When children become involved in entrepreneurship at an early age, it teaches them financial literacy, promotes independence, and builds self-confidence. Check out these dynamos who are making big moves in a number of industries.
Moziah Bridges, age 14
CEO of Mo’s Bows
www.mosbowsmemphis.com
Memphis, Tennessee
Moziah started his business at the age of 9. Frustrated with the small selection of bow ties available to children, Moziah’s grandmother taught him to sew and he began hand sewing and designing bow ties from scratch. With five staff members (aunts, mother, and grandmother) Moziah grew his business through word of mouth, Facebook and Etsy. After appearing on “Shark Tank” in 2014, Bridges landed a mentorship with Daymond John and has since secured a licensing deal with Cole Hahn and Neiman Marcus.
Zuriel Oduwole, age 14
Filmmaker and advocate
www.dreamupspeakupstandup.com
Los Angeles
Zuriel Oduwole is the youngest working, professional filmmaker. After releasing her self-produced and edited documentary, “The 1963 OAU Formation” in 2014, Oduwole became the youngest person to be profiled by Forbes. With four documentaries produced to date that have been screened across the world, she has become known for her advocacy. She has interviewed some of the most powerful and influential people including presidents and prime ministers, becoming a global peacemaker in 2015 after meeting with the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela over the Esequiba Oil Territory. She is currently working on “Dream Up, Speak up, Stand Up,” a campaign to advocate and promote education for girls in Africa.
Mikaila Ulmer, age 11
CEO of Bee Sweet Lemonade, Bee ambassador, educator, student
www.meandthebees.com
Austin, Texas
After being stung by bees twice, Mikaila became fascinated with bees. After perusing her family’s 1940s cookbook, she noticed it included a special recipe for flaxseed lemonade, she combined her two new favorites and Me & The Bees Lemonade was born. She sweetens the lemonade with local honey and donates a percentage of the profits to local and international organizations that fight to save honeybees. The lemonade is available at many restaurants, food trailers, natural food delivery companies, and Whole Foods Market.
Chris Suggs, age 16
Founder of Kinston Teens Inc.
www.kinstonteens.org/
Kinston, North Carolina
Born and raised in Kinston, North Carolina, Chris’ primary focus has been to make a difference in his hometown. After being heavily involved in community affairs, he founded Kinston Teens Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth through service leadership and civic engagement.
Warren Cassell Jr., age 17
Author and stock investor
www.warrencasselljr.com
An entrepreneurial powerhouse, Cassell is one of the Caribbean region’s most respected and influential figures in the world of business. An entrepreneur, writer and journalist, he began his entrepreneurial journey with a small capital investment from his parents and started a greeting card business. Identifying the untapped market for personalized greeting cards in Montserrat, he established himself as the go-to person for personalized greeting cards. He debuted as a writer in 2013 after publishing The Farm of Wisdom: 25 Unforgettable Tales that Will Ignite a Wiser You. He followed up in 2014 with Swim or Drown: Business and Life Lessons I’ve Learned from the Ocean, and both publications have been Amazon best-sellers. He is currently a regular contributor for Entrepreneur Magazine, a stock investor, and a student at George Washington University School of Business.
