February 2009

February 2009
Jeffrey Saliture '08

Q & A:

• What is your edge (strength)?
  My edge is the unwillingness to accept an outcome and an impassioned avoidance of settling for less. I strive to find the path of most resistance and prove only to myself that I can walk down that path. The biggest reward: finding others along the way who approach the world with this same spirit.
• What at Hofstra gave you your edge?
  Quite simple: Hofstra’s ability to inspire and support me is what allowed me to find my edge. It is the standard of excellence that Hofstra holds for itself and its students and graduates that has been the biggest asset taken from my experience.
• In one word, how would you describe Hofstra?
  Team
• What was your major?
  History
• What was your favorite class?
  Professor Talton’s History of Africa
• What is your fondest memory of Hofstra?
  My fondest memory of Hofstra is one that took place during student orientation. I remember having a conversation with a senior who was in the process of successfully starting his own business. This aspiring entrepreneur took the time to share a dialogue with me and encourage my own path. I remember thinking how far off and impossible starting my own business seemed for me. Little did I know then, that two years later, as a junior, I would be that same guy and have that exact conversation with an incoming freshman on that same stage. The most interesting aspect of that conversation was how my product is built on the premise that intimate communication within one’s college network is a value that cannot be priced. This moment materialized the realization that I had truly begun my life.
• What is your field of specialty, and how did you come to work in the industry?
  My specialty is the Internet and, specifically, building useful systems that regular people can utilize in an effort to enrich their lives. I stumbled into this industry after co-founding and successfully selling my first .com while a freshman in college. I nurtured that specialty through the sale of my first .com, recognized a major opportunity in a desperate industry, and my current company incorporates nearly every aspect of the internet, from the psychology of its users to the attractiveness of design.
• Who in your field do you most admire?
  I most admire my two friends and partners, Tarek Pertew and Doug Baruchin. I continue to learn so much from them, particularly how three close friends and business partners continue to grow and become stronger after 3 long years in a constant environment of excitement, success, failure, stress and urgency.
• What was your first job after graduating from Hofstra, and what was the most valuable thing you learned there?
  Gratefully my first job is founder and CEO of MyWorkster.com. Since I am still the heart of this company and plan to be so for the foreseeable future, I cannot say the most valuable thing has necessarily been learned yet. Up to this point, however, the most valuable thing I’ve learned is that there are so many different people and personalities out there. The ability to manage, co-exist, befriend, negotiate and impress such a diverse range of psyche.
• What advice would you give current Hofstra students?
  Cherish your time at Hofstra. Stay focused on your purpose and future but never allow yourself to fashion your day for future endeavors. Always push the envelope, keep moving forward and never listen to non-constructive criticism. You may have no choice but to hear it, but never listen. Get out there; there is something to be said for the conscious transformation that results from real-life experiences. Looking back can be fun. Looking ahead can be scary. Looking is important but seeing what I’m looking at has helped me progress. Pay close attention to all those you come across throughout life. There may be a very important role for them in your future.
• How do you balance work and life?
  I don’t. This remains one of my toughest challenges. Right now, it’s all work and no play. This type of behavior can only build upon itself and my New Year’s resolution for 2009 is to have a much more positive answer to this question by year’s end.
• Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
  In 10 years, I imagine that I will have a whole new set of goals and aspirations. One of my long-term interests has been environmental protection, and I see myself being involved in this cause to the extent that my personal financial situation permits.
• What is the single most rewarding experience in your career thus far?
  That three years after founding MyWorkster, we are still here. We are stronger, we’ve made people’s lives better, and there is only the brightest future ahead.
• Do you have a favorite quote or saying that has kept you motivated through the years?
  "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
  
  -Theodore Roosevelt, "Citizenship in a Republic," Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
• You started MyWorkster while still a Hofstra student. How were you able to take classes and begin a business at the same time?
  Starting a business while in college was somewhat challenging for me. What it came down to was prioritizing my work and organizing my schedule. Ultimately I was able to find a routine that worked for me, my education and my company.
• What is the most satisfying aspect of working with the "millennial"generation as your primary demographic?
  I love working with the millennial generation because these are the people who I grew up with watching G.I. Joe. I would say that conversing with friends about the problems and experiences they have with their career search and then, as a company, addressing these issues to provide tools to solve those problems is rewarding. However, the most satisfying thing is receiving an email or call from a peer saying he or she secured a good job because of the services we're offering as a company.
• What inspired you to take on social networking in a very saturated market?
  Believe it or not, when I started this thing the term “social networking” wasn't even a buzz word yet. With that said, I'm the most competitive person I know and I love the idea of strong opposition.