Great careers are made with good people, and better questions.
This week I spoke with Katie Begando, 2022 UVA grad who’s now the Founder & CEO of the Bluubird.
The Rundown:
COLD OPEN: Not knowing what to do and experimenting (consulting, Delta Airlines, entrepreneurship)
TURNING POINT: You have what it takes to do the thing
STEAL THIS: What book are you reading? and scary men in waiting rooms
INDUSTRY INSIDER: The outdoor gear industry is bigger than you think
IF I WERE YOU: Remove yourself from the noise — you are the signal
COLD OPEN
How Did You Get Your Start?
It started not knowing what I wanted to do. After undergrad, my calling wasn’t clear, so I took opportunities that were interesting at places I could see myself learning from.
I thought about law school, so I worked in litigation consulting. It was healthcare insurance fraud, which wasn’t the most interesting space, but it didn't matter because when you're 22, you’re a sponge for any information and experiences you can get your hands on. My team was incredible and I loved my boss (UVA alum too). It was intellectually stimulating, but after 3 years, I asked myself what the long-term path looked like?
At that point, I didn’t want to go to law school, and I wasn’t excited about being a compliance officer somewhere, so I pivoted, and took a job at Delta Airlines. I had a friend who worked there, and was anecdotally telling them what I was going through. They said their team was looking for an analyst.
I wanted that big commercial experience at a global brand. I worked on the trans-Pacific team — all the flights going over to Japan and Australia. It was great, but then 2020 happened.
All of our planes grounded, and I basically had no job. I quickly applied to Darden.
I went to UVA for business school, still not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life.
It was a bit taxing. Everyone felt so certain about, say, IB and consulting, and I just didn’t share the same passion. I chose consulting at Deloitte for mainly practical reasons. The firm had tuition reimbursement, and I knew I’d learn a lot.
On the side, though, I was shipping people’s skis all over America as a side hustle, running the storage and logistics service for oversized outdoor equipment.
I found myself racing to the end of my workday to keep going with it, and once I had an MVP (minimum viable product), I left Deloitte. We're lapping year one now of the entrepreneurial journey, and it’s been awesome.
PRESENTED BY BLUUBIRD
Adventure is better when your gear works as hard as you do.
Bluubird helps outdoor athletes track the gear they own, log how it performs in real conditions, and learn what actually works—based on real experience, not marketing hype.
By tagging gear to your adventures, you get smarter, more personalized recommendations from a community that shares your pace, goals, and environment.
Stop guessing. Start choosing gear with confidence.
TURNING POINT
What’s A Challenge You Faced Early On?
Reinforcing the idea that you are capable in your pursuits is a challenge.
You may be underestimated, or at times underestimate yourself, but knowing that you have what it takes is important to realize.
It’s a challenge for me, but one that being a founder has taught me a lot about.
STEAL THIS
What’s A Question You Love To Be Asked (Or Asking)?
I love to ask people what they're reading. Especially in professional contexts, it kind of humanizes the person a bit.
I remember being in a waiting room for an interview and there was this very scary looking guy.
I wanted to start a conversation, and I was so nervous. We chatted, and it came up that he was reading one of those lightweight, Reese's book club, you know, mom books. I shouldn't call them mom books, but it was funny because it’s like, oh, you’re a real person too.
INDUSTRY INSIDER
What Do People Misunderstand About The Athletic Gear Industry?
People often tell me it’s a small industry. It’s actually enormous. There are 242 million athletes in the US alone – and when I say “athletes”, I really mean anyone who does something athletic on purpose.
Even the six-year-old on a little league soccer team – they need cleats too!
It’s easy to reduce the market to professional and extreme athletes, but really, gear is anything you put in or on your body to perform. Soccer cleats, electrolytes, headphones, sunscreen.
If I’m about to run a marathon I’ve been training for for months, I need a sunscreen that isn’t going to blind me when I sweat. If I’m going to commit time and money to skiing, I want to make sure my socks keep my feet warm and dry because wet and cold feet = ruined day.
IF I WERE YOU
Do You Have Any Advice For Students?
When I was in school, I found myself thinking I was supposed to be taking certain classes, interviewing for certain jobs, and applying to certain companies. There’s an impressiveness to some kinds of jobs and industries, but I found that at the end of the day, everybody graduates, and then they have to actually do the job.
It’s no longer telling people you got the interview; it’s the work that comes with it. So, I’d say, try to separate yourself from the noise.
Take a moment to yourself and think about your non-negotiables, your values, goals, the things that put you in a flow state. It all trends back to you, so make decisions accordingly.
Lastly, I’m a big believer that everything is as it should be or else it would be different. For me, that sentiment de-stresses the worry of always making the “right” decision.
CLOSING TIME
What To Do Next
Reading is great — but putting yourself out there, meeting new people, and finding opportunities is what this is all about.
4 things to do right now:
Find a UVA alum and send them a cold message.
Follow up in a week if they don’t respond.
Prepare for the meeting, and talk to them
Explore a new industry:
Want us to cover a new industry? Reply to this email and let us know which one.
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