Where Are They Now? Featuring: Ian Thiel
We’re interviewing alumni who worked on The York Review in the past to see how they’re doing after graduation. Today’s interview is with Ian Thiel, an alumnus of York College and the Business Editor for The York Review.
When did you attend York College and what was your major and minor?
I attended 2007–2011, I majored in Economics and minored in Mathematics and Sociology
While working on the York Review, what were your titles and what did you do?
I was the Business Editor for two years. I made sure the book got printed, and worked with Dean Helwig to secure us free printing locally, allowing us to print larger editions and in full color.
What made you interested in working on the York Review?
I was studying econ and math all day, and wanted something with more emotion and heart in my life
What did you want to do when you were in college? (dream job, or a general idea of what you wanted to do.)
Like most students I had no idea what I wanted to do after York. I wanted to make a lot of money and have fun every day, it wasn’t something I thought critically about. When you’re a student everyone you know is a student, so there aren’t many good role models or people to learn from. Near the end of my time at York I wanted to go to grad school and get my PhD in economics. I’m happy I didn’t do that
What have you been doing since you graduated?
After graduation I went to Babson College’s Global Entrepreneurship Program (GEP) and traveled the world for 12 months, ending with a Master of Science in Management. Then I packed my stuff into a friend’s trunk and drove with him to San Francisco. I’ve been here ever since. I worked for four years at Optimizely, a software company that had 25 employees when I joined and now has 400. A month ago I joined ScriptDash, another software startup, this one focused on changing the pharmacy industry (think Walgreens, CVS). We deliver your prescription to your home or office, same-day.
How does it feel to see the magazine on the other side now that you’re no longer working on publication?
I was very fortunate to be able to work on the York Review and I loved reading all the submissions.
I still have copies from while I was there on my coffee table here in San Francisco