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How did the people you've met —mentors, friends, or experiences— help you realize what kind of business or nonprofit you wanted to create, Ms. CEO? #Spring25
I'm passionate about launching both a business and a nonprofit foundation to create student internships and build an endowment that supports students like me as my long (long) term career goals. I want to give back to communities that have invested in me. But I'm still figuring out how to invent a product or service that makes an impact. How do you come up with a meaningful idea and identify your target audience?
This summer, I’ll be traveling to Vietnam, Japan, and interning in Korea for 6 weeks to study K-beauty marketing and business. I'm especially driven to make financial literacy more accessible to marginalized communities.
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4 answers
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Davielle’s Answer
"My team gathered together to answer your question. Here's our insight:
We encourage you to stick with owning a business that focuses on your passion, especially with marginalized communities. A lot of financial litteracy nonprofits already - google search financial literacy orgs and reach out to them. Find out what makes them each differently.
Tell your story! You must have a very compelling story - make that connection.
Just because you are volunteering/studing in the area of K-beauty, you can learn skills that will apply to other types of businesses
Enjoy your time in Vietnam, Japan and Korea
Well done!"
We encourage you to stick with owning a business that focuses on your passion, especially with marginalized communities. A lot of financial litteracy nonprofits already - google search financial literacy orgs and reach out to them. Find out what makes them each differently.
Tell your story! You must have a very compelling story - make that connection.
Just because you are volunteering/studing in the area of K-beauty, you can learn skills that will apply to other types of businesses
Enjoy your time in Vietnam, Japan and Korea
Well done!"
Updated
Prema’s Answer
Based on my experience, the best time to start a business is when you spot a marketable opportunity—and I think you’re already onto something meaningful. Here are some next steps to help clarify and shape your concept:
Find your audience – Start with students like yourself. Ask what their top 3 needs are to succeed—especially around financial literacy and career access.
Connect with nonprofits – Especially those that supported you. Reach out to decision-makers. Many nonprofits work in silos and welcome proactive collaboration.
Clarify your concept – Is this a service? A mentorship program? An app? I suggest starting with a service-based model—you can pilot locally, learn, and expand thoughtfully.
Study the landscape – Check out school job fairs and internship programs. You may find a gap—like underrepresentation of nonprofits—which could be your entry point.
Don’t expect overnight success. Setbacks will come, but they’re part of the learning curve and can sharpen your vision. Start building a simple business plan now (there are great templates online), and evolve it as you go.
Above all, enjoy your summer—it sounds like an amazing opportunity to gain global insight and inspiration for the path ahead.
Find your audience – Start with students like yourself. Ask what their top 3 needs are to succeed—especially around financial literacy and career access.
Connect with nonprofits – Especially those that supported you. Reach out to decision-makers. Many nonprofits work in silos and welcome proactive collaboration.
Clarify your concept – Is this a service? A mentorship program? An app? I suggest starting with a service-based model—you can pilot locally, learn, and expand thoughtfully.
Study the landscape – Check out school job fairs and internship programs. You may find a gap—like underrepresentation of nonprofits—which could be your entry point.
Don’t expect overnight success. Setbacks will come, but they’re part of the learning curve and can sharpen your vision. Start building a simple business plan now (there are great templates online), and evolve it as you go.
Above all, enjoy your summer—it sounds like an amazing opportunity to gain global insight and inspiration for the path ahead.
Updated
Cristian’s Answer
Consider spending some time working or volunteering with an NGO or social enterprise in a field you're interested in, like education or financial literacy. This experience can help you understand how these organizations operate. NGOs often work on various projects, giving you a chance to discover what truly interests you.
Instead of focusing on finding a solution right away, concentrate on learning from real-world experiences. This can reveal unique challenges that other organizations might not be addressing.
Your journey might even lead you to explore areas you hadn't considered before. Many impact-driven entrepreneurs have had life-changing experiences in the field that inspired them to start new ventures. So, getting hands-on experience is a crucial step.
Instead of focusing on finding a solution right away, concentrate on learning from real-world experiences. This can reveal unique challenges that other organizations might not be addressing.
Your journey might even lead you to explore areas you hadn't considered before. Many impact-driven entrepreneurs have had life-changing experiences in the field that inspired them to start new ventures. So, getting hands-on experience is a crucial step.
Updated
Marcus’s Answer
When seeking the next great thing...I recommend that you be clear in mind and open to receiving ideas from the a variety of inspirations. The practice of meditation can be done in many forms. Choose one that works for you and spend some time in deep thought and contemplation about what you want to bring forth into being. The creative force is strong and is greatly amplified when it is given the chance to move beyond what you can make manifest by yourself. Here are seven suggestions.
1. Ask questions and listen to what others are saying that they need.
2. Identify what is needed to help create the product desired.
3. Research all aspects of the problem that you wish to solve.
4. Study the analytics and demographics of the situation.
5. Seek advice of those who are in your inner circle as well as mentors.
6. Secure financial funding to help develop and implement your creation/invention.
7. Protect your invention with either a patent, copyright, or trademark.
1. Ask questions and listen to what others are saying that they need.
2. Identify what is needed to help create the product desired.
3. Research all aspects of the problem that you wish to solve.
4. Study the analytics and demographics of the situation.
5. Seek advice of those who are in your inner circle as well as mentors.
6. Secure financial funding to help develop and implement your creation/invention.
7. Protect your invention with either a patent, copyright, or trademark.