Running a business is the last thing on most college students' minds, but for a select others studying and running a business becomes a daily routine.
Shawn “Tila” Nelson, 22, a Miami native, is making her way through as a senior public relations student at the Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Fla., Her company, The Lipstick Royalty Agency, is based in Tallahassee, Fla.,
“When I came back to Tallahassee people were telling me no. I can’t be successful, girls can’t work in the nightlife and can’t be entrepreneurs,” Nelson said.
Nelson's company is now a year old and focuses on empowering young women.
“We believe the word 'no' doesn’t exist. You don’t have to look a specific way or fit a specific mold in order to be successful,” Nelson said.
According to Entrepreneur.com, the best time to start a business is while you’re in college.
When asked about starting her company Nelson said, “Being young and trying to own your own company is a challenge when you have people around you who don’t wish well. It’s hard to trust people as a young entrepreneur because everyone wants something from you. You lose a lot of friends and you start to become lonely.”
Successful FAMU alumus, Malik Willingham, who goes by Malik Al-Rahim, 24, did just that while in college.
Willingham took his company Power Circle Entertainment Group LLC to the next level.
“I didn’t realize it would have gone this far. I thought it would’ve been something that I would have given up on, but I didn’t,” Willingham said.
Power Circle Entertainment Group LLC has now been in business for three years, since starting in February 2011, and has brought in more than $20,000 since then.
Malik currently manages Oxygen’s Bad Girls Club Season 12 member Alyssa “Redd” Carswell. The business that started off with five employees, now three, provides services that include photography, videography and more.
Carrington Coleman, 21, a business administration student from Detroit, Mich., kept himself involved in sports growing up to avoid being consumed into his surroundings of young teenagers stealing and doing drugs.
“I saw the bigger light. I always stayed busy,” Coleman said, “I did things that would help me progress as a man.”
Coleman who was the only person in his high school class to go to school out-of- state is currently the CEO and Founder of Only1Option Marketing Group LLC, a marketing company that specializes in nightlife events, tour trips and campaigns.
The senior’s, who is currently majoring in facilities management also at Florida A&M University, company has ranked in more than $10,000 since getting started in August 2013.