b'ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSETWe have learned that money cant buy happiness or fill the void, he said.Looking Forward Fostering has been an extraordinary experience for our family. TRULASKE STRATEGY PILLAR3In 2020, Bosovik was ready to take the plunge and start his own venture, initiallyEntrepreneurial Mindset planning to refurbish RVs. With the support of his wife, a brother and his father-in-law, he set up shop in his mothers garage. Within a week, the team securedThrough the colleges Center for Entrepreneurship a warehouse, and the business quickly gained momentum. & Innovation, Trulaske students have extensive However, it wasnt long before Bosovik realized he could elevate the craftsman- opportunities to develop the entrepreneurial mind-ship of RVs by designing his own custom-built, high-quality, adventure vans andsets that will allow them to revolutionize the world expedition trucks. Using the chassis of reputable vans and trucks, Bosovik createdof business. To further provide students with the a fleet of three all-terrain vehicles that combine rugged durability with luxurioussupport to develop such mindsets, Trulaske will: interiors. The vehicles range in price from $313,000 to $1.5 million. Bosovik hasGuide students as they work to turn ideas into also developed a boat line and is always looking for new ways to push the limitsentrepreneurial ventures, increasing their confi- BUILDING SUCCESS of technology and self-sustainability of his vehicles.dence while honing their business skills. So far, business is booming. In May, Bosovik expanded his operations to a new Increase the understanding of emerging technol- 50,000-square-foot facility on the outskirts of Springfield. The state-of-the-art ON EVERY TERRAIN BY SARA DIEDRICH facility also includes an off-road course where customers can test their new ogies that empower entrepreneurs while providing strategic advantages to Missouri businesses. vehicles capabilities, as well as 25 campsites.Foster international collaborations and cross- To date, Bosovik has sold 130 of his expedition vehicles and employs about 60border entrepreneurial ventures. people. He also prioritizes 24/7 customer service.Act as a conduit for the commercialization of I love my team and job because we dont settle for less than the best, he said.Mizzous life science discoveries.How Pavel Bosovik, B.S.B.A. 18, built aA passion for business Just do it Want to get involved?While he designs and sells custom-built expedition vehicles, Bosovik sees his workContact Scott Christianson, associate teachingmulti-million-dollar expedition vehicleBy middle school, Bosovik was pitching in to help his family, workingas more than just building vans and truckshe sees it as a people-driven business.professor and director of the colleges Centeralongside his mother cleaning residential property. In high school, empire.he joined a construction crew, dedicating himself to masteringSuccess hinges on your ability to connect and communicate with others, Bosovikfor Entrepreneurship and Innovation, atPavel Bosovik, B.S.B.A. 18, recognizedcarpentry.When it came time for college, Bosovik toured severalsaid. The people you surround yourself with, both in business and in life, arechristiansonjs@missouri.edu. early on that every unmet need is anuniversities, but none resonated with him like the Robert J. Trulaske,crucial to your achievements.opportunity waiting to be seized.Sr. College of Business at the University of Missouri. Bosovik also draws inspiration from trailblazing entrepreneurs, particularly Elon In the fifth grade, Bosovik foundI developed a passion for business at a very young age, he said.Musk.himself wanting a Fruit Roll-Up atTrulaske felt like the perfect fit, as if it was meant to be. He has a way of trusting himself and his ideas even with the rest of the world lunch but couldnt afford the 50 centsThecollegesemphasisonexperience-centeredlearningdoesnt, he said. Ive had that feeling when no one believes in you and the idea his school charged for the snack.profoundly influenced Bosovik, who concentrated his businessyou have, but you push through anyway and then, everyone thinks youre great.Undeterred, the budding entrepre- studies in management. He valued his instructors not only for their neur crafted a bookmark, sold it foracademic knowledge but also for the practical business experienceThe best business advice Bosovik ever received is simple: Just do it. 50 cents and bought the coveted treat.they brought to the classroom.I have met so many successful people, and Ive asked them all the same ques-A small but meaningful victory for aMy education at Trulaske laid the foundation for me, he said. Ittion: How did you do it? he recalled. They all told me the same thingjust get young immigrant from Ukraine, who arrived in the United Statesalmost felt more like an internship than regular school. None of itstarted. You dont have to have it all figured out.in 1999 with his parents and six siblings.was just textbook theory. We learned by doing. Whenever possible, Bosovik suggests gaining experience at a startup before Today, Bosovik is the founder and CEO of 27North, an expeditionEven now, Bosovik draws on the lessons he learned at Trulaskeventuring out to launch your own business. vehicle manufacturing company in Springfield, Missouri. 27Northand occasionally consults with his former professors for guidance.In addition, he has learned the importance of setting goals and pacing himself. designs, engineers and builds recreational vehicles capable ofWhile attending college fulltime, Bosovik balanced his studies withNow in the fourth year of a 10-year plan to earn $1 billion, hes on track to achieveIt felt like a full-circle momentbeing able to give conquering any terrain. Named after the latitude of Mount Everest,repairing and selling carsa skill that would later prove invaluablehis goal. back to the people who sacrificed so much for me, he 27North has emerged as one of the worlds leading builders ofat 27North. He also met his wife, Nina, a fellow Ukrainian immigrantSo often, people try to accomplish everything in one year, he said. Pace your- said. It wasnt just about the cars themselves; it was expedition vehicles, offering three distinct models: Venture Van,who has become an essential part of the family business.self. Give yourself time and grace. about what they represented. They symbolized the Ascender and Rexrover.Expanding horizonsgratitude I have for my parents and the opportunity We dont follow roads, we pave them, Bosovik said. At 27North,Trusting his instincts to say thank you in a way that really impacted their were not just setting new standards in vehicle designwere rede- Straight out of college, Bosovik joined a startup constructionGrowing up, Bosovik grappled with feelings of inadequacy, often facing bullyinglives. Knowing that I could provide them with some-fining what adventure means. Every challenge is a call to grow,company and played a key role in building 23 homes in the greaterfor his accent and the way he dressed. thing they would never have bought for themselves and were leading the way. Springfield area. This experienced offered him a firsthand look atI always felt different and spent years believing I wasnt good enough, he said.filled me with a deep sense of pride and happiness.In 2021, Bosovik expanded his entrepreneurial ventures by foundingthe challenges of launching a businessinsights he would laterBut now, I meet with executives of major companies and realize theyre noThe gifts were also a powerful reminder of why P.N. Bosovik Properties, a real estate business specializing in invest- use when founding 27North.different from me. Bosovik does what he does. ment properties and commercial real estate in Springfield. HeDuring this period, Bosovik and his wife discovered they wereAs a result, Bosovik is learning to trust his instinctsand to enjoy the rewardsIn that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of also hosts a podcast called Suits & Shoes and provides businessunable to have children of their own. Undeterred and eager toof his hard work. Recently, he gifted his parents their first brand-new vehicles:accomplishmentnot just in my career, but in being coaching. become parents, the couple began fostering children. To date, theya Jeep for his mom and a truck for his dad. It was one of the most fulfillingable to honor the people who made everything His journey has been one of hard work, passion and vision.have fostered 11 childrenan experience that has strengthenedmoments of his life. possible for me, he said.their bond as a family.16 | TRULASKE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS TRULASKE MAGAZINE 2024| 17'