Ferguson, a FAMU grad, finds his calling

FAMU student who purchased Rudy’s apparel. Photo courtesy: Rudy Ferguson

Rudy Ferguson Jr., a FAMU alumnus who earned a bachelor’s degree in communications, took a different route after college.

Ferguson was born and raised in Tallahassee, and attended FAMU DRS. Following high school, he went straight to FAMU.

After spending four years as a FAMU student, he planned to get hired as a communications specialist at Walt Disney in Glendale, Cal., but was denied the position via email a couple months after graduation.

Ferguson was forced to stay home working at minimum wag jobs. He wasn’t happy.

One morning he woke up and decided to make a change to better his life. He began looking up ways to start a business and eventually came up with his first ever Black-owned brand, WININ.

“I started my brand WININ simply out of a necessity,” Ferguson said. “I was down on my luck wanting more for my life but I knew nothing was going to happen until I overcame myself, limitations and fears. That’s what WININ is all about, understanding that when all else fails you can still be the winner that you want to be by not giving up.”

Ferguson’s brand is intended to promote a winning lifestyle by learning how to grow as a person while creating healthy and happy relationships. The best way to do this is to create a fulfilling lifestyle filled with love and positivity while cultivating healthy thoughts, relationships, and practices in your daily life.

Within Ferguson’s brand he created two businesses: WININ Fitness and WININ Apparel. Both businesses go hand-in-hand as they inspire not only the FAMU community but the local community as well.

Crystal Parker, a Tallahassee native who attends the same church as Ferguson, is thrilled to have joined his fitness program.

“My health is something that I’ve always took for granted,” Parker said. “I wanted to take it more serious but I just didn’t have the urge to implement it in my daily routine, until I met Rudy. He pushed me to never give up and go past my limit. I am now 30 pounds lighter. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Nicole Sanders, a fourth-year business major at FAMU, is pleased with her new apparel from Ferguson.

“I purchased Rudy’s women’s velour tracksuit and every time I put it on it reminds me to not do less but to do more,” Parker said. “It really makes me feel like a true winner.”

Ferguson plans to keep striving to learn new ideas to keep his business alive.

“You can never listen your way out of an opportunity,” he said. “The moment you start talking you stop learning.”

August 2021 officially marked a full-year since Ferguson created his brand. With success being an obvious goal for Ferguson, he will continue to expand his brand while encouraging ones to fulfill their destiny.