Ever wondered how a 30+ year career can pivot and change? Or what it’s like to work for a company that started small and has grown exponentially? What about taking over the management of that company?    In today's episode, we have something a little different for you. If you’ve spent any time in Pullman –which Hello! This is the CougsFirst! Podcast –you have probably heard of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.(aka SEL).    Well, I am joined by none other than the Chief Executive Officer, Dave Whitehead!    Dave has been with SEL for going on 29 years and is responsible for overseeing global operations and translating the company's executive vision into effective corporate strategies that prioritize quality, innovation, service, and growth. He’s also a registered professional engineer credited with over 73 patents and holds a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and an honorary doctorate in electrical engineering.    Oh, did we mention he’s an ‘89 WSU grad? Yep. He loves Pullman, WSU, and Coug games just as much as we do.    And today, he’s talking to us about what running a big business in a small town is like, why plenty of Cougs work for SEL, how he transitioned from an engineer to a leadership role, the power of mentorship, and his best 3 tips for excelling in business.    Dave is sharing Cougar advice, life advice, and business advice, and you don’t want to miss this episode!  Leave a 5 star review on iTunes or Spotify!   What we discussed: [1:17] Why the WSU labs changed his trajectory [3:12] The benefits of moving back to his college town [4:30] What is Schweitzer [7:15] How he runs a big business in Pullman [8:45] What it’s like hiring Cougs right out of WSU [9:29] How WSU students can get the edge on getting hired at SEL [11:30] 3 tips for excelling in business [13:00] What the transition into a leadership role was like [16:01] How he refined his leadership skills [17:00] The power of having great mentors Links: Website: www.selinc.com Podcast: www.selinc.com/schweitzerdrive Social Media Links: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sel https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-whitehead-198ab511/ @DWhiteheadSEL @SEL_News https://www.facebook.com/SchweitzerEngineering     Find out more about our community via the CougsFirst! website:  https://www.cougsfirst.org/    Want to find all of the CougsFirst! businesses? Checkout our directory https://cougsfirst.org/cougsfirst-businesses/    Connect with us on social media: Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cougsfirst/ 

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