First in Future: Reborn Clothing Co. Co-Founder Emily Neville

Summary:

Next week marks the start of Global Entrepreneurship Week – seven days celebrated around the world, with events designed to recognize and encourage more people to think more seriously about starting companies and organizations. Across the state, universities will be holding a series of events – 12 of the 16 public universities in North Carolina have entrepreneurship centers that will be participating. At NC State, the Entrepreneurship Initiative will be holding a “shark tank”-like event. And they’ll be holding a special event called “Ladies Who Launch” to celebrate women entrepreneurs. Women are still a minority when it comes to starting companies, so acknowledging the problem and celebrating success matters a lot. This week, we talk with Emily Neville, an undergraduate political science major at NC State, AND co-founder of an enterprise called Reborn Clothing Co.  She is so passionate about her company she talked to us in the middle of a cold, so be patient about her cough. Then listen for some really good insights on the kind of thinking you need to do to launch a new idea, or to do entrepreneurship in rural places. You’ll also learn about textile waste and slow fashion. And if you stick with it till the end, you may get an idea for the perfect holiday gift.

Excerpts: “It’s booming here. Everyone I talk to in Raleigh is involved in some type of entrepreneurship or thinking about an idea, and I don’t think that’s something I was exposed to in the rural area where I grew up. But it’s something very important, and I think needs to be…introduced across the state.”

“You don’t have to be a business major to be an entrepreneur, you have to have an idea, you have to have passion, and you can’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Book recommendations:  Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

What key issues should we be working on within the next couple of years to make North Carolina a better place?   We need to be thinking about entrepreneurship within our rural communities – what students can take back home to their hometowns.

What do we need to focus on to be ready for the next 20 years? Education, number of quality classes available, ensuring the rural area schools are not left behind, public-private partnerships.

Next great North Carolinian to watch?  All of the people on my team, but especially my co-founder, Carly Kvietok, who is also a Park Scholar.

Listen to the podcast: