Author Archive for Paige Snyder

#chalamania

Just as Leonardo Dicaprio changed the way Generation X viewed the film industry, Timothee Chalamet has now become the spokesperson for millenials in the world of Hollywood. The 23-year-old French American actor has branded himself as hip, relaxed, and edgy—a combination that has many young millennials swooning. His breakout role was in Call me by Your Name, a coming-of-age indie film that grossed $41.9 M worldwide. He’s also had major roles in movies like Interstellar, Lady Bird, and Beautiful Boy, and shows like Law and Order, Homeland, and The King.

Over the past two years, he’s been nominated for two Golden Globes and an Academy Award for best actor. The New York Times named Chalamet one of the best actors of the year, and he appeared in the Forbes’ 30 under 30 list as one of the most influential people in the Hollywood and Entertainment category.

In addition to being a millenial forerunner on the big screen, Chalamet is also revolutionizing the runway. According to Lyst’s Year of Fashion Index, he is currently the most influential man in fashion. In the 2019 report, he was second best overall, following only Meghan Markle. You’re probably wondering: what makes this guy so special? Well, unlike many other Hollywood actors, Chalamet designs his own red-carpet looks, without the help of a stylist. His style has been described as, “[a mix] between traditional masculinity and femininity, often choosing slim, soft tailoring over traditionally bold cuts,” which is complete innovation in the fashion industry. If nothing else, Chalamet’s outfit choices have inspired young men worldwide to experiment with printed tees, white sneakers, and bomber jackets.

While not everybody can agree on the ethical affiliation of his movies, Timothee Chalamet’s innovation within Hollywood is undeniable, which is what makes him such an influential millennial entrepreneur.

The Rise of Roolee

Roolee is a trendy and boutique fashion and lifestyle brand founded by Kylee Champlin. In addition to women’s clothing, her store sells kids and baby clothing, accessories, home décor, and gifts.

Champlin was a graduate of Utah State University. In 2013, after working at a local boutique for several years, she was given the opportunity to buy it. Inspired by a lack of desirable shopping options in her hometown, she decided to give it a unique flair and make it her own. Since then, Roolee has grown into brick-and-morter locations, developed an online shopping empire, and began construction on their headquarters.

Although she makes it seem like an easy task, Champlin admits that being a millennial entrepreneur hasn’t always been a cake walk. In an interview on Roolee’s blog, she admitted that in the beginning, there was nobody to answer her questions or give her guidance, so a large part of their growth came from trial and error. Champlin advises new business owners to “[not] get discouraged and remain patient. Success takes time. Hard work and talent will get you there, but you can’t do it alone, and it doesn’t happen overnight.

In addition to Champlin’s professional accomplishments, she is also passionate about women loving and empowering each other. Roolee has partnered with and donated profits to the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, as well as developed their own social media movement— “A World of Sisters.”

The way that Champlin has integrated and revolutionized millennial boutique fashion is remarkable. She is continuing to innovate and adapt, which is why Roolee is one of the most popular niche brands, and she’s one of the most influential millennial entrepreneurs.

What the Hecht?

Jared Hecht is a millennial entrepreneur that changed the way the world communicates and made a significant impact in the startup space. In 2009, he graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Political Science. Straight out of Columbia, at the ripe age of 22, the young entrepreneur founded startup messaging platform GroupMe. A little over a year after its official launch, GroupMe was sold to Skype in 2011 for $80 million and Hecht began working for Microsoft, who later acquired Skype. In 2015, Hecht was named to the Forbes “30 under 30” list for his entrepreneurial impact.

Though extremely rewarding, it wasn’t always easy for the young entrepreneur to see the light at the end of the startup tunnel. “Some nights you are on top of the world and think you’re building the best thing ever, and then other nights you think that some horrible competitor is going to knock you off the face of the earth,” says Hecht.  However, even with the inherent risk, he confirms that developing ideas and changing the way people communicate is “the best feeling ever.”

Alongside his laundry list of impressive commercial accomplishments, Jared Hecht is vastly changing the social entrepreneurship game. Hecht is the current founder and CEO of Fundera, a start-up investment agency that provides loans and financial planning for entrepreneurial ventures. He has invested and advised successful startups such as Codeacademy, SmartThings, and TransferWise. He also currently sits on the advisory board of the Columbia University Entrepreneurship Organization and is a guest blogger for prestigious business sites like entrepreneur.com and Forbes. Jared Hecht is not only a man with good ideas, but he’s willing to take risks for ventures that he believes in, making him one of this generation’s greatest entrepreneurs.

An ELITE Millenial Mentor

“Life is a journey, not a destination.” Although this saying arguably lands at the top of the “cliché list”, its meaning rings true for millennial entrepreneur Gerard Adams. Adams has accomplished many successful things during his time as an entrepreneur. His first big endeavor was co-founding millennial news platform EliteDaily, which was bought by Daily Mail in 2015 for $50M. Since then, he’s invested in, built and backed 9 seven-figure companies, established a mentorship non-profit organization, and developed his own online show: Leaders Create Leaders. While all of these things are remarkable, for Adams, the journey has been the most fulfilling part of his rise to success.

Adams claims that his purpose is to, “inspire other Millennials to leverage their passions to create the successful lifestyles they dream of.” It wasn’t without an abundance of passion, hustle, and failure that he was able to reach his goals. The unique thing about what Adams currently does is that through his various social channels, he takes the ups and downs of his own journey and mentors future entrepreneurs along theirs. It is this two-pronged approach to millennial entrepreneurship – success alongside mentorship – that is revolutionizing the way today’s most successful businesspeople are developing more leaders and expanding industries.

Gerard Adams is the perfect example of someone who cares not only about their own personal successes, but also about the growth and development of other entrepreneurs. His nickname, “the Millennial Mentor” is a fitting description for how he is trailblazing the entrepreneur’s attitude and journey.

Greta Thunberg: Friday Fame

Greta Thunberg is a 16-year-old from Sweden who, unlike the vast majority of millennial entrepreneurs, is an innovator within the social and political environments. She is a climate activist: informing people about the harmful effects of climate change, pushing governments and corporations to change their emissions policies, and changing the way the entire world views the climate crisis.

Every Friday since 2018, Thunberg has led “Fridays for Future”, a movement that encourages students to skip school and demand governmental action for climate change. On September 20th, 2019, she led the largest singular climate strike in history, with an estimated 4 million people from over 161 countries joining her in protest. Thunberg is driven by her passion for the environment, and vision to change governmental climate regulations. She has even been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the mass movement that she created, and ultimately, her contribution to global unity.

Thunberg has appeared on TED Talks, opened for the UN Climate Action Summit, and spoken to many influential political figures, such as Pope Francis, the UK Parliament, and former President Barack Obama. In addition to the impact that she is making on the political spectrum, Thunberg is also open about her battle with Asperger’s Syndrome. She is inspiring teenagers around the world to not only persevere through adversity, but to passionately thrive.

At the age of 16, how has Greta Thunberg gotten more attention and made more of an impact than any other climate activist? What makes her stand out from more experienced politicians? Her innovation and connectivity through activism are what has made Greta such a social phenomenon. Instead of focusing on structured political regimes, she resonates with the younger generation through movements and protests. Greta Thunberg has somehow found a way to unite young climate activists and political figures, in order to move forward toward social change. While Greta might not fit the stereotype of an entrepreneur, she is innovating and changing the way the world sees climate activism, one Friday at a time.

Connor Blakley: Revolutionizing Gen Z

Like most young entrepreneurs, Connor Blakley wears many hats. In addition to founding Youthlogic, a marketing agency that specializes in helping companies reach the Generation Z market, he is also a strategic speaker and soon-to-be author. Connor Blakley, at only 20 years old, is changing the way Fortune 500 companies view and market to the next generation and is beginning to reverse the negative stigma surrounding Gen Z.

Over the past few years, Blakley has harnessed and evolved his niche business perspective. Instead of staying planted at Youthlogic as a brick-and-mortar marketing consultant, he has grown and developed into an engaging speaker. He addresses everything from brand strategy to social media influencing to data analytics, and how these aspects of marketing can be used to attract Gen Z customers.

During his short time as a young entrepreneur, Blakely has connected and collaborated with many movers and shakers in the business industry, such as Jay Abraham, Joe Polish, Daymond John, and Brian Solis. He has also outsourced his talents to many high-profile businesses including the NFL, NHL, Johnson & Johnson, Sprint and Vineyard Vines brands.

Connor Blakley is an inspiration to young entrepreneurs around the world, demonstrating top-notch problem framing and creative solutions. His adaptability and willingness to change make him not only one of the most sought-after Gen-Z marketers, but also one of the most admired professionals in the business.