that?

Reza Yazdian: (18:16)
One of the things, back when I was at Indian Hill. I, I did a lot of charity work and I did it with, uh, individuals that, that needy, that needed food, like food drives, things of that sort. But then I switched a lot of my time to children. And then when I was in law school, um, I did a lot of pro bono for the elderly, um, and then also for military vets, you know, and, and all these things. And those are the things I've enjoyed to give back. And I, I look at those three segments for me were a place where I wanted to put my time. Do I think everybody, I think one thing about charity or giving up your time, you should do someplace where you're passionate about. Oh, of course. And those were segments I was passionate about.

Grant Freking: (19:01)
From co-op creativity to entrepreneurial courage, Reza's journey reminds us that bold ideas backed by purpose, can lead to industry changing impact. Now, whether you're a student with a big idea, an alum navigating your own leadership path, someone passionate about healthcare innovation, Reza story offers a roadmap, rooted and grit, vision and problem solving. Thanks for tuning in to Bearcats Mean Business. Be sure to subscribe. Leave a review and share this episode with someone who's ready to take the leap. Your feedback helps more Bearcats discover the show. Until next time, keep showing the world how Bearcats mean business.

Grant Freking: (00:00)
Co-op to C-Suite. This is the dream of many current and prospective Lindner students. But how can this dream be realized? How can a Lindner student, one, land a paid professional experience with a company they identify with? Two, succeed enough to land a full-time job offer, and three, perform well enough to eventually ascend to a C-suite position? Students, we've got you covered. Today's episode of Bearcats Mean Business features Nick Enger, president and Chief Technology Officer for Advanced Technology Consulting of Ohio, who is here to supply listeners with his co-op to C-suite journey. Nick, who earned his degree in operations management and supply chain management, co-op'd with what was then known as Advanced Technology Consulting in 2006 and has been with them ever since, rising the ranks to the C-suite. Welcome Nick to Bearcats Mean Business.

Nick Enger: (00:49)
Fantastic to be here. Thank you very much for the invite. This is, uh, this is an honor.

Grant Freking: (00:54)
Yeah, we appreciate you having here. Now, Nick, let's start off with this. Take us back to the beginning 2006. You're seeking a co-op experience. What's your search process like then and how did you land on Advanced Technology Consulting?

Nick Enger: (01:05)
That's a great question and that it's a fun story to tell. I love telling it. Um, so while I was at UC, I was working full time at a country club, so I was paying my way through school. Sure. Up in Mason, Ohio. We were just talking about that.

Grant Freking: (01:18)
Yep.

Nick Enger: (01:18)
Uh, Heritage Club was the country club I was working at, and I was, I was thinking like, Hey, the summer before my senior year, I probably should be doing something more than serving and bartending. Maybe get into the real world a little bit. Uh, and with that I was, I was approaching a couple members and, um, one of the individuals I I, I was talking to, his name was David Goodwin. He was the founder of ATC. And he, he had mentioned, uh, that he had this little technology startup company, a consulting company. And I was intrigued by technology at the time.

Nick Enger: (01:48)
So I was, I said, Hey, if you know of anybody that might be interested in a co-op, I'd love to hear, uh, about opportunities in the local market. And lo and behold, he said, well, I have this, this little company and I'm looking for some help. And I didn't know what that really meant. At that time, I didn't really know where his offices were. Come to find out his offices were actually in the basement of his house, . So it was a, it was a true startup company. Okay. Uh, so one thing led to another. David, uh, graciously offered me a co-op position. He probably didn't know what he was getting into, and I certainly didn't know what I was getting into. Um, but one thing led to another and I, I learned through that process, small companies have a fit in the marketplace, and oftentimes they get overlooked when you're going through the college experience, and especially as, as good as UC is in the, the college of business, uh, Lindner School, college of Business.

Nick Enger: (02:43)
Oftentimes it's filled with the Fortune 500. It's the, the larger organizations reaching out saying, we need co-ops. But there's a ton of opportunities in the small business, medium sized businesses, uh, that get overlooked. And there's tons of great opportunities out there. So, uh, I did land at ATC. I ultimately was, uh, there in 2006. And once we went through the summer, and then I was like, Hey, I got, I, I don't wanna go back to bartending and serving for my senior year because I was paying my way through school at that point. I wanted to make sure that I had a good position at ATC come once I graduated. Right. So I ended up working my senior year through at the College of UC, as well as at ATC working about 24 hours a week. Uh, and I really started to learn the business.

Nick Enger: (03:31)
And I'll tell you, it was a difficult conversation with mom and dad as I'm graduating college and I'm, I'm talking with the likes of Procter and Gamble and General Electric and this little company outta David Goodwin's basement called ATC. And I'm telling mom and dad, Hey, you know, I think I'm gonna give it a go at this small little company. I really like the people I work with. I think we're changing the way people look at technology services. And lo and behold, we, we struck a deal and, um, 19 years later, I'm still with this company. So it's a fun, fun story to tell.

Grant Freking: (04:04)
Still with them. And so, what was it beyond just the, uh, the feel of how they were changing the game that made you have your, this is my future moment during your co-op?

Nick Enger: (04:14)
Yeah. As we were going through this transformation as a small company, you kind of move and pivot with the industry. And I'll, I'll give you a little bit of background on what we do. We're in the technology consulting world. At that time, cloud-based communications had just come out called voiceover IP or Cloud hosted VoIP. At the time, with that hosted VoIP, it was a different conversation that we were having with businesses. It was a transformation of how they interact with every one of their customers, how their employees interact with each other. 'cause it was the true communications platform that they were using for their business. So at the time, we were really looking at a lot of transactional, like, let's help you save money. And there wasn't much value proposition outside of cost savings. Well, now this was an operational change. Now it's a business change.

Nick Enger: (05:06)
Now we're talking to the C-Suite about how this business operates. And for me, that's when the light bulb went off. That was when I was like, okay, I really like this technology. I really like what the, the operational efficiencies that are created through this technology. And I like the conversations I'm having with these business owners because it's, it's gonna change the way they do business. It's gonna change the way they interact with their clients for the better. So for me, that was my aha moment. That was the, um, that was the moment I was like, this is for me. I love helping people. I love interacting with people. I love business operations. I learned that through this college. Like I love the aspect of business operations, how we can make it more efficient, more effective through the use of technology.

Grant Freking: (05:50)
And so the day to day, at the beginning, you fell in love with what does your day to day look like now that you're president and CTO?

Nick Enger: (05:57)
Oh, man. So for, from the CTO aspect, uh, internally, I'm responsible for our entire technology stack. So our whole, whole stack from a security application, CRM ticketing system, uh, the entire stack soup to nuts. I'm responsible for not only the maintenance, but the, the develop continuous development of it. Externally, I have a team of consultants that are engaged with projects all across the country, uh, at any given time. We have between 150 to 200 projects that our consultants are helping businesses in the mid-market navigate technology services, if you will. So we have five core consulting practices, voice, network, cloud, cybersecurity data, and AI. We go very deep in all five of those categories. And then we also have a hospitality IT division that ho assists hotels and resorts with all their technology needs. So most of my day is working with our employee base, making sure that they have the tools they need to be able to do their job as efficiently as they can. Right. And help our, ultimately help our clients.

Grant Freking: (07:03)
Sure. And what about, what would you say to maybe future employees of ATC? Or just in general, tips to students seeking to emulate your path of co-op to C-suite?

Nick Enger: (07:16)
Go above and beyond. I think that that's something that I've strived to do throughout my career, is not only with clients, with, with employees, with leadership, just go the extra mile. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Um, take some risks. I, I would say like that, that would, that would've been something I would tell my younger self. Don't be afraid to take the risks early in your career. And I would say get comfortable being uncomfortable. And that's where growth really occurs, is when you're uncomfortable.

Grant Freking: (07:50)
And where did you see that growth in yourself, um, in terms of hard and soft skills during your co-op and those skills that you built, then how do they change to how they evolved since?

Nick Enger: (08:02)
Yeah. I would say communication's key to all aspects of business. I would say written communication and verbal communications are mission critical nowadays. Uh, admittedly, I wasn't the best writer. I wasn't a technical writer. Um, I wasn't an executive writer. That's something that you learn over time, but I think that's something that if you really focused in on early in your career and somebody was telling you like, Hey, you could, you should focus in on this. Um, I wish I had that earlier in my career. I, I had some great mentors and David Goodwin and otherwise that helped coach me up in that area. But that's certainly an area that every, every employee everybody needs to have is that communication, whether it's verbal or written, and that team aspect. Everybody's gonna be a part of a team. Very rarely are you working in a silo. You're gonna be communicating with other folks. So make, make an emphasis on, on doing it well.

Grant Freking: (09:02)
Yeah. And that's, that's something that applies to every area of business, no matter what you go into as the communication part of that. For sure. So how did you go about garnering trust and credibility as a young professional? You mentioned taking risks. Mm-hmm . Couple other things. How did you go about garnering trust and credibility?

Nick Enger: (09:17)
For me, I think it was, it was more about just doing the right thing in all at all times. Like, I think it was really about looking at the big picture, making sure that every decision I was making along the way, it was sound, it was just, and it was for the right reasons. Um, if you, if you do that, you can sleep well at night. And I think that you build trust with your leadership team. In the same vein, I would also add to that if you're working for a manager or a leader along the way, make them look good, make their job easier. Like try to find things that are outside of the norm that ultimately change the game for the organization, for the leadership team, really push the envelope, try to come up with creative ideas on making the, the business better.

Grant Freking: (10:06)
Sure. 19 years at a TC, was it a natural upward trajectory to you to where you've, to get where you've landed here? Or were there any bumps in the road?

Nick Enger: (10:15)
I think everyone's, uh, journey is going to have bumps in the road, especially in a small business. Right. Um, I could think of a number of things, but I, I would say for me, it's, it's a little unique. I would not many folks my age, I'm 40 years old this year. Um, not many folks say that they interned at the same company they still work with. And I think that that's something to be said. Like, I think there's also a sense of loyalty that goes along with that, that gets lost nowadays. I think that, um, for folks coming outta school right now, that's something to think about. Like, you don't have to change jobs every three years just to get up in the world. Uh, there's some, some aspects of of loyalty and, and long-term tenure and commitment.

Grant Freking: (11:03)
And there are companies that are willing for us to, to offer that. It seems that way.

Nick Enger: (11:07)
Absolutely. We certainly are. We, we, we are focused on, uh, attracting and retaining top tier talent for a very long time in the future.

Grant Freking: (11:17)
And for students dreaming about a future C-suite role, maybe such as yours, what would you want them to understand?

Nick Enger: (11:25)
It's not always easy at the top , I will say, like you, you try to take all aspects of decision making into account. You try to think of things in all lenses, um, before you make decisions. So decisions aren't always made quickly. Uh, it does take a lot of thought behind it all, but being respectful in, in those decisions has been very beneficial to us and our organization. I think our, our employees appreciate the visibility that we give to them. Um, and as you're making your way up through the ladder, just going about it the right way, like I mentioned earlier, like just really being mindful of the decisions you're making all along the way.

Grant Freking: (12:08)
Yeah. I'm sure you take into account your thoughts on management from when you were just starting out to now, you know, thinking about them nearly 20 years later. Like, oh, I can't forget what I was thinking about. Right. Oh 6, 0 7, 0 8 saying about this, maybe about my manager, and now I'm in this position. Right. Yeah. So I understand you're pretty involved in the local community. How does that play into your leadership?

Nick Enger: (12:29)
I think it's been instrumental. So I, I have a nonprofit that I run for a fallen soldier. It's called the Hoody Memorial. Uh, it was a good buddy of mine that passed away in 2015. He was part of the US Army Golden Knights. Um, it's afforded me to do some wild and crazy things with the military, but, uh, we, we set this up in his name to give back to him in his legacy. Uh, so we do it at Lakota School District. Uh, we have a scholarship in his name that we've raised enough money at this point to give back in his name in perpetuity. And we've been so successful in doing that, that we've actually opened two additional funds, um, one for local veterans and active service members, and another for youth athletics in the local area. Uh, and all of those funds are housed at the Northern Cincinnati Foundation. And I'm on the board for the Northern Cincinnati Foundation. Tying that back all to leadership, I think is very important to get tied into your local communities. Uh, one of the reasons why I wanted to do this podcast is the University of Cincinnati and the College of Business gave me so much that I'm thankful for that I wanted to pay it forward to be on this podcast and just be a part of the ecosystem that continues to build into the future.

Grant Freking: (13:43)
What does success mean to you now, and how has that definition maybe evolved since your days at Lindner or even the early the days of your co-op in your, your first full-time days at ATC?

Nick Enger: (13:53)
I feel the most successful when our new talent is winning. Like, when I start seeing it click in our new employees, and they're starting to achieve things in their careers that they never thought was possible, that's the most fulfilling thing for me. So I love the development of young talent. I love seeing their success. I love seeing them grow as individuals, as professionals, as human beings. Um, and to see the ideas that the young talent that we have on our team come up with. The ideas, the, the thought provoking things that they, they put out there, that's fulfilling for me. Like, uh, there's some sayings, I'm sure everybody's heard, like, don't be the smartest person in the room. I'm certainly not. Uh, I'll be a testament to that, but when you fill the room with smart people around you, you, it's incredible. It's so much fun. It's so enlightening. It's, um, yeah, I, I'm very proud of my team and, uh, I get a lot of fulfillment. I feel very successful because of that.

Grant Freking: (15:02)
Nick, let's close with five rapid fire questions to get a little bit. Oh boy. A little bit more about you. Yeah. Number one, what were your go-to coffee and meal establishments as a UC student?

Nick Enger: (15:13)
Starbucks on Calhoun. And meal. This is a fun one. Uh, well, not so fun, I guess. Uh, Habaneros on Ludlow just closed this past year after 25 years, so a little bit sad. Uh, so if I have to pick one that's still open, it's gonna be Skyline.

Grant Freking: (15:31)
I mean, who can argue with that? Right. Uh, number two, what's a leadership buzzword that you secretly love?

Nick Enger: (15:38)
Um, is, this actually goes back to college for me. Continuous improvement. I think that's, I like that from a personal aspect, from a business aspect. Be better than yesterday. What you do today prepares you for tomorrow. Like, that's how I live. That's my mindset every day. As I, as I'm in the gym in the morning, as I'm, I'm in meetings, uh, all day, every day. Um, be better for tomorrow.

Grant Freking: (16:03)
Alright. You and I are a similar of age, so I'm interested to hear your answer to this one. Number three, what song instantly takes you back to your college days?

Nick Enger: (16:10)
That, okay. So I have to give the same answer because I've given the same embarrassing answer over a handful of interviews. Uh, Ja Rule, living it up, uh, is, is my go-to if it's gonna take me back to college days.

Grant Freking: (16:25)
Oh, man. That's awesome. Yeah. All right. Number four. What's the first thing you do to start your work day?

Nick Enger: (16:29)
4 45, workout.

Grant Freking: (16:32)
Man. 4 45.

Nick Enger: (16:33)
4 45. Gotta be ready for the day. It's clears your mind immediately. You're ready to go. You hit the ground running right at 8:00 AM.

Grant Freking: (16:40)
All right. That's awesome. Number five, three words to describe your time studying business at Lindner are blank, blank, and blank.

Nick Enger: (16:47)
Oh, goodness. Um, well, uh, my first things come like, I wasn't the best student. Uh, it would be early morning study sessions. It would be cramming last minute. Uh, but I, I would say all of that was beneficial for my career. I wouldn't be where I'm at without this school. Um, and the, and, and I can't speak high enough about the co-op and internship program here. Like if I could just real quickly, that's an aspect that most colleges don't get right. And the University of Cincinnati gets right. And more students need to take advantage of it. I just said I wasn't the best student. There's reasons for that. It's, it's, I am really good at the business aspect. I'm really good at the business use cases. I get intrigued by the business use cases. I don't get intrigued by reading a study book. Right. Um, that's, or test taking. I, I really enjoy real-life experiences, and I think that's what the college co-op and internship program gives you.

Grant Freking: (17:51)
Right. And that's the benefit of going to UC and more specifically Lindner is you get the academic experience, but you also get the real world, multiple paid professional experiences outside the classroom to put you in a position.

Nick Enger: (18:03)
Absolutely. Absolutely.

Grant Freking: (18:04)
Nick, thanks for dropping by the Lindner Podcast Studio and outlining your journey from co-op to C-Suite.

Nick Enger: (18:09)
Oh, this has been fantastic. Thank you for inviting me.

Grant Freking: (18:12)
Of course. Now, attention listeners, if you enjoyed today's episode, please consider leaving a comment or sharing your thoughts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps more Bearcats discover the show. To learn more about co-op opportunities at Lindner, visit us at business.uc.edu. That's business.uc.edu. Thanks for listening. And as always, go Bearcats.