When Sierra Sandison first set foot on Boise State’s campus, she never imagined that a viral TikTok slug toy would be the start of her entrepreneurial journey. But looking back, it’s clear that her time at Boise State laid the perfect foundation for her to merge her love of engineering with her entrepreneurial spirit, ultimately leading her to launch Fidget Friends, a successful toy company.
Finding the Right Major
Sierra grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho, a small, rural community where opportunities to explore STEM careers felt limiting. Yet, even as a child, Sierra was a budding entrepreneur, running lemonade stands and dreaming of creating something big.
“Growing up, I didn’t know what degree path would make my silly childhood dream of becoming an inventor come true,” Sierra reflects. “And while I always had an entrepreneurial spirit, [I] never really knew the official way to start a real, big-kid business.”
As a type 1 diabetic and public advocate for accessibility and equity, she loved the idea of building things and solving problems. But she didn’t know where to get started. When starting her college education, Sierra initially majored in business but found her classes weren’t scratching the itch to tinker. It wasn’t until she switched to mechanical engineering that she knew she was on the right path.
The field of mechanical engineering is about improving how things work. Specializations include topics like machine design, product development, thermal systems, robotics, vibrations and controls.
Despite her growing excitement for the mechanical engineering, Sierra found herself feeling a little out of place, especially as a woman in a male-dominated field. As a former Miss Idaho winner, she wondered if her multi-faceted self would be appreciated in this industry.
“I was in full-time beauty queen mode for three years, and I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb in the classrooms full of boys in their jeans and flannels and boots,” she admits.
Finding Supportive Faculty
However, after a pivotal conversation with a professor, Sierra received the validation she needed. “Meeting with a professor was the first time someone looked me in the eyes and said, ‘You belong in engineering. And I’m so sorry if anyone has ever made you feel otherwise,’” Sierra remembers.
This moment of encouragement changed everything and helped her embrace her identity as an engineer and feel more confident asking for help. Because of this impactful experience, Sierra encourages students to really get to know their faculty.
“Introduce yourself to faculty, share your long-term goals with them,”she says. “They want to help you succeed, but they can’t do that if they don’t know who you are.”
Turning an idea into a Business
As an engineer with a passion for business, she found the ideal outlet at Boise State’s Venture College. In 2021, after buying a 3D printer, she created a quirky slug toy that quickly went viral on TikTok. But while the response was overwhelming, Sierra had no idea how to turn the excitement into a sustainable business.
“I didn’t know the first thing on how to get started selling something. I didn’t know how to get a sales tax license or how to start my own eCommerce store.”
That’s when Boise State’s Venture College stepped in. The Venture College, helped guide her through the process of starting her business and nurtured her technical and entrepreneurial ambitions.
“The Venture College is a great resource to help get you started with those basics,” she says. “I competed in the Idaho Entrepreneurship Challenge and won my track, which gave me $7,000 to expand up to the thirty 3D printers I have now. Without this, I have no idea how I would have really gotten my business off the ground.”
Today, Sierra’s business has evolved into Fidget Friends. Her toy company offers a line of unique toys and keychains designed for customers of every age, but especially with neurodivergent communities in mind. No longer limited to 3D printing, her product line now includes items like squishy slugs, alligators, and dolphins.
Empowering the Next Generation
Looking ahead, Sierra hopes to provide more opportunities for the next generation of Idaho entrepreneurs. Since graduating in 2021 with honors and being awarded Boise State’s prestigious Top Ten Scholars award, she’s leveraging her success to advocate for STEM education for rural Idaho youth.
“A dream of mine is to hopefully someday get a 3D printer in every rural Idaho high school,” she says.
Blue Turf Thinking: Merging Passion and Identity
Sierra’s ambition and determination took her from a small town in Idaho to the helm of a growing business. With the support from Boise State to build a career that bridges the worlds of engineering and entrepreneurship.
“Boise State didn’t just teach me about engineering,” Sierra says. “It taught me to embrace every part of myself—my passion for business, my love for pink, and my ambition to create something that matters.”