How a College Student Bought His Professor’s Business

How a College Student Bought His Professor’s Business

From Living Your Legacy by Rudy Mawer

June 10, 2026 · 20 min · Episode 215

About this episode

Andrew Oleson shares his journey from college student to CEO and the lessons learned about business and leadership.

Andrew Oleson never planned to become the owner of the company he admired most. While still in college, he took a chance, walked into his professor’s office, and made a bold offer that would change the course of his life. Today, as CEO of PDG+Creative, Andrew helps businesses build stronger brands, clearer marketing strategies, and deeper customer connections. In this episode, he shares why business is ultimately about people, not numbers, how company culture became his greatest competitive advantage, and the lessons he carried from military service into entrepreneurship. Through stories of leadership, branding, hiring, and business growth, Andrew reveals what it takes to build a company designed for long-term impact and lasting legacy. Key Takeaways Why Andrew bought a business from his college professor at just 24 years old The surprising lesson that shifted his focus from numbers to people How a 90 to 120-day hiring process helps create a high-performance culture What military service taught him about leadership, teamwork, and accountability Why successful branding starts with strategy, storytelling, and understanding people Notable Quotes "About six months into this business…

People in this episode

Host: Rudy Mawer

Guest: Andrew Oleson

Topics covered

  • entrepreneurship
  • business growth
  • leadership
  • branding
  • company culture

Keywords

  • college student
  • business ownership
  • company culture
  • leadership lessons
  • branding strategy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PDG+Creative

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