In this episode of The Better You Podcast, Kanav Paliwal sits down with Rich Gilliam, also known as Richnovated, to talk about confidence, education, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and the experiences that shaped his journey.
Rich shares how he went from graduating high school with a 1.8 GPA to becoming an engineer, entrepreneur, and CEO of STEM Plug. He opens up about struggling with motivation in high school, the impact of being exposed to new opportunities, and how learning to believe in himself changed the direction of his life.
The conversation also explores Rich's approach to personal growth and why he believes habits can build confidence over time. He discusses the importance of enjoying the present instead of constantly worrying about the next step, especially for students who feel pressure about college and their future.
Rich also explains how his career evolved from neuroscience research to engineering and robotics, eventually leading him to leave his engineering career and focus full-time on STEM Plug. He shares why helping young people develop confidence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills has become bigger than simply building a business.
One of the biggest themes throughout the conversation is the idea that your past experiences can become your greatest advantage. Rich explains why he eventually stopped hiding the parts of his story he once felt ashamed of and instead embraced them as part of his personal brand and his purpose.
If you are a student, young professional, entrepreneur, or anyone trying to figure out what comes next, Rich's story is a reminder that your starting point does not determine where you will end up.
00:00 Introduction to Rich Gilliam and The Better You Podcast
01:00 Who is Rich Gilliam?
02:00 Building STEM Plug and helping the next generation
03:00 Rich's experience in high school
04:00 What high school grades failed to capture about Rich
06:00 How exposure changed Rich's direction
07:00 Graduating high school with a 1.8 GPA
08:00 Turning being an underdog into motivation
10:00 From a 1.8 GPA to becoming a CEO
12:00 The people and programs that created opportunities
13:00 Mentors, professors, and becoming a lifelong learner
15:00 How science became connected to everyday life
16:00 Habits, discipline, and building confidence
18:00 Finding balance between school and having fun
20:00 What Rich would tell his college self
22:00 Why students need to stop living in the future
24:00 Taking inventory of what you've already accomplished
25:00 Rich's journey from scientist to engineer
27:00 Discovering robotics and becoming an engineer
28:00 How STEM Plug started
29:00 The meaning behind “Richnovated”
30:00 Why Rich refuses to stop growing
31:00 Building a legacy and creating sustainable growth
32:00 Is becoming too comfortable dangerous?
33:00 Has Rich ever wanted to quit STEM Plug?
34:00 What keeps Rich motivated
35:00 How students can get involved with STEM Plug
36:00 What's next for STEM Plug?
38:00 Rich's advice to his high school self
39:00 Your experiences are your “cheat code”
40:00 Kanav's final takeaway
