Dave Collins '10 on Starting a Company Based on Improv

Published: May 10, 2018, 5 a.m.

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Dave Collins graduated from Northwestern and went straight to work in a large corporate consulting firm before later branching out on his own. He discusses the profound impact that his work in student theater and improv groups on campus have had on his personal professional development, as well as on his career as a whole. After a few lessons learned along the way, one of which made him think he might lose his job in the first week, he decided to start his own company, Oak and Reeds, a corporate training firm dedicated to using the tools of improvisation to train clients on everyday soft skills useful for growing through change. Although he loves what he does, Collins tries to be mindful of having a career he is passionate about but also having a hobby that he loves that he keeps separate from work. Tune in to hear more great career insights Collins has learned through starting his own company in the Bay Area.

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