Even though Frank DeSantis was speaking at the weekly Entrepreneurship Unplugged yesterday, he started his talk with the blunt admission, “I am not an entrepreneur.”
DeSantis graduated from Towson University in 1999 and took his first job out of college “driving around a big yellow truck” for Black & Decker, which merged with Stanley in 2010. Through the years, DeSantis moved around within the company until he became Vice President of Breakthrough Innovation, a position that didn’t even exist before he took it.
DeSantis’ constant ascent within Stanley Black & Decker is something he attributes to his risk-taking and entrepreneurial endeavors within the company, such a re-branding and internally rebuilding the company to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for creative and innovative ideas. DeSantis found success in persistence and by fearlessly pursuing new ideas and taking crazy risks throughout his career.
“I didn’t really have a desire to be an entrepreneur, but when I stop and take a look back at what I’ve done in the company [Stanley Black & Decker], I am one,” he said, retracting his opening statement.
So what is the key to a successful entrepreneurial career? According to DeSantis, it’s hard work, of which he says “there’s no substitute.”
“Surround yourself with a good team and never be afraid to start at the bottom and work your way up,” he said. “Go do what you’ve got to do. Be willing to take risks. Challenge yourself.”
The next Entrepreneurship Unplugged event will be held Tuesday, Feb. 28 at noon at the University Union building room 306. The guest speakers will be Ziying Tang who will be talking about her endeavors to take her research to commercialization.
See the full lineup of spring 2017 speakers here.