USU alumni share their secrets of success

Two Utah State University alumni visited campus Friday to offer advice on how to be successful in the workforce after receiving a bachelor’s degree. The lecture was hosted by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in partnership with the Student Alumni Association as a networking opportunity for students.

Tom Grimmit and Nile Leatham both completed law school after attending USU. Both shared their stories for success and how student, especially those who plan to go to law school, can also suceed.

Leatham, class of 1981, said networking is crucial to finding a career after undergraduate school. He said getting to know people in a similar field of interest establishes connections that could be useful to advancing a career later.

“You will be much more likely to find the job that you want through people that you know,” he said.

Leatham said Grimmit was a resource he used while working in Las Vegas. Because of that connection, Leatham was able to more easily advance his career.

“Nobody does anything by themselves,” Leatham said. “Nobody does anything alone. Everybody needs some help along the way.”

Grimmit said two important steps to success after graduation are learning how to work and being willing to work and developing honesty and integrity.

Leathan is a member of the Nevada State Bar, the American Bar Association and the American Bankruptcy Institute and is a shareholder in a private firm. Grimmit has served for more than 20 years as a Federal Bankruptcy Trustee for the United States Bankruptcy Court.