Archive for Mentorship

Bella Weems: Origami Owl

Bella Weems is a 28-year-old who is the founder of the jewelry company Origami Owl. At just 14 years old, she turned her passion into a business after her parents told her she would have to earn her first car. Her passion for handcrafting jewelry turned into a multi-million-dollar business.See the source image

Origami Owls main product is called the “Living Locket” which is a locket which you can add in your own, personalized charms to. This is unique because each charm can represent the persons hobbies and interests and showcase them when they wear the necklace. Bella also sells bracelets, earrings, and other accessories.

Bella is a busy kid entrepreneur, but she still allots time to give back. She started the “Owlettes Initiative” in which she personally mentors young aspiring entrepreneurs ages 12-17. Bella shares tips with these kids and any advice from her success story. I think this part of her business is truly inspiring because she found a way to help others as well as keep up a successful business.

Bella says the best part of being a kid entrepreneur is, “…being able to encourage kids of all ages to not be afraid to reach for their dreams and never let anyone tell them they’re not good enough or their idea isn’t good enough.” Bella’s business Origami Owl not only lets people express themselves through their jewelry but inspires young entrepreneurs to take the risk to start making something they are passionate about become big.

11 Successful Kid Entrepreneurs Keeping Their Eyes on the Prize

Entrepreneur Inspiration-APEX 4 Kids: Caleb Maddix

Want to go above and beyond for your kids? Then Apex 4 Kids: Kids For Success might be what you need! Caleb Maddix started Apex 4 Kids when he was only 14 years old and he created this business to steak to kids who want to do more than the bare minimum. He is going out and speaking to kids all over the world so he can express to kids how the could become successful. As a young entrepreneur, he knew he wanted to help people and overall, Maddix wanted to start his own business NOW rather than working for someone else. In an interview with Nick Morgan, Maddix responded to the question of how brave it is to start an ambitious mission at such a young age in this way, “So I live my life by a quote and it’s “the gun that kills the most people is the ‘gonna.’” I meet too many people, especially kids, who are like “OK, I’ll get out of college and focus on my future” or “I’m gonna write a book, I’m gonna start a business …” and all of a sudden they’re 40 years old and unhappy with their life, all because they thought it was just gonna to work out. They end up killing their dream!” The main thing that’s needed to be done for Kids for Success if that he gets to personally coach ambitious students for a year in his business starting and successful ways. This greatly impacts our current students and the future of our economy.60: Making Your First Million by Age 16 | Caleb Maddix - JeremyRyanSlate.com

Now, he started out in a rough patch with his family and the divorce of his parents. He became very shy and insecure with himself. Now, he became ambitious about studying greatness and that’s all he needed to get a spark of creativity. Maddix has now written 9 books, and he was voted most successful young entrepreneuras well. He is also a 14 year old (now 18) billionaire. He now has the joy of waking up and going out and making a change in the world because he wanted to change his way of life and the way that he looked at things. His father was the root of his success because of his father’s push to study greatness and knowledge to become successful in this life.

Caleb Moddix’s craving to help other students become successful is one of his unique qualities. Most young entrepreneurs want to help others, but they most often just want to sell. I admire how he just dove into his dream and made it happen. Like he said, most people wait to achieve their dreams when they have a degree or have licensing when they’re older, but his point is, start now! Don’t wait. In addition, he sees the needs of poorer countries and underprivileged children and he wants to give them the tools to help them strive for a better way of life.

Maddix is creating his own line of books and lectures that encourage people from all over to start businesses and strive for success. When asked the question about what he would say to parents to help their kids seek success is, “Be the type of parent that your kid wants to become because they respect you, but also be the type of person that if they became identical to you, you would respect, as you would respect yourself. That’s the most deep and true thing you can ever say about being a parent. Some parents are so mad with the person their kid has become, but the kid is really just like them.”

Overall, I think this idea is very innovative because we need to be influencing the next generation now of how to live life successfully, no matter what that may look like. This has inspired me to look at students in a different way knowing that they have the exact same capabilities, with a little more understanding of how to accomplish things. Most often people look at kids as inexperienced, but the more they learn how to navigate life, the more impactful experiences they will have.

 

Website Link:

https://apex4kids.com/home

Article Link:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorgan/2016/03/15/caleb-maddix-extraordinary-entrepreneur/?sh=5771a77c34b5

Lani Boo Bath

Jelani Jones once was a 9 near old girl with a dream, she wanted to use her creativity in a bigger way. This is the reason she started Lani Boo Bath making bath products. Jelani utilized her connections in the local farmers market to get her feet on the ground in the industry. With the help of a mentor that she grew close with she grew her creative bath products into a lucrative business. She also takes advantage of her unique situation being so young. She has many supporters locally as well as across the world. She sells her products at markets, trade shows, and on her website. Her products are variations of scented bath bombs and soaps. They are all homemade by Jelani herself, with natural ingredients. She is a great example of using her creative abilities and connections to build her story in the community so that she can become successful!

Fit + Faith

Fit+Faith International - Christian Women Getting Healthy & Honoring GodThroughout this semester in ENTR 101, Dr. Sweet has talked about the different ways to integrate our faith into what we are passionate about.  Whether it’s sports, music, art, etc., there are plenty of ways to combine the Christian faith with a business.  Dr. Melody is an inspiring young entrepreneur who did just that.  Originally, Dr. Melody was a doctor of physical therapy and then acquired skills in coaching and mentoring as a health and life coach.  She was inspired to combine these skills with her passion for her faith to encourage physical, mental, and spiritual health.  About - Fit+Faith International

From this inspiration, Dr. Melody founded Fit + Faith International.  The mission of this organization is to “empower and equip God’s Daughters in growing in their health, faith and life to blossom into who He created them to be.”  Dr. Melody saw herself struggling with prioritizing physical health in the busyness of life and wanted to help herself as well as other women.  She is passionate about encouraging women in a way that is helpful, biblical, and loving.

Her organization offers several different services and tips for healthy living. Dr. Melody runs a podcast called, “The Healthy Christian Women Podcast.”  Additionally, she has spoken at different events and holds a Breakthrough program.  There are also meal and exercise plans posted on her website.

I think that this is a really unique way to combine talents with passion!  Dr. Melody is clearly a qualified individual who genuinely wants to encourage women to be the best versions of themselves.  Also, Fit + Faith has a blog that really dives into the tough, difficult topics.  Dr. Melody talks about how to be truly healthy – not just working for an “ideal” body.  I really appreciate the inclusivity of this organization, and I think that its mission to encourage women in truth and love is really great.

WE – Women in Entrepreneurship

Youngstown, Ohio is a smaller city on the outskirts of Ohio that has circulated entrepreneurial ventures in and out of storefronts for decades. A company called the Youngstown Business Incubator developed a program they like to call the WE Program, short for Women in Entrepreneurship. The WE Program “creates economic opportunities for women through entrepreneurial education and training, mentoring, and networking.” Their focus specifically on women branched from a mission to promote “minority-owned enterprises,” which they hope will bring personal and community growth.

The WE Program emphasizes three phases – WE Create, WE Launch, WE Grow – that women can apply for, according to whatever stage in the entrepreneurial startup women find themselves. The WE Create phase is a “four-week program that offers four workshops and educational sessions to help women who are ready to enter the world of entrepreneurship but need help developing an idea.” This phase is for the imaginers, the ones who have the ideas but have no clue where to start and need some structural workshops. The WE Launch phase “includes ten weeks of classes that teach the fundamentals of owning and operating a business.” The primary focus of the WE Launch phase is to take already-started businesses and aid them in launching their product or service into the market. The WE Grow phase, phase III of the Accelerator Program, “gives women four weeks of marketing strategy and tools to grow their existing businesses.” Each phase has an application that can be completed on the Youngstown Business Incubator website, and any woman can apply. Each program applicant is reviewed and applicable to win a grant award from each program, which has significantly changed the course of many women’s businesses within Mahoning Valley. Check out the program for yourself!

Youngstown Business Incubator

 

Find the website here: https://ybi.org/we/

The Esther Home

There are multiple rehab programs for people struggling with addictions, all differently structured, and the impact that these rehab programs are having on people is crucial. The Esther Home for Women can be found in Warren, Ohio and was described as “an alternative path to rehab where women are able to live, receive counseling and build a spiritual relationship with God in a structured environment,” by executive director, April Mack.

The home has been opened since the summer of 2016 and is modeled after a program that was started 17 years ago in Georgia  by Tammi McKinney. McKinney’s program has helped over 100 women re-establish themselves into society, and she is now involved with the Esther Home, hoping to aid in making the same impact in Ohio.

The Esther Home sits on a beautiful property of eight acres and once was a desolate house in desperate need of a major renovation. With the help of Project 180, a non-profit organization, $800,000 in renovations were poured into the house, making it comfortable and “home-like” for 12 residents and two staff members.

Women who struggle with drug, alcohol and other addictions live at the house for seven months while receiving counseling and parenting classes. For the following seven months after their stay, women stay connected to the program with mentorship and counseling services. The model revolves around a long-term goal to love these women through the entirety of their trials, most importantly through the love that God first showed for his people. Mack said, “We help the women get back into society in a healthy way. This home is a place of hope for them. We show them there is hope as we build their confidence… We want the women living here to discover who God created them to be. We want to talk about their futures.”

The Esther Home is hoping to work with children in foster care who have been affected by assorted addictions in the future and donations are greatly appreciated. The Esther Home is an example of a social/redemptive enterprise that sees no end to the impact that they could have for the Kingdom of God, bringing women into a place of hope, love and redemption.

Image may contain: tree, sky, house, outdoor and nature

 

Project 180 has a Facebook Page that provides more information about the Esther Home and how volunteers can help, even during the pandemic. Check it out for more information @ https://www.facebook.com/Project-180-1147858808627411/

The Social Shells

In 2015 Nadine, from Switzerland, was working a 9 to 5 desk job feeling completely miserable. At the same time, she was just finishing her undergrad—but to Nadine this felt pointless. What exactly was she studying and working towards? To work longer and harder hours at a different desk job that she would not enjoy? This is why Nadine made a change.

A week after completing her undergrad, Nadine decided to take off and travel for a few months where she eventually landed in Bali. Her family urged her to come back to Switzerland to continue living “real life” and get a steady job. In Bali, she saw others working completely from their computers and creating their own working schedules, so Nadine starting searching for ways she could do the same!

With her determination, Nadine started building her own social media management business. She took online classes, read countless books, reached out to many people to network, and learned how to create a successful brand. As she started gaining clients, her business grew—she began making more money than she had at her 9 to 5 job! Nadine was able to work around her own schedule and continue to travel, all while doing something she was truly passionate about!

Now, Nadine still works as a social media manager, but she also teaches other women how to do the same through her mentorship program, The Social Shells. Because Nadine had to start her business from scratch without any sort of mentor, she created the Social Shells in order to help others who are in the same position that she once was a few years ago.

“I believe in community over competition and want to help as many women as possible to live their dream life! Instead of making the same mistakes as I did, you can take the shortcut and learn the direct path to freedom!”

Nadine continues to grow her business all while living her absolute dream life!

Hello Walden

Hello Walden is a virtual private coaching service that enables entrepreneurs, business professionals, designers, engineers, and anyone in-between to receive virtual coaching from professional coaches. Each coach is unique in their experiences and focuses so that every individual can find a coach that will be able to relate to them and help them. Hello Walden coaches help with a variety of pursuits, including starting a podcast, setting up a sales funnel, finding a new job, developing a product, writing a blog or a book, cultivating brand voice, fundraising for a startup, and many more. Clients begin by creating an account and filling out a questionnaire. This questionnaire begins by asking them to describe what they are working on, what their biggest challenges are, and where they need the most support. Then, it asks them what they hope to get out of coaching, what kind of coaching style they respond to best, and any other comments they want to share. Once they complete the survey, they are given a few options of coaches that may fit their needs best and they can look at schedules and find a time to call them or message them. Essentially, Hello Walden makes coaching personalized and easily accessible.

Madelin Woods, the founder of Hello Walden, is an experienced engineer and entrepreneur. She has experience working with IDEO, Facebook, Square, and many other start-ups. Madelin came up with the idea of Hello Walden when she was looking for some motivation and encouragement in her projects, but lacked a mentor or coach to help her. Coaching is mostly found through word-of-mouth, but Madelin wanted to create a trustworthy platform for business professionals to find coaching that will work for them and with them. So, Madelin built Hello Walden to help people craving the same mentorship she was seeking.

What stuck out to me the most about Hello Walden was the unique use of technology and people. Hello Walden is a website, but it is highly centralized around people and seeks to cater to each person specifically and effectively. If you visit their website, they have many success stories listed to emphasize how effective their service really is!

 

https://hellowalden.com/

Cherie Tan

Cherie Tan at the young age of 14 started freelancing as a web designer. She loved creating beautiful virtual things that she and her virtual friends all enjoyed. Cherie went all in and taught herself Photoshop, CSS and JavaScript with the motivation of creating beautiful websites and this brought her her first paying client. At Newcastle University in the UK Cherie earned a second-upper honors degree in electrical engineering. During this time her freelance career had led her to stating the beginnings of her software development and design firm as well as taking on different challenging project from all over the world. In 2016 Cherie founded Mogul Tech International to help her handle all the requests she had started receiving. Modul Tech is a company where the employees are trained in remote work designing websites, products, growth strategies, and beautiful software for many different companies. Having a remote team has its challenges Cherie says but she says it is rewarding as well and she has seen it pay off many times with clients, the team members, and herself. In 2018 Cherie changed her focus and became certified and registered as an Associate Wealth Planner in Singapore, shifting to the financial industry. Now she is hoping to start a code academy for kids inside Singapore. Cherie is also very active in her community mentoring teens in the local public schools in Singapore as well as volunteering at local community shelters. Cherie Tan demonstrates so many entrepreneurial gifts and is doing amazing work.

Gabrielle Jordan

Gabrielle Jordan was 9 when she started her own business. Inspired by 4 previous generations of entrepreneurs in her family, Gabrielle started to sell jewelry to her friends at school and through that her business grew to what is now called Jewlez of Jordan which is a high end online jewelry business that goes to boutiques, trunk shows, fashion shows and other events. Gabrielle’s jewelry is unique and is inspired by a timeless beauty that she wants to reflect by her handcrafted one-of-a-kind pieces made with gemstones, crystals and cultured pearls. Gabrielle did not stop with her jewelry business but moved on to inspire other young entrepreneurs by co-founding the ExCEL Youth Mentoring Institute. ExCEL Youth Mentoring Institution is a youth-based online mentoring cite offering resources for entrepreneurship and leadership development. Gabriel also wrote a book, The Making of a Young Entrepreneur: A kids Guide to Developing the Mind-Set for Success. All this has given her the opportunity to become a speaker at many conferences, schools, and community events. Gabriel also has appeared on many news and online publications. Gabriel is also the host of The UV Effect Podcast, this podcast helps listeners discover their unique value, where it gets the name. Through all of this Gabrielle is an inspiration in the entrepreneurial world encouraging and educating new entrepreneurs in their journey of entrepreneurship.