Entrepreneur Insights from UAF Chancellor Rogers

On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers spoke to an students, staff, and community members. Chancellor Rogers offered his insights into entrepreneurship, and shared his own background in starting a business.

Chancellor Rogers’ first business was a lemonade truck he would park on campus. The year was 1972, and at that time the UA Museum was located in Signers’ Hall. Rogers’ primary customers were thirsty tourists on their way to visit the museum. Rogers offered the tour bus drivers free lemonade. Once the passengers were dropped off, the bus drivers would head over for free lemonade, the tourists following like ducklings.

Between 1972 and 2008, Rogers started 10 businesses, ranging from selling lemonade to software development. His most successful business was a consulting firm, Information Insights, which he is still part-owner of today. The business which lost him the most money was the weekly newspaper. “How do you make a small fortune running a newspaper?” Rogers joked. “Start with a large fortune and work your way down.”



The Chancellor shared that as an entrepreneur, you face unique challenges, and to be successful, you must be willing to face them as they arise. One of the best things about owning a business is being your own boss, but that comes with a plethora of problems in itself. One risk is, as the business owner, you are the last to get paid. When Information Insights was getting started, the owners would go a couple months without a paycheck. As Rogers said, “If you need a regular paycheck, being an entrepreneur may not be the best idea.”

Chancellor Rogers finished by answering questions, touching on subjects such as UAF being too risk averse, and how that is being changed; the research/capitalist opportunities available at UAF; as well as more inside advice on the life of an entrepreneur. To listen to his complete talk, click here.