FORMER SYCAMORE STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR SHARES HIS PATH “TENACITY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAITS TO POSSESS. KEEP FIGHTING FOR WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT.”
Kevin Lehtiniitty (’08) found he had a knack for
As Lehtiniitty worked his way through college
entrepreneurship at a young age, and he hasn’t
at the University of Illinois, he continued to
stopped in his pursuit of business success.
glean information and insight about business from professors and other business people,
“When I left Sycamore, I took a lot of the
even as he ran his own company on the side.
things that I had learned, and I actually
He learned that it isn’t always the brightest -
started a software company. That company
though that certainly helps - person who finds
was called TINITT, and that’s what I did
success. “It’s going to sound like a cliché, but
through Brebeuf and through college.” As the
tenacity would be one of the most important
founder & CEO of TINITT, Kevin created
traits to possess, learning to keep going and
iPhone applications that saw more than one
keep fighting for what you think is right,” he
million downloads from the App Store. He
says. “When you walk into a meeting and
also designed business strategies for medium-
everybody is three times older than you are,
sized businesses. “One of my mentors told
you’ve got a tendency not to get taken very
me that there are two things that really matter
seriously.” In his late teens, and now early 20’s,
to someone: their physical health and their
tenacity, when it comes to being heard, is a trait
financial health. I’ve always wanted to really
that Kevin values. “There’s something to be
make an impact, and I thought that maybe if
said for learning how to get your point across
the physical health wasn’t my area, financial
and learning how to be heard when people
health could be interesting.” He is a young but
(want to) dismiss you because of your age.”
seasoned product manager and entrepreneur
16
with almost a decade of experience in creating
Rarely does a conversation with a Sycamore
web and mobile ventures. He’s been honored
alum not lead back to trying to understand
by being selected as a Thiel 20 Under 20
exactly what it is that Sycamore did for them,
Community Member and was honored in the
and how the years at Sycamore helped as they
Technology and Management International
headed to high school, college, and beyond.
Business Plan Competition in 2015. He’s
“I think Sycamore, quite honestly, was one
also earned Special Award for Outstanding
of the hardest academic programs I’ve been
Leadership and Innovation. Currently, Kevin
through,” he says. “I went from Sycamore to
is the Director of Product Management at
Brebeuf, which is obviously a very challenging
Prime Trust in Las Vegas.
school, to Illinois, an engineering school with a
