Mike Raab
I love new challenges, genuine relationships, and seeing the impact of my work. I'm fortunate to have had a dynamic career so far - from strategy roles in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, to venture capital / tech in San Francisco, and now as the associate director at The Garage at Northwestern, "startup central" for students at the university. I recently co-authored a book - Founded: The No B.S. Guide for Student Entrepreneurs, which is available now on Amazon!
I also host a new podcast called How I Got Here, which interviews young professionals with non-linear career paths about the philosophies, perspectives, and strategies that have helped them forge their own paths.
The common threads through these diverse professional experiences have been working in industries I'm interested in / passionate about; with good people who I wholeheartedly trust, respect, and admire; and in a capacity that keeps me challenged, excited, and always thinking about ways to grow my impact.
However, work isn't everything to me. I took an 8 month sabbatical at the age of 26 to backpack through Europe solo, work on self-discovery, and prioritize the things that were important to me in life. One of those discoveries was my enjoyment of writing / blogging, which I've done a lot of over the past few years on topics such as tech / investing, media, life, identity, and traveling. You can read most of that here.
A few other things about me:
I get way too much pride from making someone, anyone, laugh.
People and relationships are the most important thing in my life.
I love nothing more than a regular Game Night with the same crew.
I’m of the belief that empathy is the most important muscle.
I was a film major, worked in the TV industry, and probably watch too much content.
My favorite thing is having real, vulnerable conversations with people.
I'm always happy to hear about new ideas and opportunities, provide feedback, or have a conversation about life. You can reach me at mike.raab@u.northwestern.edu
