Ryon Batson 21 always has maintained a strong passion for business, and during his time as an undergraduate at Binghamton University, he was conflicted about what path to choose in life.
During his sophomore year, Batson pursued electrical engineering at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science. Although he enjoyed it very much, he still craved a path that involved a business-inventive aspect.
This led to his discovery of industrial and systems engineering, where he could pursue his entrepreneurial and engineering interests in tandem. After graduation, Batson co-founded FairSplit, an artificial intelligence-powered insurance company designed to reduce tensions between workers and employers during employee transitions.
Q: What attracted you to Watson College?
A: When I came to Binghamton University, I wasnt sure what I wanted to do as a career. My dad was an electrician and had a private electrical company, and during the summers I would go out to work with him. I enjoyed doing electrical work, so I figured that I would follow in my fathers footsteps and pursue electrical engineering. In addition, as a first-generation college student, receiving an engineering degree seemed like a very notable thing to do.
Although I didnt get into Watson College my first year, I persevered and got accepted my second year after applying through the intra-university transfer application. With the Engineering Design Division program at Watson, I was able to explore the various options in engineering.
Q: Why did you choose ISE?
A: I quickly realized that electrical engineering was very different from being an actual electrician. The time invested in studying compared to my academic results quickly made me realize how important it was that I followed my own passions. I always had a passion for entrepreneurship, and I became conflicted with pursuing electrical engineering and wanting to transfer to the School of Management.
When I transferred to Watson, not only did I have my mind set on engineering, I also invested my first year taking general education courses directed toward Watson College. Transferring to SOM certainly would have set me back. I didnt want to drop engineering totally, so I went to speak with my counselors and advisors, and they mentioned a program called industrial and systems engineering. I wasnt aware of what it was, but it sounded like business with engineering principles. I started taking some courses, and I could immediately sense that my passion was being fulfilled.
Q: Where did you intern as an undergrad?
A: I interned for three startup companies Relo, Unified Scholars and Beam (formerly Edquity). I was privileged enough to learn the inner workings of launching a company. I was able to apply the knowledge that I was receiving at Watson directly to these companies, and that reassured me my decision to pursue ISE was the right call.
Primarily, it involved immersing myself in various roles within the companies, gaining practical experience in the process of designing and coding systems. This allowed me to witness the progression of projects from inception to completion firsthand.
Q: Did your experiences in your internship influence the development of your startup, FairSplit?
A: Absolutely. Funny enough, Relo is now FairSplit. I stayed involved with Relo past my internship, first as a volunteer, then as a part-time employee, and eventually becoming full-time as a co-founder and COO of FairSplit. At that time, we were focused on developing a system for people to relocate from one area to another and provide an insurance in the case they defaulted on their payments.
Since then, the pandemic and the advancement of technology prompted us to pivot from our original concept and confront a broader challenge. It became evident that our services were irrelevant without a stable income. Consequently, we decided to address the root cause: the transitions of employees into unemployment.
FairSplit, now an AI-powered insurance company, focues on streamlining various business activities such as mergers, acquisitions, headcount reductions and employee transitions through automated compliance measures. Additionally, we offer real-time insights into finances, employee benefits and industry trends to aid our clients in risk mitigation, thereby reducing costs. Our prepaid insurance system enables us to decrease the expenses related to offboarding benefits by over 15%.
Q: Did you ever think your ISE degree would lead you to this career path?
A: I didnt quite know where my ISE degree was going to lead me. I originally thought it would have been either a heavily focused engineering path or a path related to business somehow. To my very own surprise, I landed a career thats allowed me to apply both my technical background and the hint of business that industrial and systems engineering prepared me for.
Q: Can you share any specific lessons you learned from your journey?
A: You must learn how to measure the small wins. It is easy to become discouraged if you only visualize success from the broad scope. I like to say that every stroke of the paintbrush on a canvas matters to the overall concept or final image. Its the same with developing a business. Every code written, every system built and every idea thought of contributed to the overall execution of the business model. Learning to value the small wins is necessary to be successful.
Secondly, successful entrepreneurship is more than just an amazing and unique idea. The idea is merely just the first step to entrepreneurship. There are other factors that go into being successful as an entrepreneur, like an exceptional founding team, and the ability to convince investors and partners that you are the one to execute this vision. Are you a second-time founder? Did you have a successful exit prior? These are also important. If the answer to these questions is no, you must be prepared to produce exceptional results and persevere much longer than your counterparts whove accomplished these things.
Q: Do you have any advice for Binghamton students?
A: Practice your introspection. If we take time to deliberately examine our thoughts, emotions and experiences to gain insight and self-awareness, we empower ourselves for greatness. This is a practice I have been doing subconsciously since 2017 when I decided to no longer pursue electrical engineering. That decision set me up for all my internships and led me to co-found FairSplit.
I encourage everyone to take note of the outcomes when you are following your instinct or gut feeling. Monitor the results of those decisions, and monitor what happens when you do not. The results should increase your confidence to follow that internal feeling. That is your guide to success.
Read more:
- 10 books thatll help you become a better software engineer - The Next Web [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Total hands out UKCS engineering framework deals to trio of consultants - News for the Oil and Gas Sector - Energy Voice [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Prometheus: Why The Engineers Were Heading To Earth | Screen Rant - Screen Rant [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Management CEMETERY SUPERINTENDENT The City of Gibbon is currently accepting - Kearney Hub [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Transportation Engineering and Safety Conference to be held Dec. 9-11 - Penn State News [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- 'Bending' light to engineer improved optical devices and circuits - ND Newswire [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- UC Merced Engineering Center to Focus on Ag Technology - AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST - AGInfo Ag Information Network Of The West [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Head of Engineering Maintenance job with DURHAM UNIVERSITY | 233561 - Times Higher Education (THE) [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Civil Engineering student part of National Women in Engineering "Dream Team" panel - uoflnews.com [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Breaking News - Engineering at Its Best... and Worst: Don't Miss the Return of Science Channel's Hit Series "Deadly Engineering" and... [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Tesla is No. 1 most attractive company for engineering students, and thats a massive advantage - Electrek [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Wolves alter wetland creation and recolonization by killing ecosystem engineers - UMN News [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2020]
- Global Automotive Simulation Market To Witness Astonishing Growth 2026 | Altair Engineering Inc., ANSYS Inc., PTC, Siemens AG, Autodesk Inc.,... [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2020]
- Engineers Without Borders urges industry reflection - The Engineer [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2020]
- 9 Engineers on the Hardest Song They Ever Mixed - Vulture [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2020]
- Daewoo Engineering and Construction and SPH Engineering disclose AI partnership - sUAS News [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2020]
- TRIPLE EIGHT BATHURST WINNING ENGINEER TO JOIN WAU - Auto Action [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- First-year engineering classes for Anna University affiliated colleges take the e-way from today - The New Indian Express [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Datafold raises seed from NEA to keep improving the lives of data engineers - TechCrunch [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Tech has overtaken engineering as Bristol's fastest-growing industry with more than $1.07bn invested in the city since 2014 - Business Leader [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Start 2021 as an electrical engineer with this training for less than $20 - Boing Boing [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- The Global Engineering Plastics Market is expected to grow by $ 43.00 bn during 2020-2024 progressing at a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period -... [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Elementary students test their engineering skills with Mayflower project - williamsonherald.com [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Global Architectural Engineering and Construction Solutions (AECS) Market 2020-2024 | Market Analysis, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Threats... [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers Celebrates Organizations and Leaders for Doing a World of Good - GlobeNewswire [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- 2 Texas Engineers Honored Among Top Inventors in US - UT News - UT News | The University of Texas at Austin [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- Chemical engineering alumna named Woman of the Year in Engineering - Penn State News [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- 14 Largest Engineering Companies In The World - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- Vails namesake was a controversial state highway engineer - The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- The Next Frontier of Learning Engineering: AI That Teaches Other AI - EdSurge [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- $496M Contract Will Give DOD Engineering Capabilities, Official Says - Nextgov [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- William H. Robinson has a 'new and expanded leadership' post at Vanderbilt University - BlackEngineer.com [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- Di Appointed to Lead Computer Science and Computer Engineering - University of Arkansas Newswire [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- English is easier: India is woefully underprepared to teach engineering in regional languages - The Times of India Blog [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- VW Bolsters U.S. Footprint With Advancements In Electric Car Portfolio, Infrastructure And Engineering - CarScoops [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- These 4 Measures Indicate That SIA Engineering (SGX:S59) Is Using Debt Reasonably Well - Simply Wall St [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- New engineering business opens its doors in Netherton despite the pandemic - expressandstar.com [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- 'Earables' the next milestone in wearable tech, say engineers - E&T Magazine [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering job with BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY | 238845 - Times Higher Education (THE) [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- New collaboration provides opportunity for future water scientists and engineers - Cranfield University [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- Box Opens Research and Development Engineering Site in Warsaw, Poland - Business Wire [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- Engineering and Technology Management students achieve high pass rate on certification exam - Morehead State University News [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- Hydram Engineering warns Covid-19 and Brexit will dent its turnover - Business Live [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- Calculating The Intrinsic Value Of Watts International Maritime Engineering Limited (HKG:2258) - Simply Wall St [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- Is Suprajit Engineering Limited's (NSE:SUPRAJIT) Stock's Recent Performance A Reflection Of Its Financial Health? - Simply Wall St [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- Engineering CAD Software Market is Flourishing due to Rising Emergence of Technical Implementation Drives Growth by 2027 | TurboCAD, SketchUp,... [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- Apple vs. Tesla: Which Offers Software Engineers the Biggest Salaries? - Dice Insights [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- From the classroom: Mechanical engineering at global top 10 uni - Study International News [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- 'A lot of unknowns': Grass Valley Assistant City Engineer Bjorn Jones said the city has adapted under the pandemic - The Union of Grass Valley [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- Associate Professor in Broadcast Engineering job with BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY | 243677 - Times Higher Education (THE) [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- CORRECTING and REPLACING: KCI, One of the Top Engineering Firms in the US, Adopts ProStar's PointMan SaaS Solution for SUE - Business Wire [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- Purdue's online engineering graduate programs again rank in the top 3 nationally - Purdue News Service [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- Faculty Positions of Intelligent Engineering and Microelectronics job with South China University of Technology (SCUT) | 314652 - The Chronicle of... [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- Examining the Engineering of the Kasukabe Reservoir in Japan - Interesting Engineering [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- Home - Springer [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- SIA Engineering ekes out small profit in third quarter - Flightglobal [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- ST Engineering Launches Anti-Microbial Solution Approved for Use in Cabin Interiors - AviationPros.com [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Journey Engineering announces the addition of a new VP and Principal, Projects and Engineering - BOE Report [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- K-2 Ventures Advises Mark Two Engineering on Its Sale to CORE Industrial Partners - Business Wire [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Global Engineering Liability Insurance Market latest demand by 2020-2025 with leading players & COVID-19 Analysis KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper -... [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- First recipient of the Black Engineer of the Year Award is appointed Deans' Professor in Education and Engineering - BlackEngineer.com [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Google will pay $2.5 million to underpaid female engineers and overlooked Asian applicants - The Verge [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Clay County teen whose dream is to be an astronaut introduces other girls to STEM pursuits - The Florida Times-Union [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Universal Engineering Sciences Strengthens Western Expansion By Acquiring Construction Testing & Engineering, Inc., In Southern California -... [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- U.S. Navy Has Patents on Tech It Says Will Engineer the Fabric of Reality - VICE [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Cummins and Isuzu collaborate on mid-range powertrains and advanced engineering - Engine Technology International [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Liberty engineering teams helmet prototype earns second place in NFLs 1st and Future competition - WFXRtv.com [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- FM Global executive on the insurer's risk-engineering based approach - Insurance Business Australia [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Black former NASA engineer: We have to teach our children well - WFXRtv.com [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Cummins and Isuzu announce global mid-range powertrain and advanced engineering collaboration - Automotive World [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- University of Iowa College of Engineering receives diversity recognition, but still has work to do - UI The Daily Iowan [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Darin Gray Named Engineer of the Year - USC Viterbi | School of Engineering - USC Viterbi School of Engineering [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Rubrik transitions to new phase as sales and engineering heads leave Blocks and Files - Blocks and Files [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- A*Star scientist Jackie Ying elected to prestigious US engineering academy based on work in Singapore - The Straits Times [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- A Disillusioned ExxonMobil Engineer Quits to Take Action on Climate Change and Stop Making the World Worse - InsideClimate News [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- USC Junior Advances Communities By Engineering Infrastructures That Serve The People - USC Viterbi | School of Engineering - USC Viterbi School of... [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- Join us on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 pm EST for the Black Engineer of the Year Awards - BlackEngineer.com [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- Sebastian Ceria Elected to the National Academy of Engineering - Salamanca Press [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- Three Harvard Professors Elected to the National Academy of Engineering | News - Harvard Crimson [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- Newsmaker: South Shore native working on NASA space telescope - The Patriot Ledger [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]