I started my first nonprofit at age 16 with my high school Spanish teacher. We secured our 501(c)3 status, launched market research, and convened students across the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. One day, a network television producer accidentally rode his bike through one of our community events. He fell in love with our vision and invited us to create a television special, which went on to receive an Emmy Award. This opportunity gave us an incredible platform to advance our mission celebrating the voices and diverse backgrounds of local teens. Before I knew it, we were pitching our company to John Pepper, the CEO of Procter & Gamble.
It all started here, and I've been devoted to the nonprofit sector ever since. No matter how complex the mission, no matter how difficult the challenges, it's my goal never to lose the energy and optimism that led me to this work.