CALGARY – Austin Sladek is putting his successful business on hold during the football season. The same with teammate Matt Sibley. 

The third year Haskayne School of Business student created a company washing windows, cleaning gutters, and power washing homes once exams conclude the academic year helping his clientele with spring cleaning chores. 

"The business is on hold due to football commitments and courses," stated the 24-year-old Sladek, who scored his first touchdown in the Dinos first game of the 2025 season against the University of Regina Rams to help propel the Dinos to tie the game and force overtime. 

Sladek is combining his knowledge gained from courses in the Haskayne Business of Business along with lessons learned on the football field into creating his own business at a young age. Football has also helped him expand his reach in attracting clients. 

How has Austin learned from his experiences in the classroom and the football field translate into the running of his business?

"In football, not every play is successful, so you have to deal with failure and rejection," states Sladek, who started his business three years ago. "Football is also the ultimate team game, and to run a successful business one needs everyone working together."

Courses in the Haskayne School of Business taught him how to manage people, as well as having to deal with rejection and plan. He has also learned the valuable skill of networking into creating a client base and building relationships. 

"I took entrepreneurship classes, but the initial set up was very slow," stated Sladek, who employs about 10 people during in peak times, and does the administrative and accounting for the business as well as going to job sites. 

Austin, who is the only married member on the team, is in his final year of courses after spending two years on his Mission with the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Edmonton and Indiana. 

Anyone who owns a barbecue realizes cleaning it is a filthy task. Enter 22-year-old receiver Matt Sibley, who has a seasonal business cleaning and tuning up barbecues. 

Like Sladek, Sibley is a student in Haskayne and also attended Ernest Manning High School before enrolling at the U of C. 

"I felt a niche existed in this area," Sibley stated. 

The two aspiring entrepreneurs work together to help expand each others client bases. 

"My business is now also on hold," stated Sibley, who has been running his commercial operation for two years admitting he and Austin have had to turn down several fall cleaning jobs from their client base.  

Austin Sladek and Matt Sibley: both using their football and academic skills to help them with achieve their entrepreneurial goals. 

-UC-