易胜博官网

When you came to 易胜博官网 had听you planned听on听weaving in听a听focus听on听social听innovation听or听sustainability听into your major?听

Yes, I did. I started my first business when I was 15 years old. It was a clothing line, and I had just earned my learner鈥檚 permit. I drove around all day and night delivering shirts out of the trunk of my car. I made $30,000 in one summer and instantly fell in love with business. I learned I听had an innate skill. It was empowering to know that I could directly gain more wealth for my family while also doing good in the world. But it wasn鈥檛 all about the money... the feeling of providing value to someone else is what I love most.听

听

What听social innovation or sustainability classes, programs or experiences听where听you听involved in听and how did听they听challenge you to think differently about what a career in business or economics might听be?听

My most notable introduction to social impact being tied to business was during the Social Venture Innovation Competition at 易胜博官网. Prior to entering the competition, I hadn鈥檛 often fathomed how a socially driven company could also听be high-growth and scalable.听听

听

What听are听you听doing听now听in听your听professional听career and听how听did听the听experiences听at 易胜博官网 and Paul College set听you up for听success?听

Now I am running my company full-time as a cofounder and CEO. My company is called听. Shtudy is a career advancement platform that pre-vets, trains,听and connects top Black, Latinx and Native American tech talent of color with companies听that听are trying to improve diversity and revenue within their workforces. It鈥檚 important for our candidates to work at places where they鈥檙e not only appreciated, but where their听career growth is cultivated. Our goal is to bridge the racial wealth gap in America, and we feel that increasing diversity in tech is the most effective and efficient way of doing that. Shtudy started as just an idea in college. Having success from entering the SVIC really helped spring the business to life. Now that we鈥檙e听three听years in,听we鈥檝e raised over $150k in funding and are able to dedicate every single day to helping job seekers expand their career opportunities.听

听

Do听business leaders听have听the听power to听change听their communities听and听the world听through socially responsible and sustainable听actions, and how do they do that while still running competitive and profitable听businesses?听

Yes, very much so. In fact, the primary motive听for me to start Shtudy was because of the substantial social impact we鈥檇 have by bringing it to the masses. It is important to understand that a company is only a vehicle to create the change you want to see brought into the world at scale. Commonly entrepreneurs ask me,听鈥渉ow did you manage to add such a captivating social mission to such a profitable business model?鈥� I tell听them听that they are thinking about it backwards. Your passion 鈥� your purpose - for starting the business should always come first. Whether it鈥檚 a socially impactful business or not, it鈥檚 vitally important to fall in love with whatever you start if you want it to grow and thrive. Why? Because听things get听tough, and sometimes when you鈥檙e the only one who still believes, love is all you听have to keep you going. The money will come and go. But falling in love with your ability to improve peoples鈥� lives helps you find your purpose here on earth. And nobody can take that away from you. Holding on to your purpose is what makes building a business worth it.听

听

No听matter听what听your听career听brings,听do听you听think听it听is听important听for听all听business听students听to听have听some听exposure to programming and education听in听social innovation and sustainability?听

I听think it鈥檚 vital for all students to be exposed to some sort of social innovation and sustainability-focused education, but especially business students! Exposure to social innovation helps you find your passion. After all, how are you going to start a business if you don鈥檛 know what change you want to bring to the world?听

Business is only for the bravehearted, it鈥檚 not all about the glory, money, fame,听or success. In fact, it鈥檚 the opposite. What keeps you going when everything else is telling you that you听should quit? It鈥檚 your passion and desire. Social innovation and sustainability help听students find that within themselves 鈥� heck, it did for me!听