We’re inspired by founders who are changing the way we buy, sell, and think. One-time students like Roz Campbell, who shifted her focus from designing furniture to designing feminine hygiene products with more responsible materials. Or designers such as Ashley Nell Tipton, who took us behind the seams of the clothing industry and how she’s changing our perception of plus fashion.
But let’s be real: entrepreneurship isn’t easy.
It’s hard work, and many founders have failed before they found success. That’s why, through this new section of the Blog, we’re covering the ups—and downs—of people who’ve built something from the ground up. Our hope is that through their hits and misses, you’ll be inspired to pursue any ideas you’ve been thinking about, wherever you’ve been thinking about them.
Today, as we get closer to celebrating International Women's Day, we’ll introduce you to businesswomen like Aubry Walch, who at 14 ate meat for the last time. Today, she and her brother run a meatless “butcher shop” in Minneapolis, with handmade vegan meats and cheeses, that they’ve been expanding with a new food truck and a push for nationwide shipping.
Later this week we’ll bring you the start-up stories of Dechen Yeshi, who runs a luxury brand from a picturesque village on the Tibetan Plateau, as well as HexComix, whose leaders find themselves in a unique position—as role models for other young women trying to break into the traditionally male-dominated comic book industry.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve got an all-consuming, full-time pursuit or a weekend hobby. We believe anyone, anywhere can make something they’re proud of. These are the extraordinary stories of ordinary people who just so happen to be entrepreneurs.
Have a story you want to share? Tell us more.
Illustrations by Alvaro Tapia Hidalgo