Matt Navarro, global brand president for Stanley 1913, says students shouldn’t lock themselves into a single path too early. He urges college kids to keep exploring, build networks through internships, and get ready for the human side of job hunting—conversati
When Matt Navarro started college, he pictured a future in teaching history and coaching sports. Roughly 28 years later, he’s now leading Stanley 1913—an iconic drinkware brand best known for its 40-ounce Quencher tumblers—where he serves as global brand president.
Navarro told Business Insider that he realized teaching wasn’t the right fit. He didn’t abandon the sports part of his life, though. He still coaches his son’s high school football team.
After college, Navarro launched his career in sports management and climbed the ranks to his current position. He has served as global brand president for the past two years. Today, he oversees around 1,500 employees at the brand.
His route into brand leadership shaped the advice he offers college students and recent grads—advice built around what he wishes he’d understood earlier.
Don’t specialize too early
Navarro’s first piece of guidance is to avoid committing to a narrow path before you’ve tested what fits. He described himself as a “very average student” who didn’t know exactly what he wanted to do.
He said there’s a lot of pressure on kids today to perform—”be best in the class” and get great grades—and that students often aren’t ready at 18, 19, or 20 to decide on a career they’ll pursue for the rest of their lives. To him, that expectation “isn’t really fair.”
Instead, Navarro advises students to stay open-minded and take “a bunch of different general ed classes.” The point isn’t accumulation for its own sake; it’s to see what they like, what they’re good at, and what they want to avoid. “That perspective leads you to a better outcome,” Navarro said.
He’s watching the same uncertainty play out at home. Navarro said two of his kids are in the process of choosing a college and “have no idea what they want to do.” He called that OK. and said the better approach than pressuring a decision is to pick a place where they’ll be happy living for the next four years.
Build your network the way that turns into real options
Navarro also made networking a practical priority. He said cold reach-outs on LinkedIn are one way to try building a network, but internships are often a more effective strategy to make connections.
Internships, he said, offer what he considers a “job test”—an opportunity to find out how work actually feels, and whether it can grow into something bigger. “Many more times today, that’s turning into a real full-time job,” Navarro said.
He added that students should also consider the strength of a university’s alumni network and its job placement track record.
Don’t skip the human part of job hunting
The final piece of advice is about communication—especially face-to-face communication that many students may not practice enough.
Navarro said today’s students spend a lot of time on devices and less time interacting in person. Strong communication skills remain essential in the workplace, and he urged students to work on that intentionally.
He said he worries that many job seekers get used to applying to jobs online by submitting a résumé or sending an email. but aren’t prepared for the next stage. which requires talking to a person. “Be able to hold a real conversation, talk about yourself, and ask the right questions, and be curious,” Navarro said.
His guidance applies even before adulthood. He advised both college and high school students to learn how to talk to adults and look people in the eye. “It’s ‘simple stuff. ‘” he said. but getting good at it can require forcing yourself into situations where you have to speak publicly—“even if it’s just in front of 10 people.”.
Those “intangibles,” Navarro said, are what can separate job seekers in a “really tricky market.”
Stanley 1913 Matt Navarro drinkware Quencher tumblers college advice job market internships networking communication skills career planning
So basically don’t pick a major? lol
I kinda get it but also like… people need money NOW. Internships don’t pay most of the time, so how are they supposed to “explore”? Seems like good advice if you’re already comfortable.
Wait Stanley as in the tumblers? I thought this was gonna be about presidents or something. “Stanley 1913 president” sounds like a fake title. Either way, building networks sounds like school is just resume prep forever.
This is so tone deaf to me. Like yeah take general ed classes but tuition is insane and classes fill up. Also “get the human side”?? is that code for connections not skills? My cousin did an internship and still can’t find a job, so I’m not sure how magical the networking thing is.