On his first path to graduation, Tog Samphel ’22 was lured away by exciting job opportunities.
While still a student, he worked part time at The Wiz, the one time electronics chain, and held an internship with MTV. Then, he was offered a full-time position with AOL, an opportunity too good to pass up.
“At first, I tried to do it all, working long days at AOL in New York City while attending night classes at Montclair,” he says. “It was just too much. I left school with the goal to finish my degree someday soon, but my career kept growing.”
Samphel’s successful career in digital product design and user experience landed him in his current role as a product designer at Walmart Global Tech. But it was his creative response to an everyday need that led to his entrepreneurial path as an inventor – and to a deal on ABC’s Shark Tank for his kitchen gadget, Anytongs, that turns regular eating utensils into versatile tongs.
Thanks to that, he is working with the show’s Daymond John on product strategy along with potential licensing and retail store deals. “I quickly realized that inventing a product is only about 20% of what it takes to succeed. There is a massive process to get manufacturing right, even for a relatively simple product.”
The success of Anytongs is exciting but also bittersweet, as his mom – the inspiration for the product that is changing his life – has passed on. “She was a huge Shark Tank fan,” he says. “In some ways I feel like I am honoring her by doing this.”
He also honored his pledge to himself by completing his bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts, 17 years after he left Montclair to work at AOL.
“Finishing my degree was something I really wanted to do for a long time, and I feel really good that I did it – and that Montclair let me back in and found my records in the ‘archives’ and helped me figure out what I needed to finish,” he says. “I have two little kids, and we always say ‘Get the job done.’ I always try to set a good example for them so I wanted to finish what I started.”
Samphel is eager to share what he has learned with the next generation of entrepreneurs. “Even after college, even after discovering your passion, it is important to get as many experiences as possible,” he advises. “Putting yourself out there helps opportunities come your way.”
–Michele Hickey and Laura Iandiorio