There are 400 million entrepreneurs worldwide. This means one in 18 people founded their own business, according to entrepreneur.com. As November 13 marked the start of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the public celebrates the devoted individuals worldwide who invest in a dynamic and innovative business landscape. Students at Sacred Heart Greenwich cultivate their economic and entrepreneurial expertise year-round through extracurricular activities. Seniors Helena Randolph and Ashley O’Meara shared insight into their entrepreneurial experiences and how running their own businesses set a solid foundation for their future careers.
Helena founded Salt Sewing in 2020, during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. Her time in quarantine re-sparked her passion for sewing. What was merely a hobby quickly evolved into a small business that would market and sell hundreds of dog bandanas and pet accessories. As an entrepreneur, Helena has refined her creative and innovative skills.
As she manufactures pet accessories, Helena simultaneously manages Salt Sewing’s public platforms to attract new customers and expand the brand’s customer base. Helena exposes herself to an array of domains, such as financial services, marketing, and product development. She explained that her motivation for pursuing a small business emanated from her aim to grow as an entrepreneur and an individual.
“Looking back on my experience now, I think I really wanted to challenge myself,” Helena said. “No one believed that a 14-year-old could open a small business, let alone profit from it. Now, I have about 2500 followers and have shipped to approximately 45 states.”
Throughout her journey as an entrepreneur, Helena has gained much independence. She explained that starting her business encouraged her to learn more about herself by taking charge and managing issues independently. Helena learned to carry the decision-making skills she refined through Salt Sewing to other aspects of her life. She emphasized that she had to trust herself and adopt a confident mindset in order to fully embrace the process of entrepreneurship.
“I have not only learned the ins and outs of how to run a business, but I have learned important life skills,” Helena said. “I have learned how to persevere, be patient, and challenge myself in ways I did not know I was capable of.”
Helena implements unique features in her products, such as the curved neck structure and adjustability of Salt Sewing’s bandanas, according to saltsewing.com. She noted that the typical triangle bandana design tends to be irritating for animals, so Helena ensures quality and comfort through her unique designs. As the founder and designer of Salt Sewing, Helena integrates her creativity and personality into each piece she fashions. By releasing themed collections that center around her different passions and hobbies, Helena shared that her products appeal to eclectic consumer profiles, setting the small business apart from other brands.
“Having a business is a great creative outlet for me, so I hope to engage in something that persists in challenging me and encourages me to try new things,” Helena said.
Similar to Helena’s passion for sewing, Ashley started The Cookie Project to further her love of baking and business. Last year, Ashley managed an Upper School club that focused on this self-run organization, allowing club members to witness the inner workings of a baking business. Ashley shared that her baking passions date back to Middle School, but it was not until Upper School that she decided to pivot her work into a non-profit organization.
“I have always loved creating businesses,” Ashley said. “Even in Middle School, I had a slime and sewing business and always looked for something to do. I love seeing how far I’ve come since then, and I’m eager to see where my interests in the business field take me.”
Ashley explained that The Cookie Project enabled her to learn about the field through action. Ashley manages all the funding, spreadsheets, and social media, thus exposing her to the different realms of business. She has found herself particularly drawn towards finance, as the specialization revolves around math, which is another subject that Ashley is passionate about.
Ashley encourages individuals to pursue a future in entrepreneurship, as the interdisciplinary branch of business leaves room for creativity and innovation. She is fortunate to have worked on real-life examples of budgeting and finance, for she hopes to apply her experience to her business studies in college.
“I want to further my knowledge of business, so I’m hoping to pursue studies in finance and entrepreneurship,” Ashley said. “I think that there definitely needs to be more women in the business field, and I’d love to be part of that advancement.”
Although Ashley does not consider herself a creative person, she explained that her business permitted her to combine her creative and professional side. She noted that being an entrepreneur is not easy, but designing products, reading reviews, and profiting from her passion makes the difficulty worth it.
“Being my own boss is definitely not easy, but I’ve learned so much about myself,” Ashley said. “My entrepreneurial experiences have given me a strong foundation for my future, and I’m excited to learn even more about the vast field.”
Featured Image by Ana Patricio ’24
