Not everyone can run a virtual company while juggling college academics, but for senior Rhonesha Byng, being an entrepreneur has defined her college experience
Byng is the founder and CEO of N.E.S.H.A. LLC, a company that seeks to guide youth with the proper tools to achieve their dreams. Byng registered her company for a copyright in 2007 and received a certificate acknowledging its approval March 15. The company's name stems from her personal motto "No One Ever Slows Her Agenda" and is also an acronym for her nickname "Nesha."
Byng's path to success began when she was a sophomore in high school. She took a journalism class and immediately found writing to be her niche.
"When I took the class, something clicked and I knew that that's what I wanted to do," she said. "I put myself out there at a really young age, so people expect a lot from me.
Throughout the rest of her high school career she explored different media and journalism internship opportunities. She conducted interviews with politicians and celebrities such as Chris Brown and Mario about their discographies. She even modeled for Seventeen magazine and worked closely with marketing team of Teen Vogue. Thus, N.E.S.H.A is inspired by the plethora of innovative careers that interest her.
"It kind of embodies all that I'm about," Byng said. "If someone tells me ‘No,' I'm going to keep asking until they tell me ‘Yes.'"
Byng began the first venture of her company during her sophomore year at DePauw by creating a website heragenda.com. The site reveals several success stories of various inspirational young women industries such as fashion, education, who represent her motto by working in business and public relations. Byng displays several interviews with these women on the website to inspire anyone who wishes explore their career paths.
Heragenda.com won two website competitions, one from a company called By Kids For Kids, from which she received a $500 trip to California to do a presentation about her company. A company called Youth Venture also awarded money, which she used to improve her website.
Byng said the purpose of heragenda.com was to universalize her personal motto to all younger women and inspire them to chase their dreams regardless of life's obstacles.
"A lot of times girls get distracted by boys and drama with their friends," she said. "Your youth is the time to figure out who you are and take chances and jump into what you're passionate about."
Byng is still racing up the road of success. She is currently working on relaunching her website with broader ideas in mind. In order to raise money, she sparked a campaign called "Embody the Motto," during March for women's history month. She collaborated with a clothing designing company, Triple L Society, to create and sell T-shirts that read "No One Ever Slows Her Agenda."
Byng has also received support from her classmates and the DePauw community. DePauw has also helped Byng register the work she's doing with heragender.com into an independent study project. She also anticipates replicating her campaign on campus before she graduates.
Senior Elizabeth Conner, a close friend of Byng, said Byng's innovative work ethic always inspired her.
"She gave me a lot of tips and pointers about internships," Conner said. "I've watched her progress though the blogs on her website, and I know she's going to be even more successful than she is."
Byng still wishes to pursue journalism while building her company in the future. She expects that her handwork will branch out and transform into a TV series, magazine, or a radio show.
"I consider myself to be a journalist and an entrepreneur," Byng said. "What I want to do is continue to build on the website and just get more members and help girls on there make their own blogs so that they can inspire each other to reach for their goals."