In 2009 a young woman named Kyle Smitley started Barley and Birch at only 22 years old. A recent graduate, Kyle wanted to create a company that featured fashionable children’s clothing, made with organic materials for an eco-friendly impact. She’s done this by making each aspect of the clothing carbon neutral. Additionally the company donates 15% of its revenue to charitable causes around the globe.

After their first year the company was hosted by over 30 different stores, and it continued to be featured on various blogs and magazines eventually becoming a multi-million dollar company.

Kyle Smitley was 30 years old when she realized that she wanted to do more. Instead of simply funding and donating to educational efforts and schools she decided to create and run them. She sold Barley and Birch in 2012.

In 2013 Kyle founded Detroit Achievement Academy, a charter school she founded with Chris Robb. “I’m not saying the school system is broken,” she says. “My whole goal was to come in and shake it up a little bit and raise the standards, so people can kind of see how we can deliver better results for kids.” Education is a unique form of entrepreneurship, but one at which Kyle is hoping to excel at for the rest of her life.