Game Changing Entrepreneurs Return for Speaker Series II

As we mentioned in our March Newsletter, the ECenter decided to do things a little differently with our classic Start-up Speaker Series this semester. Partnering with UNH Career and Professional Success (CaPS), we’re demonstrating that innovators come from all colleges and majors! Entitled “Game Changers: Creating Change and Innovation from all Majors,” this three-part series welcomes many UNH alums back to campus. The second event took place on March 5th. If you couldn’t attend, here is what you missed. You can also watch the full video here on our YouTube page.
 
One game changer left her life in the corporate world to support shark research and conservation. The other worked in casting then established one of the Top 50 Film Festivals worldwide. Both are successful entrepreneurs. Both graduated from college with different majors and prove innovators and entrepreneurs come from all academic backgrounds.

To start, Cynthia Wigren ‘96 (a Wildlife Management Major from COLSA) shared stories about her journey. She spent 12 years working for online trading companies in the energy industry, focusing on project management and strategic planning. All the while, however, she was enhancing her passion for wildlife with travel and underwater experiences, ultimately leaving the corporate world to found the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. Cynthia shared, "It was ten years after graduating from college...I started to follow the news about shark research that was new to this area. In 2012, I called Dr. Greg Skomal who is a lead scientist...I had a conversation with him to learn more about his work and in that conversation I learned that he relied on outside funding. So, I started a non-profit to support white shark research and left my career to run that non-profit." Atlantic White Shark Conservancy works to educate the public about safety and inspire people to realize how important sharks are to the marine ecosystem and want to help conserve the species.

Next, Nicole Gregg '97 (a Liberal Arts Major from George Washington University) discussed her winding path to establishing her career. From wanting to be a scientist, then an actor, and working as a waitress, she took an internship at an independent film company. Still hoping to become an actor, she realized her passion for the business of making movies, not starring in movies. After the film company went out of business, Nicole found herself in Portsmouth, NH without a job and no job prospects. "One of the last films I worked on was a short film, and I gave up my casting fee to go on the film festival circuit. I fell in love with film festivals," said Nicole. Upon realizing Portsmouth didn't have a film festival, Nicole decided to create a job for herself and learn how to start a film festival. The NH Film Festival is now 17 years old. Cynthia and Nicole both followed their passion and now love their work.
 
Other key take-aways shared with the audience and moderator Raina Sarvaiya, Director of Employer Relations at Career and Professional Success, were:

  • Define goals for yourself and keep yourself on track.
  • Always treat people you encounter with respect.
  • Go above and beyond.
  • Work hard.
  • Be a good listener.
  • Be creative to get noticed. Maybe have your resume delivered with a pizza!