Editor’s Note: This series profiles students at the Eccles School to highlight their achievements and to inspire their peers as they pursue different career paths and academic opportunities.

Alex Carr is a senior at the University of Utah studying Multi-Disciplinary Design & Entrepreneurship. Apart from being a full-time student, he also has started a successful company called CharPoles.

Eccles School: What made you choose business?

Carr: At first, I was a pre-med student. But in all honestly, it was the Innovation Scholar class that made me change my major. At that point in my life, I was really searching for that sole purpose in my education. I have never been a fan of just taking classes to take classes and just graduate. My professor at the time Kathy Hajeb really just digs down deep and helps you find the core issue or problem statement that you are trying to solve. For me, it was a change in the way of thinking.

Eccles School: What are your main values?

Carr: Other people first. What comes around goes around!

Eccles School: How did you start the Social Entrepreneurship Abroad Program?

Carr: Well, I was a TA for a professor. The professor came up to me and said that we need an awesome experience abroad in different countries to truly give these students the opportunity of a lifetime. We first traveled to Costa Rica, which was safe and environmentally friendly, and they are the only country to run sustainably for 365 days consecutively. That was all founded in 2014.

Eccles School: How can student get more involved with the Social Entrepreneurship Abroad Program?

Carr: The Costa Rica tour is for students earning an Entrepreneurial Certificate right now, but it may expand in the future. Students apply for the certificate classes, and you take the course, and at the end of the course there is a project and evaluation. The course takes you to a country and introduces you to a business in a whole new setting.

Eccles School: Any advice for future students?

Carr: Look into the Entrepreneurial Certificate. It is great experience, and it helps students land jobs. There is so much going on where you get to compete in business competitions where there are grants to help you fund your ideas and create prototypes.

Eccles School: What are some tips for other student wanting to startup a company?

Carr: Do your research. Research nowadays is very overlooked, and people don’t do enough of it! You need to look at your competition, price points and what the overall market looks like. Also, register the company. If you don’t register, it won’t be anything. So many people don’t register because they can’t decide on a name or logo design, but that can all come after you register your company. Plus, it is illegal to operate your company without registering.