How did you meet your co-founder?
We met through friends in 2007. Married in 2012. Cofounders since 2020.

Why did you launch your company?
I genuinely believe education is the way to change the world and have spent my whole career pursuing that vision. Through my roles as a teacher, school leader/cofounder, and training provider, I saw a new way to make the change I believe in– by making high-quality training more accessible to all educators so that every student in every classroom can have a highly effective teacher.

How has your formal education/experiences at Georgia State played a role in your becoming an entrepreneur?
Earning a M.Ed. in Urban Teacher Leadership and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from GSU deepened my knowledge base in the field of education and increased my capacity as a strong leader. The program also grew my awareness of the equity issues that persist in education, which lit a fire in me to do something about it.

How has your company pivoted from its initial launch?
Co-CreatED is a completely different concept now than it was when we first launched in 2018. Back then, I thought I was going to be a consultant, going into schools and working directly with teachers on a training program I had developed. In 2020, I had my first major contract on the table… then the pandemic hit, and it completely fell through. As the world around us changed, and life as we knew it took unprecedented turns, I saw that my path had to change too. What the world needed from Co-CreatED wasn’t just another trainer; it was an altogether different and better way to find training. So I’ve been pursuing that solution ever since.

What innovative technologies are being leveraged in your business?
We’re building the Co-CreatED platform using Bubble, a powerful #NoCode tool for building web apps. We became familiar with the “no-code” movement after our first software developer didn’t work out, and we needed to find a different path forward. One intense boot camp later, and we’ve been Bubblers ever since!

Has your company participated in any pitch competitions, accelerators, or incubators?
Yes, the Square One Startup School incubator helped me bring the idea out of my head into a real website in the world. The Plywood Ideas pitch competition challenged me to learn how to pitch my social impact business for both its impacts– the social part, and the business part. I showed how Co-CreatED can do GOOD while doing WELL, and it resulted in a $2,000 prize. The Techstars Catalyst pre-accelerator for women founders helped Co-CreatED go from pre-revenue to revenue-generating. It also connected me to a network of amazing women founders to support each other in navigating the male-dominated tech startup space. Each time I’ve joined a startup program, it has boosted me through a key milestone, and this time around is no different. I’m excited to join Mainstreet as I look ahead to my first capital raise.

Was there ever a moment when you wanted to quit entrepreneurship? If yes, please elaborate. ?
So many! I have quit or fired myself more times than I can count. But I’m obsessed with solving this problem, so it keeps me coming back every time. Entrepreneurship will test your resilience, your perseverance, your confidence, your worldview… everything! Get yourself a good coach or therapist, and consider it part of your longevity strategy. And for goodness sake, REST! Rest is essential if you want to make it for the long haul and not burn out.

Share a fun fact about yourself?
I’m deathly afraid of heights, but obsessed with rock climbing!