“I started my first venture when I was literally nine years old making and selling mazes that I drew for my classmates. I learned that working for people teaches you how to better work for yourself. What I enjoy most about being a founder is both the autonomy and no direct person to stifle or reject my vision and direction, because they can't see the relative worth of what I propose. I also like the challenge of building what's in my head.”
“What I enjoy most about being a founder is seeing the results of my teams' hard work. I love being creative, adaptive, and supportive. I love having the ability to build a culture centered around trust and authentic care for each other, our customers, and their employees.”
“I had a vision to create something that I believed would add value and make the world a better place. I enjoy collaborating with smart and creative people.”
“I was tired of being in spaces, mistaken for the secretary, or told that I was too young to be the "Head" of something. Thus, I created my own table at Generation Success and took my seat there. What I enjoy most about being a founder is dreaming big, and often, then watching my dreams come true.”
“I taught in schools that were not led by us and didn't want to waste my few years on this earth asking permission to unleash our collective genius. I rather birth the new than fix the old.”
“As an entrepreneur, you are told "no" 90% of the time. You are your own and your company's own best advocate. You have to possess a ruthless "belief in our mission and vision” to build a team, grow a company, fundraise to support an idea, and work with customers through the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey. That all begins with an unshakeable belief in the mission and vision.”
“The promise of a better future. Embarking on this journey has meant staying committed to making sure the future is better, and different from the present state. I would not have started Words Liive unless I truly believed that I could impact the future. That's also the most enjoyable thing about being a founder. My decisions are directly and easily translated into outcomes. The proximity to the change we're helping cause is such a beautiful thing.”
“The opportunity to design a school that is aligned to my value and vision for learning is what propelled me into this work. After more than 15 years in education including higher ed, early childhood, non-profit, governance, and corporate, I have seen the best and the worst of education at every level. Working to launch Capital Experience Lab Public Charter School gives me an opportunity to work with amazing educators to design a school with the best practices for student success.”
“I was interested in becoming an entrepreneur once I was exposed to massive inequities in the K-12 public education system after being a middle school educator for several years in urban Chicago. Today, I am most fond of being able to react to problems both internally and within the education space with great flexibility and autonomy.”
Read MoreWe’ve called them “Camelback’s Superheroes” in the past and as 2020 comes to a close that title couldn’t be more on point. The COVID-19 pandemic, a recession, and continued systematic racism which propelled the Black Lives Matter movement into the whitestream spotlight - these are just some of the herculean obstacles the BIPOC and women founders we call the #camelbackfam continue to stare down, skillfully adapt to, and work tirelessly to overcome navigating the unknowns of 2020 and beyond.
Read MoreAs schools open for the new year in whatever format, it is imperative that parents, teachers, and administrators are aware of the barriers to effective writing instruction and know how to overcome them.
“Camelback Fellows have been building solutions for a future that was coming, but is here now. This public health crisis has made painfully plain the equity gaps that exist in education. The CEOs we work with have known that this is an issue from day one and are ready to meet the moment…”
Read MoreExcuse us while we happy cry. We are thrilled to introduce the next cohort of Camelback Fellows, underrepresented entrepreneurs and incredible leaders in Education, Schools, Conscious Tech, and Local Economies.
Read More“Our Camelback family is a space where entrepreneurs of color and women can be their most authentic selves and be in fellowship with others who understand their experience. I think that’s why I was so excited for our 2019 Family Reunion, and why it meant so much to rekindle this energy.”
Read MoreWe are thrilled to introduce you to our 50 Finalists for the 2020 Camelback Fellowship. This is what we call our “would if we could” list; each leader and venture profiled here truly excites us. Read our profiles for all finalists in Education, Conscious Tech, and Local Economies.
Read MoreSince Camelback began, it’s been a part of our work cycle: searching, identifying, and sharing innovative, underrepresented social entrepreneurs. We are thrilled to share our list of 120 incredible Semi-Finalists in our 2020 Fellowship tracks in Education, Conscious Tech, and Local Economies; their passion, dedication, and perseverance is what fuels our team’s hustle.
Read MoreA school driven by student’s passions. Schedules that feature time for meditation, peer support, and just creative energy on your dreams. A restorative place — this is I Dream Academy DC, and its founder is 2018 Camelback Fellow Janine Gomez.
Read MorePaid internships means more youth can access experience and opportunity, creating equity and longterm value for our society. Pay Our Interns co-founder Carlos Vera shares his advice for applicants, his org’s recent success (and what’s next), and how the Camelback Fellowship has shaped his journey so far.
Read MoreNew Orleans business founder Aaron Washington shares his story — starting off delivering vegan pastries to coffee shops, to pop-ups, to a food stall, to a beverage company — along with his advice for other entrepreneurs and how Camelback impacted him the most.
Read MoreFrom architecture to dirt bikes to video games to new schools, the newest cohort of 14 Camelback Fellows is looking good. Meet our new cohort of diverse education leaders.
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