SESP Entrepreneur Named Little Joe Ventures Fellow
Northwestern University’s Camryn Smith was named one of five new Little Joe Ventures Fellows at The Garage, an award designed to support promising entrepreneurial-minded undergraduates.
Smith, a second year studying social policy and entrepreneurship at the School of Education and Social Policy, hopes to transform the beauty and wellness industry for Black women by “creating more inclusive, knowledgeable, and accessible spaces.”
Driven by her passion of making self-care less daunting for beginners, Smith founded “Selfcare Sundays” when people were quarantining due to COVID-19 to help Black women build confidence and a sense of care in the community. She calls her entrepreneurship interest “consumer driven” because she plans to adjust it based on evolving needs of her community.
The Fellowship provides programming, domestic and international travel (when possible), and a $5,000 financial award to pursue an innovation project or internship.
“This opportunity will help me learn different ways to approach entrepreneurship,” said Smith, who is also pursuing a certificate in Civic Engagement. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a talented and driven cohort and grow with them by sharing a piece of ourselves in the process.”
Smith also looks forward to networking with older cohorts and LJV partners who can speak on what was most successful about their various business iterations. Last year School of Education and Social Policy undergraduates Amy Drake and Christian Wade were named Fellows.
“Coaching will help to fortify my outlook on entrepreneurship and help build my confidence in the field,” she said.
Smith, originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., is part of the fourth cohort of Little Joe Ventures Fellows – five sophomores representing five different schools, all nominated by faculty and staff because of their talent and entrepreneurial potential.
The annual Fellowship begins each spring during the cohort’s sophomore years and wraps up at graduation. The program offers a comprehensive experience with opportunities for networking with innovators and meeting accomplished entrepreneurs. During a period of operating remotely to ensure the safety of our community, the Fellows will participate in virtual programming.
Depending on guidelines for travel, the Fellows will have the opportunity to take a trip during their junior year to Los Angeles. Past cohort trips included tours of SpaceX, a small lunch with Gwyneth Paltrow at goop, and a visit and book signing with entrepreneur and model Maye Musk (Elon Musk’s mother). Also dependent on travel restrictions, the cohort will take a trip together during spring break of their senior year.
The Little Joe Ventures Fellowship in Entrepreneurship is made possible by a generous gift from Northwestern alumnus Tony Owen and his wife, Monique.