Name: Allison E Shulman (Ally)
School: St. Luke’s School
Grade: 11th Grade
Age: 16 years old
Hometown: New Canaan, CT
CL: Tell us some background about your project with Girls With Impact (GWI)?:
AS: I created a hypothetical non-profit company called The Pamper Project. My vision was to help provide comfort and self-worth for female victims of domestic violence in a time of crisis. My company would provide small beauty and pampering kits to domestic violence shelters to give to residents for free upon arrival. The kit would include makeup, hair care, and skin care products to provide victims with a sense of normalcy and empowerment.
CL: Can you pinpoint specific skills or knowledge gained from the GWI program that you found most valuable, even if you didn't continue with the venture?
AS: Learning foundational business skills that I had not previously been exposed to was incredibly valuable. Even though I was not sure whether I would actually pursue my business venture after graduating from the program, I needed to go through the analysis as if I were a real entrepreneur. I learned how to take the initial steps to start a company such as creating a vision statement, identifying competition, and completing a marketing plan and a budget. I also learned how to complete more detailed items such as a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), a brand perception map, a minimum viable product, and a business model canvas. I consulted with my father, who is an executive and has worked with some of these very same tools. It was a great confidence-builder for me to know I have the potential, knowledge, and skills to someday start a real business thanks to the GWI program.
CL: Are there aspects of the entrepreneurial experience that you found particularly challenging or rewarding?
AS: When creating my prototype, I went to a neighborhood drug store to buy products to include in my first pampering kit. Finding inexpensive products that were compact and high-quality was quite challenging given my tight budget. This was an eye-opening experience and made me truly realize extensive fundraising and support from beauty and skincare companies would be essential to create the best package possible. One might have an excellent concept and a strong desire to help people in crisis or need but to make one’s vision a reality can be challenging and requires hard work, consistency, and dedication.
CL: How has Girls With Impact helped you? Whether personally or professionally?
AS: Graduating from the GWI program has helped me personally in many ways. It opened my eyes to the research, analysis, and key steps needed to create a company or a non-profit. I also learned even though one might encounter obstacles and even make some mistakes on this journey, these challenges are often valuable learning experiences. Even at the end of the program, my start-up was still not perfect but I now had the knowledge and tools to know what next steps would need to be taken to fine-tune it. Importantly, the program also broadened my understanding of how many great ways there are to help your community or those in need. On the weekly video calls, there were young women of different ages and backgrounds from all over the country. This was valuable as I gained insight from their varying perspectives. They all contributed so many novel and exciting ideas regarding how to tackle real-life problems and create unique businesses. It was truly inspiring and impactful to be part of a program with so many bright, diverse women connecting in this manner to learn from each other while also aspiring to make the world a better place.