By: Sean Luster, MBA Candidate
Students gathered together on the last day of summer to attend one of Boise State University’s BOLD Exchanges. BOLD in this case stands for “Broncos Of the Last Decade,” and features alumni and former staff and faculty. This exchange took place in the Morrison Center’s Founders Room and consisted of a networking/socializing session followed by a discussion. In this edition, the guests were the Honorable Melissa Wintrow (Idaho Legislature Representative, District 19B and the first director of the Boise State Women’s Center) and Tabb Compton (Boise State University graduate and chief operating officer for Scentsy).
The Honorable Melissa Wintrow has spent most of her professional career in higher education, but recently decided to run for office in the Idaho legislature. Her positive attitude reflected in her responses to questions from the audience, and she advised students about lessons she has learned throughout her life. She urged everyone not to worry about things beyond your own control and that when you are trying to make change, you have to invite people to change, not force them.
On the other hand, Tabb Compton had an entrepreneurial background, creating a sunglasses and apparel store, while he was still in college, that he sold to Sunglass Hut. He then went on to accumulate more leadership and management experience in the consumer goods market, and eventually became the COO for the Meridian-based company, Scentsy. Compton’s business experience gave him a lot of insight to share with students of all backgrounds who were in attendance. He noted the importance of being able to learn quickly and staying positive through difficult times.
“I learned that hard work can build your path very well,” stated first-year Career Track MBA student Ali Sharifi Shalmani. Shalmani took Compton’s message to heart and also noted that “[you] have to always be on the positive side. I think this is the key part of business.”
The night concluded with more mingling between students and guests, and more conversation about the bold experiences these Broncos have had.