This post was originally shared on LinkedIn by the Sam Walton College of Business.
Meet Ayden Owens, a Walton College of Business alumni who graduated in 2023 with a Master of Business Administration, along with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Based in Champaign, Illinois, Ayden is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of DapUp, Inc, a technology startup focused on transforming word-of-mouth into a scalable, programmable advertising channel powered by athletes, local creators, and brand ambassadors!
Q&A with Ayden:
What advice would you give to current Walton students?
Be intentional about forming real relationships with your classmates. I am still in contact with classmates of mine who have become invaluable in my professional journey, as many of them are serving in impactful roles at great companies. Also, invest time in getting to know your professors. I’ve maintained relationships with a few who served as my mentors during my MBA and made my experience at Walton all the better. Professors are often underutilized resources for many students post-graduation, who must never forget a core feature of business school and business in general: it's not always what you know, but who you know.
In what ways has your experience at Walton College influenced your career path and the life you’re building today?
I always had an entrepreneurial mindset, from mowing neighbors’ lawns and shoveling snow as a kid to launching a clothing brand, but Walton College transformed that passion into a viable, sustainable career path. I had the mindset, but not the framework or tools, and Walton gave me both. It equipped me with a diverse skill set, an important professional network, and a problem-solving approach needed to build something meaningful in the world. That foundation continues to shape the career and life I’m building today.
