Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is Get REAL Executive Director and co-founder Chris Studer, whose non-profit organization teaches youth to unlearn LGBTQ discrimination and bullying. We caught up with him to find out what inspired his business and what advice he would share with other young professionals…
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Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
Executive Director and one of the founders of the non-profit organization Get REAL. We’re a series of university campus teams that work at the high school and middle school level helping youth unlearn LGBTQ discrimination and bullying. My day-to-day entails everything from managing our now 20 teams, giving workshops, keynotes, running special events, social media pages, finances, video production, and merchandise. It’s tiring, but I’ve had more fun, learnt more lessons, and met more interesting people than I could have ever imagined possible. No two days are the same, and it never truly feels like work!
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
Get REAL wasn’t a non-profit to begin with; it was just a few frosh leaders at Western University who had positive experiences speaking to our first year students when they’d say things like “that’s so gay” or “fag.” The idea was pitched to take that same friendly, older-student approach back to our old high schools, and that became Get REAL. So I got involved because I not only had seen the idea work first hand, but because I wish Get REAL had been around for me as a kid. I used to be pretty closed-minded in middle school, and something like Get REAL would have made a big impact on me.
As for pursuing it full-time, I remember being in an interview for a copywriting position after university, and the creative director saying “Yeah, your book is good [read: good, not great], but why are you interviewing for this job when you have this?” I didn’t really have an answer, and then a week later S-Trip!, a fantastic and forward-thinking student travel company, offered to pay me to run GR out of their office and help build it into a national program. Life is strange like that.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
Apart from making my own decisions, which is a privilege in itself, I get to meet new people every day. From middle school students, to high school teachers, to new campus team members, to new colleagues, to other activists, to random people wanting to get involved… I am constantly surrounded by new and interesting people and that is a blessing that will never get old. The most challenging part is not cracking under pressure, and keeping the train on the rails and moving forwards and upwards. I’ve really tested my limits in terms of how far I can push myself physically and mentally over the past two years. But hey, wouldn’t change a thing.
What is one sign that you’ve seen over the years to suggest that your work/life balance is off?
Not seeing people I care about, and not making it to the gym in the mornings. Those are two major things and they’ve suffered at times in the past two years. But I try to go to bed as soon as I’m able to, and carve out time with people I love whenever I can.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Good question. I’d like to see myself having an adventure – not sure what exactly – with the knowledge that Get REAL is a fully sustainable international organization, doing work that its proud of…which in turn would help with my blood pressure.
What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
Changing what was essentially a small idea with $10 hats meant to support small expenses into a model that can support a national program with salaries, big expenses, and operations beyond what we ever anticipated. Overcoming that? I have to thank the grace of a lot of good friends and family who provided support, an amazing company and partner in S-Trip! who believed in us, and a determination not to fail. We’re still not where we want to be, but we’re going to make it. I always believed we would, but there was a while there when I wasn’t sure how we were going to make it.
What does success look like to you? Does Money = Happiness?
Success to me is building something I’m proud of; happiness is doing that while still being able to be good to the people I care about and continuing to learn and grow through new experiences no matter how busy things get. Money’s nice, but most of the time I’m thinking: ‘How could this help Get REAL?’ vs. ‘I’m going to personally clear x amount this quarter’. Not that I look down on that latter sentiment, but that’s more where my head’s at right now when it comes to money.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Getting to go back to my grade 7/8 school with old schoolmates. That was quite a moment of, “Wow, I have another chance to leave this school on such a more positive note than I left it back in 2004.” You can never go back and re-do parts of your life, but that really felt like a second chance to connect to a young guy who might currently be negative and closed-minded like I was. So that was very special to me.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Always reach out to people for advice, or that cup of coffee. You never know who will have a fresh pair of eyes for a problem you’re having. And, of course, if an idea floats along that you would love to pursue, grab it!
Where is your favourite place to wine/ dine in your city and why?
Anywhere with a cool vibe and good food. Gioranna’s, WVRST, Rodney’s, El Catrin, Maha’s, Guu. And shout out to Gandhi’s for the tastiest roti in TO!
When you’re not working how do you love to spend your “Me” time?
I really value small things: hanging out with my sister with her great sense of humor; watching HBO dramas with my grandma on Sundays; playing drums in my band once a week. Those things are precious to me. And I love movies and reading interesting biographies and finding new music.
Where is your favourite place to travel? Why?
I’m headed to Japan at the end of August, so I am excited about that. I took a trip to Peru that was very cool, especially being adopted from there. Seeing the street I was born on was a trip – so poor, and extremely humbling. The country itself is amazing: the Amazon, the Andes, urban cities, beaches, and rolling sand dunes… so many different environments, and some of the friendliest people.
If you had to choose a theme song, what would it be?
Something from the Star Wars soundtrack, or Nelly – Ride Wit Me. That song will never get old.
If you weren’t doing what you’re doing, what would you be doing?
Pursuing film or music or advertising.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
EGALE does a lot of great work that we’ve been proud to be a part of; as does jack.org in the mental health space. I’m watching the progress of Give Directly right now. They have such a straightforward model and the results they’re getting are very promising.
What to you is notable?
Addressing problems in creative ways, and extending love and support to as many people as you can.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
I loved my iPhone 5S before it was stolen and sold on Kijiji. But I feel like I have some good karma coming my way!
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