Entrepreneur and philanthropist Brad Bonham, co-founder of Walker Edison and founder of Rizz Lending, spoke at Utah Valley University’s Halladay Lecture Series about mastery, humility, and building both businesses and people with purpose.
Brad shared lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, encouraging students to focus on simple mastery. He compared it to the In-N-Out Burger menu, which is short, simple, and in his view produces the best burger in Utah. “Don’t try to be everything to everyone,” he said. “Focus on the mastery.”
He spoke about trusting founder instincts, telling the story of when Walmart pushed his team to create a bubblegum pink daybed. Although he had a gut feeling it was not a good idea, the project went forward and hundreds of thousands of dollars were lost. In the end, the only pink bed sold was to the buyer who had suggested it. That experience left a lasting reminder to trust his instincts.
Brad told students that there are likely billion-dollar ideas sitting in the lecture hall today, and possibly even future cofounders. He noted this as a reminder to take full advantage of the networking opportunities available in school. The relationships built now could become the foundation for businesses and partnerships later on.
He emphasized that the value you bring to society starts with the value you build in yourself. Learning, growing, and investing in personal development are essential steps before building a business. He also shared practical advice on starting with limited resources. If he had to do it again with no money, Brad said he would ask retailers for 50 percent down before production. His point was clear: be scrappy, creative, and resourceful, because “you don’t need a ton of money to start a business.”
When talking about leadership, Brad explained his philosophy of always being the first one in the office. This allowed him to greet employees, set a hard-working tone, and most importantly, show that he was in it with them. By working alongside his team and leading by example, he built trust and a strong sense of unity. While pay can bring people in the door, he said, it is culture that keeps them there. He reminded students to celebrate wins along the way, to attract and develop talent, and to remember that building others is just as important as building yourself.
Reflecting on his career, Brad spoke about co-founding Walker Edison, which grew into one of Utah’s most successful consumer product companies before its sale in 2021. He shared how he immediately went back to school at Harvard and then started Rizz Lending. Today, he continues to build new ventures, remain active in politics, and give back through philanthropy and community leadership.
Brad closed with a final piece of advice: be biased toward action. Employers and partners are always looking for people who move forward. “It doesn’t matter where you start,” he said. “What matters is that you go. There is valuable learning everywhere.”
The Woodbury School of Business extends its gratitude to Brad Bonham for sharing his time, experiences, and encouragement with our UVU students. We wish him continued success in his future endeavors.
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