What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
To me, entrepreneurship (specifically social entrepreneurship) means taking the frustration or disdain for something and using it as fuel to affect change.

How has your formal education/experiences at Georgia State played a role in your becoming an entrepreneur?
I was first introduced to social entrepreneurship during my Intro to Social Entrepreneurship class. I was given an immersive assignment that taught me to look at my business through a deeper lens than what I had already attempted. The class final assignment was to pitch my business idea to an audience. I was terrified but the assignment turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because one of the judges for our ‘mock pitches’ was the Main Street Entrepreneur in Residence, MK. He not only introduced me to the MSESF, but his feedback during the class final was instrumental in helping me during the MSESF application process. I used MK’s advice to focus on my passion and pain points and was thankfully accepted into the program.

Have you always been entrepreneurial?
Yes! I am the youngest of six siblings and my entrepreneurial spirit first presented when I would sell my ‘chore’ services to my older siblings who wanted to play outside. They hated washing dishes, folding laundry, and cleaning the bathroom so I would simply charge them for me to do their chores.

What is the most challenging aspect of entrepreneurship?
Staying the course!  People are currently burdened by the costs of living which are more than quadruple that of my grandparents. So, when the funds don’t come in quickly, it’s easy to want to turn back into an employee. It’s important to truly believe in your company’s mission. That’s the fuel… the PASSION! Because the fuel may not always show up in liquid assets or a strengthened network of supporters. It quite honestly is the antithesis. Fewer people than you know will support you. They want to see if it fails before they support it. You’ll probably put more money into your company than you profit for the first 5 years or so. But, are you accomplishing the mission? When you focus on the mission, the money follows.

How has Georgia State supported you in your entrepreneurial journey?
Dr. Garima Sharma supported me in my getting my second wind once I returned back to college as an adult learner. I had experienced a traumatic family event to the point where I was going to drop out (again) and just call it quits. With her motivation, not only did I not drop out, I caught up with my schoolwork in all of my classes AND made the Dean’s List in Fall 2021. Her class was formulated in modules and forced me to take a real look at my business model. I performed well on my final pitch, which is where I met MK. I am so very grateful to Dr. Sharma! I do not believe she really understands how far her kindness has carried me.

Share a fun fact about yourself that most people don’t know. 
When I cook at home, I pretend like I have a cooking show on The Food Network and narrate to an imaginary audience.