The Sky's His Limit
Ryan Spellins
Sophomore
Finance
While Ryan Spellins’ dream job might be up in the air, his head is definitely not in the clouds.
In fact, with his feet firmly planted on the ground, he already is taking solid steps through USF’s College of Business toward reaching his lofty goal – the top spot at the world’s leading aerospace company.
“My goal is to become CEO of Boeing,” he says without equivocation.
With an easy smile and a quick laugh, Spellins exudes a quiet confidence that belies his 19 years. That confidence, in fact, was key in his decision to attend USF.
“I heard about the Bulls Business Community during a tour,” he says, “and I knew of no other school that had a similar living-learning community. The lessons you learn in business school in the classroom about management, marketing and accounting principles are important. But equally important are the social networking skills, the interviewing skills and the confidence that practicing those skills builds.”
Those were exactly the type of opportunities he found through the Bulls Business Community (BBC) making USF his first-choice school. After being accepted, he became one of 75 students in his incoming freshman class admitted to the selective program.
Spellins says that the best part about being involved with the community was that he had the opportunity to start college early and receive his first credits in a foreign country. He was the first incoming freshman ever invited to participate in a study abroad program in Panama the summer before starting classes. During the intensive three-week program, he studied Spanish and international business earning six credits.
“That experience opened my eyes to the importance of being involved with as many BBC events as I possibly could.” The most exciting, he says was attending the U.S. Business Hall of Fame – an annual event sponsored by Junior Achievement honoring the titans of business. There, while talking with corporate executives from around the United States, Spellins says, he “mustered up the courage” to introduce himself to the CEO of AT&T.
“If I had not gone to many of the BBC events before such as Improv Nights or company tours that built up my confidence, I know that I would not have put myself out there like that.”
Spellins knows that taking risks and moving outside one’s personal comfort zone are critical to a future successful business executive, which is why he entered the college’s elevator competition as a freshman. While open to all students, the majority of those who participate are juniors and seniors. The event is an opportunity for students to learn how to sell themselves and present a positive image in a one-minute ride in an elevator.
Spellins was one of 20 finalists who made it past the first-round on-campus to the Regions Bank elevator in downtown Tampa. There, hiring managers from several local companies judged the students on their ability to communicate, share information about their education, skills and abilities, professional appearance, confidence and overall first impression.
Aside from getting a little light headed from riding up and down multiple times, he felt the experience strengthened his confidence in stressful situations. “It taught me first the importance of putting myself in situations that are not in my normal comfort zone.” He also values the relationships he was able to initiate with other business students, faculty and local area business leaders.
“Being a fully involved member of the Bulls Business Community has made me very excited about the path I am on through the College of Business.”
A path that will hopefully lead to a corner office at Boeing corporate headquarters.
-- Mary Beth Erskine, University Communications & Marketing