Business – Page 5

All About Coffee with Tim Braatz

September 14, 2020November 19, 2020Business, College and Career, Food, LifestyleLeave a Comment

Coffee, coffee beans, coffee shops! Tim shares his knowledge on all things coffee and his future plans to open a café of his own.

Tim has been a long time friend of mine, who has been obsessed with coffee ever since I have known him. Having traveled the world to experience and taste all the coffee there is to offer, Tim has accumulated a depth of knowledge around the café experience, barista techniques, bean roasting, and coffee quality. Tim has also worked as both a dishwasher and a barista, acquiring that much needed experience “in the field,” working hard to learn about how to run a successful business. After years of exploration and long hours spent in the café, Tim is finally opening his own coffee place next year- congratulations Tim! When I return to Hamburg, I cannot wait to pop in for a delicious cup of coffee and I hope you’ll join me in supporting Tim very soon!

Hallo Tim! Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I’m 23 years old and was born and raised in Hamburg, Germany. Besides my passion for coffee, I enjoy spending time with my girlfriend and family, traveling, especially to the US, driving and reading about cars, and learning more about nutrition and the plant based lifestyle.

How long have you been interested in coffee and what has sparked this passion?

Believe it or not, my parents always tell me that I had my first coffee at the age of five. My first job in coffee was working as a dishwasher for a bigger local roastery and café. This is where my passion for specialty coffee really took off. After graduating from school, I visited different states on the east and west coast of the United States and explored different concepts and business ideas. After many years of refining my idea of what I want to achieve with my concept and writing a business plan, I finally signed a lease for a space to open my own café in the heart of Hamburg in Spring / Summer of 2021.

What are your favorite coffees and coffee chains or shops and why?

Funny enough, most of them are in the U.S.! Heart Coffee in Portland, Oregon is probably my favorite coffee shop because the staff is very knowledgeable and the drinks are consistently high quality. I’ve had some of my bests coffees there. I also enjoy going to the Starbucks Reserve Roasteries because the interior design and aesthetics are mind blowing and the coffee is decent too. Coffee-wise, I prefer washed coffee from Africa. Kenyan coffees are usually very sweet and juicy.

I know you are opening your own coffee shop next year (how exciting and congratulations). Tell us a little bit about this new venture and what will set it apart from other coffee shops?

Thank you! I have always wanted to open my own café because most of the ones I’ve been to lack the basics of what makes a good experience to me. I think if you can provide consistently great service and high quality products in a beautiful and clean environment people will come back. Every decision I have made considers all of the above and we-my father co-owns the company- have put a lot of thought into the design process of the space. I can guarantee you it will be like nothing else in Hamburg.

To you, what makes a good coffee shop experience?

Like I said, people want a great product, served with a smile, and fast. It’s really hard to consistently achieve this level of service, but the whole concept is built around these three factors.

How has your previous experience as a barista helped you in building your new business?

Over the years, I was fortunate enough to gain many insights relating to the processes, finances, staff, regulations and of running a coffee shop, simply by learning from others peoples’ mistakes. I wouldn’t be as confident as I’m today without my experience as a barista. I’m convinced you can only be a great entrepreneur and employer if you’ve worked through the ranks.

What is one challenge that you have faced in starting your new coffee shop?

Convincing the banks it’s not just another coffee shop. Specialty coffee is still relatively unknown in Germany and it’s hard to convince people of something they’ve never tried themselves before. Also, finding the right space that checks all the boxes. It took me four years from starting to look for a space to signing the lease.

If I have learned one thing from this process: never give up and follow your dreams!

Last question, what do you think the future of coffee consumption looks like?

Due to climate change, the world will have 50% less land available to grow coffee by 2050 than we have today. This will hopefully bring the price of commodity coffee up so farmers can make a sustainable living from their work. Also, I think the consumer will make more informed buying decisions and especially look for high quality coffee. I’m definitely excited what the future holds for specialty coffee!

The Future of the Fashion Show

September 12, 2020September 13, 2020Business, FashionLeave a Comment

My take on what runways will look like in the “new normal”.

When I attended my first fashion show, Carlos Campos‘s Spring / Summer 2019 collection, I felt as though I was entering into a whole different universe. The show was part of The CFDA‘s New York Fashion Week Men’s Calendar, produced by INCA Productions, the company I was interning for. When the music started pumping, the room fell silent and I could feel the anticipation, as everyone was looking forward to Campos’s latest line of menswear. Once the models began gliding down the runway, the focus was pulled toward the perfectly tailored garments, some of my favorites in peach and vibrant yellow tones; half a year’s work packed into every beautiful piece.

A fashion show is a collective experience, everyone partaking in soaking up an intense, yet brief, five to ten minutes, where months of work and planning lead to what the future of fashion will look like. Having been an intern for three seasons of New York Fashion Week, I have seen, first hand, the amount of time, money, and effort that is required on behalf of both the brand and the fashion production company to put on a runway show with such precision- a few minutes of fashion perfection.

When I attended Alexander Wang‘s Spring / Summer 2020 show in Rockefeller Center last summer, I knew that the fashion industry was on the precipice of extreme change, albeit I had no idea it would happen so quickly. Alexander Wang had invited all of New York City to his public fashion show via social media and I knew I had to experience this show for myself. I flocked to the railing to see all of the names in fashion- yes I saw Anna Wintour with my own two eyeballs- both walk the illuminated catwalk as well as fill the show seats. This was Alexander Wang’s first fashion show open to the public and, what felt like, a huge innovation in the fashion world. Wang let everyone be a part of the experience and share in the excitement of his fashion show, previously offered to very few who make the VIP list. In just one night, I knew I witnessed fashion moving forward by leaps and bounds.

Undeniably, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many challenges for the fashion industry. Stores have turned off their lights due to mandatory government closures and social distancing requirements. Unemployment numbers have made it so that people are spending less and saving more, as the future looks uncertain for many. The question of whether in-person fashion shows were happening was rapidly circulating at the beginning of the year.

Would fashion houses be able to afford the expense? Would people be able to attend the event in person? If not, what would the presentation of a new collection look like?

Brands have been forced to make independent decisions on how they plan to present their collections, fragmenting a once cohesive industry. Many companies have forged ahead in planning digital and drive-in fashion shows, while others have decided to postpone their presentations altogether. Unlike many brands, Jacquemus decided to take the leap and hold their own in-person fashion show in a French wheat field with social distancing in place. Some brands, such as Off-White, have even taken this time to experiment with a see-now-buy-now opportunity in the future, where consumers can purchase clothes off the runway a month after they are presented. Now, if that doesn’t represent the “see it, need it, have to have it” consumer culture that permeates retail today I don’t know what does.

Despite the obstacles that the fashion industry has faced, we have seen some unparalleled creativity in the presentation of collections. LOEWE‘s Collection in a Box, shown below, is one of my favorites, which features a curated set of tangible components that represent the brand’s latest collection as well as what the fashion show would have looked like in a paper mock up, had it happened. Celine‘s fashion show, taken via drone on the Circuit Paul Ricard motor racing track in the South of France, was also an inventive approach, which was featured on various social media outlets and on the brand’s website. While, Lanvin decided to use the beautiful and intricate Le Palais Idéal, near Lyon, as the backdrop of a short film and lookbook to feature their latest. Brands have learned how to leverage livestreams, digital marketing, film making, and much more to keep their brands alive and relevant.

Yet, with a slew of fashion improvisations now over and done, there are clear reasons why in-person fashion shows just cannot be replaced exclusively with virtual presentations. A lot of the attention a brand receives is from having show guests dress in their latest collection and be photographed attending their fashion show. With virtually little to no attendance at the shows, less attention and press are gathered from these moments. With less influencers in attendance, there is also less organic sharing, posting, and videoing happening in the fashion world. During Copanhagen’s Fashion Week, for instance, popular brands like Ganni have taken major hits, earning $630,623 in earned media value between August 10th to 12th compared to $3,847,748 for the previous year and Saks Potts’s earned media value was $176,386, compared to last year’s $469,047. Another thing to consider is the over saturation of content on the internet and social media sites with every brand trying to compensate with virtual. When social media streams are being overwhelmed with content, it can be hard for certain brands to stick out and make their collections seen above the noise.

So what does this mean for the future of the fashion show when conditions return to a “new normal”? In the future, I see fashion houses reverting back to in-person fashion shows, yet retaining their current digital efforts, creating hybrid-type events. There is no denying that brands get more reach when incorporating digital elements to their events. However, given that customer engagement, press releases, and personalized influencer marketing are so critical in the fashion world, the impact of in-person is hard to recreate online.

Additionally, now more than ever, I think we are seeing individuals craving unique and special experiences, which are hard to replicate with today’s digital technologies. That being said, brands should be more motivated to look into innovative technologies that help push the envelope of the consumer experience itself. We might not have the technology now to foster those unique experiences from home, but we might in the future. Obsess is one company that is helping retailers utilize virtual reality to allow customers to visit stores from their phones. Who knows if fashion shows are next in line for a virtual reality transformation in the future.

Not only should time be spent around utilizing creative ideas to mitigate health concerns, but fashion brands should also be refocusing their efforts towards sustainability, given the incredible wastefulness regarding fashion production, as well as model representation on runways. With an increase in consumer exposure to brands, there will be a greater focus on company practices in both these realms, which have become increasingly important to, specifically, the Gen Z consumer. We have seen younger consumers prioritize supporting companies with a strong stance on sustainability and ecological preservation. Designer Gabriela Hearst‘s carbon neutral show, which appeared last year and was first in the industry, was a wake up call for everyone in fashion, showing that runway without a negative impact on the environment can be both beautiful and possible. This wave of shoppers and fashion influencers also take a strong stance towards companies who display a lack of body and racial representation, pushing brands to rethink who is walking down their runways. All things considered, fashion has a lot to think about for the future and should take this time to reflect on major changes occurring in the industry.

Overall, the future of the fashion show may look uncertain now, but I anticipate not for too long. The fashion industry is an incredibly creative and flexible industry, which is often rewarded for out-of-the-box thinking, innovation, and boldness. The COVID-19 pandemic has allowed some of the traditional “rules of fashion” to fall away to make room for immense creativity and unconventional thinking. From curated fashion “boxes” to buy now opportunities, runway has reached an inflection point of new possibilities and will never again be the same. The future of the fashion show looks in-person, digital, TikTok live-streamed, sustainable, inclusive, a virtual reality experience, and everything in between. If fashion is able to leverage the same mindset it has in terms of design as it is to operations and strategy, the fashion shows of the future are something to definitely be excited about.

Investing Your Time and Money in College featuring James Cheng

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020Business, LifestyleLeave a Comment

Saving when you’re a young adult can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be.

I have always been vigilant when it comes to my personal finances. I am fascinated by the concept of investing and having your money work for you, where saving now can amount to incredible future wealth. This knowledge and understanding, however, did not come to me overnight. I have a college degree in business, where I took finance and accounting classes, and a father who works in the finance industry, who I poke for clarifications and explanations about nearly everything! I have found this knowledge to serve me well, especially in college, where I was able to grow my personal wealth through investing, saving, and earning money through internships, part-time work during breaks, and my job at our college library. I wanted to share the information that I learned and knew that my good friend James, a fellow Babson College graduate, would be an excellent person to contribute advice on the matter. James is one of the savviest people I know, who has turned his interest in finance and investing into a full-time job as an investment portfolio analyst at Wells Fargo in Charlotte, North Carolina.

When coming to Babson, James’ initial interest was not in finance, but rather entrepreneurship. Yet, when James took Principles Finance with Professor Bliss he was instantly hooked. Principles of Finance was the first class that James took that he found to be really challenging and related to a subject that he did not know much about. James soon took all the finance classes he could register for and quickly became adept in the subject. One of Jame’s favorite aspects of finance is that he can walk into a room with finance professionals and finds that he always learns something new. Although James still desires to start his own business in the future, he is currently focusing on learning all he can about the finance industry, so when the time comes, he’s got the finances covered.

Applying to College

James

Jame’s first piece of advice when applying to college is taking the time to apply for scholarships. If you can get a scholarship your ROI- return on investment– will most likely pay off. For example, if you spend 3 hours on a scholarship application and you earned $5,000 in financial aid assistance, you have essentially made over $1,600 per hour of your time! That’s definitely above the going rate for any entry level job I know of! James also adds that when you are in college you can continue to apply for scholarships and aid to help lower your costs overtime. Every year you can re-engage in a dialogue with your college in order to potentially reduce your cost of college, if they feel you deserve more aid. You can do so by accessing your college’s financial appeal form.

Ursula

In terms of deciding what college will be worth the most bang for your buck, it is also worth checking out the employment rates of the universities you are looking at. This can be found in the yearly reports that the college puts out on its employment statistics. After all, the end goal for seeking higher education, in many cases, is to gain the best employment opportunities. In surveying different options, this might be an important step in your college selection process.

Establishing Credit History

James & Ursula

Jame’s advice is to get a credit card to establish credit history as soon as you can- the earlier the better. You don’t even have to use the credit card, just get one, and make sure that it is under your name so that it can counts toward your credit score. Establishing good credit for a long period of time is important for things like big purchases in the future- think your first car or first apartment rental- because it shows the bank that you are a responsible person to lend money to. Jame’s first credit card was a Wells Fargo credit card for college students with 1% cash rewards and mine was a Fidelity rewards card with 2% unlimited cash back. Learning how to use a credit card early on will also help you long term in learning how to set up automatic payments and budgeting.

Budgeting

James

In terms of budgeting, James believes that a lot of college students could save money by cutting back on excess spending on things like eating out during the week- that $15-$30 adds up! Instead of ordering that pizza 3 times a week, minimizing this spending to 1 time per week and savoring the indulgence can help significantly in the long term. James also stresses the importance of taking advantage of work opportunities, such as work study or part-time work. James and I have definitely put in our time working in college, as James used to work in our college’s fitness center and I in the library. That way, even if you do indulge in a night out or splurge on some new sneakers, having a part-time jobs can offset some of your expenses. Passive income from investing or side hustles can also be great if you are able to seek out these opportunities.

Ursula

One piece of advice that I have learned from my dad is to pay yourself first. After every pay check, it is important to set some money aside for yourself to save or invest before you go out and spend all of your hard earned money at once. Think of it as an investment in yourself and in your future. With more money in your pocket, you can be prepared for anything that comes your way and life can definitely throw you the unexpected when you least expect it.

Investing early

Photo by Burak K on Pexels.com

James

As soon as James turn 18, he open a ROTH IRA (Individual Retirement Account), which is what he recommends you do too! Some benefits from opening this account are that it is tax free, you can contribute to it regularly, and you can save significantly overtime. Whatever you can put away today, due to compound interest, is going to be worth much more when you enter into retirement. Additionally, if you are an international student, James recommends that you get an on campus job in order to receive a social security number. In getting a social security number, you can gain access to the American banking system to begin investing, saving, and much more.

Ursula

One point that James and I definitely agree on is investing in broad market index funds or exchange traded funds (ETF) over investing in the specific stocks of companies. The reason for this is that passive investing- meaning you invest your money with the forethought of holding for the long term, has historically yielded better results as opposed to active investing- picking and choosing stocks to try to beat the index. Doing this requires an incredible amount of time and energy to do thorough research on when and what to buy and sell. You really have to be an expert in order to be proficient in active investing, which incorporates greater risk in the individual investments.

Invest in Yourself

Invest in yourself, there is no limit to a potential opportunity.

– James

James

Some of the most important advice James highlights is to invest in yourself first and foremost. James states that you only need one door to open to be successful, so it is crucial to put as many doors in front of yourself as possible. College is what you make of it, so take advantage of all of the resources that are available that are free and can help you develop professionally and personally. James notes going to free conferences, getting his resume reviewed, and hosting all expense paid college gatherings as some of the ways that he was able to maximize his time spent in college.

Ursula

Similar to James, I took advantage of the many opportunities Babson has to offer. Yet, I have learned that the first step in doing so is to really sit down and do some research. You won’t know what opportunities you can seize unless you find out what opportunities are out there! At Babson, I was able to receive grants for studying abroad and hosting parties as well as utilize the free receive career counseling and resume review services offered to every student. There are so many organizations, businesses, universities, and people who are willing to help those who are passionate about learning, so don’t miss out!

person shopping online — *Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com*

The above references an opinion and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.

CEO Sit Down: Kyla Christie on New Art Collective

September 1, 2020September 3, 2020Business, Lifestyle, MusicLeave a Comment

The New Art Collective, a company making a positive impact on the performing arts industry in Indonesia.

*Photos taken from the New Art Collective Website*

Having grown up in the performing arts, I know just how important it is to provide creative opportunities to young children. Through performing, I have learned the importance of dedicated practice, how to overcome failure, and true grit, which I have mentioned in greater detail in a previous post of mine. When I found out that a fellow Babson College student was working towards improving opportunities in this sphere, I knew I had to share the incredible work she is doing with New Art Collective on the blog!

Kyla, tell us about yourself!

Hi! I’m 19 years old and I’m the co-founder of New Art Collective, a performing arts company based in Indonesia. I was born in Indonesia and currently attend Babson College on a full ride scholarship. I have founded over 5 businesses during her 19 years of life, including my non-profit initiative Sing to Build where I rebuild houses and communities destroyed by natural disasters.

What is New Art Collective and what is your connection to the performing arts?

I have been a singer for 15 years, and back then, aside from performing at small events, I noticed that young and passionate individuals couldn’t get a chance to be fully immersed in the arts. New Art Collective started out as a theatre company but now we are a youth platform that builds and elevates the performing arts ecosystem. We offer classes, content, and internship programs for youth on all performing arts aspects, including modeling classes, social media marketing, and business development. New Art Collective’s original inspiration was just for a 15 year old to find a stage to sing on, and now it’s become a change maker within the industry. Our vision is to give arts opportunities for Indonesian youth in every aspect.

What is the problem that your company aims to solve?

Growing up in Indonesia, I noticed a lack of performing opportunities. There is still a prevalent “starving artist” mindset! I built New Art Collective originally to be a place where students and other young people could perform, but we have grown into a community that delves into the industry a lot deeper than just singing, dancing, and acting. We’ve trained young people to learn how to put on their own shows, all the way from creating a sponsorship proposal and marketing plan to set and lighting design for the stage. That way, the financial and technical ecosystem around performing is elevated and people can start seeing the industry as a thriving one, not a starving one

What has been your favorite performing arts project you have worked on?

My favorite project has also the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced! I remember three weeks before our first show, I had my team of 100+ people quit, leaving only me, my co-founder, and three other people. They quit because they thought the show was never going to happen. So our team of five did everything possible to prove them wrong. It was never about starting a business, we just wanted to put on a show. What we didn’t realize was that putting on a show is a business. I handled everything from ticketing, marketing, and sponsorships all the way to costumes and lighting design. I remember plotting out the seats on an excel spreadsheet and coloring in the tickets people bought. At the end of the day, we never sat down and created a business plan, or gathered up a board of advisors, or made a website. We sold through people Whatsapp-ing us for tickets! What we did was start. Anyone can plan, but what set us apart was that we just went for it. Now, of course, after gaining a lot more experience, we now have a board of advisors, we have a website, we have teams but without that first experience we would never know what to do next!

How has your business been impacted by COVID-19?

Reflecting a lot on the pandemic and business choices I had to make for my theatre company, this pandemic has forced me to evolve and adapt. I was honestly getting too comfortable in my niche. We were putting out production after production but I was not thinking about the scalability & sustainability of our company.

In order to be pioneers and lead youth-based change in the industry, we needed to be more accessible and create more sustainable forms of entertainment. I sort of lost sight of that and lost my hunger to constantly challenge the status quo. The pandemic turned out to be a good wake-up call for me and my business. ⁣⁣

How will your business pivot or adapt to the changing environment, where live events might not be happening for a while?

I started noticing that the entire theatre industry is elitist! Most people can’t afford to watch shows, and language barriers for Indonesians are issues that my company should be addressing.

We are now focusing on creating accessible content and helping aspiring creatives enter the performing arts industry-both in performance and business development-, so they can keep their passions alive during this time! That’s why we opened up an internship program, because we noticed a lot of our friends were losing work opportunities and we still wanted to give those students and young people opportunities to dive into a company that is actively pivoting and changing during the pandemic

Last question, what is the ultimate goal New Art Collective strives to achieve?

We aim to be a company that brings opportunities and new solutions to the performing arts industry’s youth. Changing that starving artist mindset and becoming an industry leader is our main goal, and opening up the accessibility of the arts to those who are passionate

Dayne Brown on Being a Business Attorney

August 19, 2020November 19, 2020Business, College and Career, LifestyleLeave a Comment

Ever wonder what it is like to be a business attorney? Well, now you know.

When asking Dayne Brown about her experience as a business attorney, I thought it best we start at the very beginning: how she ended up sitting down to take the LSAT in the first place.

Dayne first mentioned that she always wanted to work in book publishing and moved from her home in Seattle, Washington to New York, New York to start her first career working for Oxford University Press. Dayne specialized in historical non-fiction while working at Oxford University Press for four years, earning $30,300 a year. Even in 2007, this was barely enough to get by in New York City. When her apartment got bed bugs (eep!) that wouldn’t leave, Dayne found herself stuck. She had no savings and she did not have enough money to move out of her apartment and replace all of her things, so she was forced to move back home to Seattle. Before bedbugs, Dayne had been reluctantly exploring other careers that might provide a more sustainable livelihood. Fortunately, one of her friends (a former NYC public school teacher) was in his last year of law school at Columbia at that time and was quite candid about his move into law. He shared the fact that he would be earning a six-figure income right immediately upon graduation. However, he also mentioned this sort of position was really only available to people who attend one of the top ten law schools in the nation. Admission at those schools is based almost entirely on the applicant’s Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT, score. Dayne then spent hours during her lunch breaks, on weekends, and in the evenings self-tutoring to take the LSAT. When she received her score, Dayne knew that she would likely receive admission to at least one of the top schools, and she ended up attending The University of Chicago’s Law School.

While attending The University of Chicago, Dayne soon realized that she was more interested in business law as opposed to other forms of law such as litigation. Dayne was more passionate about the collaboration that working in business law involved. She noted that, often in business matters, lawyers are interested in helping achieve what is in the best interest of everyone, while litigation is often a zero-sum game.

Having worked in business law for six years, Dayne is currently an associate at a large law firm, Cooley LLP, that specializes in representing high-growth technology and life sciences companies. Dayne’s clients are most often pre-revenue and raising capital from venture capital funds that specialize in early-stage investments. Dayne has worked on many private financing deals as well as biotech initial public offerings, or IPOs. She also assists her early-stage clients with corporate governance, employment, and equity compensation issues.

For Dayne, a typical workday involves checking her email first thing in the morning in order to gauge the business of her day. On a busy day when she is involved in a couple of active deals, Dayne might receive more than 200 emails. The volume of email traffic is a result of her role as a filter, both for information that needs to flow upward to partners and downward to paralegals and junior associates. Dayne first answers the most urgent emails and then often spends an hour or two on client calls and in administrative meetings. In the afternoon, Dayne drafts documents, provides feedback on the work product of more junior attorneys, and she might have a call or two with opposing counsel. Most days, Dayne is able to take a couple of hours off in the evening to spend with her young children. Dayne then usually gets back online at around 8:30 pm to finish any outstanding projects and to correspond with clients, partners, and associates.

Another aspect of Dayne’s work is finding clients for Cooley. One way to do this is through a strong social media presence, for instance through LinkedIn, her personal bio on the firm’s website, speaking on panels, and participating in networking events. Thus far, however, Dayne has been most successful in acquiring clients who are also personal friends. Even when they aren’t friends first, Dayne’s client relationships often last for years as she and the other attorneys she works with will support a company as it grows and its legal needs become more complex.

A typical venture financing deal that she works on takes about three to six weeks and involves a relatively small investment (usually between $2 and $10 million). Mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, deals typically take six to twelve weeks because of the higher level of due diligence that is required, and an IPO takes about six to nine months.

Dayne notes that the most challenging part of her work is getting to the right answer in an efficient manner. Many of Dayne’s clients expect her to be an expert in the specific law and technicalities of their field. Dayne mentions that it can be challenging to become familiar with the specifics of each deal, work on the legalities of the deal, and communicate this effectively to the client, and fast. Her clients pay on an hourly basis, which makes executing a deal in a timely manner for these companies very important. Associates on Dayne’s level are responsible for transforming a three-page term sheet–which outlines the principle agreement between parties–into a hundred pages of documents that lay out the specifics of what is being agreed upon. This ties into the greatest misconception that Dayne believes people have about lawyers–that lawyers are made to throw up roadblocks to hinder their progress. As Dayne highlights, lawyers are there to assist growing businesses to thrive and prosper in the most effective, efficient, and legal (of course!) way.

Dayne views the healthcare industry as being ripe for disruption, which is why it has become one area of focus for her. Helping people bring their ideas to the world is what Dayne has become passionate about and what she believes makes her work compelling. Dayne represents companies that are looking to solve some of the world’s toughest problems in innovative ways, which makes her work incredibly engaging.

Her advice for anyone looking to attend law school? Dayne mentions that it will definitely be helpful to know why, specifically, you want to go to law school. For example, it is good to know whether you want to become a public defender or are leaning toward M&A transactions. Additionally, considering law school is such a capital intensive decision, you want to make sure that your investment will be worth it! Dayne advises that, if you want a job at a firm, you spend a lot of time studying for the LSAT; your LSAT score will determine if you are able to go to a reputable school and therefore have a better chance of getting a job in a law firm afterward. Graduating from second, third, and fourth-tier law schools often result in not even close to the same opportunities at firms as top tier schools, resulting in a lot of underemployed law school graduates. One tip for deciding where to go to law school is to look at the school’s post-graduate employment statistics and also some of the places that graduates from these schools are employed at. This will provide an idea of the kinds of opportunities that you will be exposed to upon graduation.

If you are interested in becoming a lawyer, I hope that you take the time to consider some of Dayne’s wealth of professional advice. If you haven’t ever considered it, never rule law out completely, you never know when and where the law bug may bite!