What does it take to be a young CEO? Have you ever thought about the “Age factor” in running a business? If you have, there’s something you should know.
Age really doesn’t matter!
Being young doesn’t mean you are not capable of success. Indeed, in our fast-paced world, these young, dynamic leaders have emerged in the business world. They are known to redefine success in their own ways.
Moreover, these CEOs have not only shattered age-related stereotypes but have also achieved remarkable success in their respective industries.
Experience has always been seen as the agent of success in the business world. However, these young entrepreneurs believed that lack of experience was not a barrier to achieving it.
We will discover the top 10 CEOs below the age of 30. Our list is based on their start (starting from nothing) and inspirational story. Let’s begin.
Here are the top 10 young CEOs below age 30 who started from scratch but later chose to embark on entrepreneurship to live their dreams and aspirations.
Ryan Hickman
Young entrepreneurs are often aware of social and environmental issues. Despite being young, they are motivated by a sense of purpose and a desire to make a positive impact on society. At age 3, Ryan Hickman thought that discarded bottles and cans could harm the environment and should be recycled eventually.
Eventually, with his strong will to save the planet, Hickman went on to collect his neighbor’s recyclables and sell them. He then became the CEO of Ryan’s Recycling Company at the age of 7. In his effort to make a difference likewise, Ryan also sold T-shirts with inspiring environmental messages.
Ryan is 11 years old, and he was able to collect more than $14,000 afterward. He also led the recycling of millions of discarded bottles and cans. He believed that a small act like this could make a huge difference absolutely.
Kamaria Warren
Some young entrepreneurs are driven by a vision to solve a problem. In the end, they identified gaps in the market, and out of passion, they were compelled to provide a solution. Kamaria Warren clearly observed that there were only a few products representing black and brown girls in the market.
For that reason, she launched Brown Girl’s Stationery at the age of 7. Her products consist of school supplies, stationery, and accessories for girls. Most of them have illustrations of sassy black or brown girls. Warren also sells dolls as an addition to her product line.
Girl power and equality inspired Warren to pursue entrepreneurship even at a young age. In the same way, she was inspired when she saw other girls wearing her stuff and becoming proud of who they were.
Now, she is 15 years old and is able to sell 15,000 of her products yearly to different markets while creating an impact on the world.
Lily Born
Lily Born is an inventor and keynote speaker. At the age of eight, Lily Born has one intention in mind. It was to prevent her grandfather from knocking his cups and spilling the contents. Since Lily’s grandfather had Parkinson’s disease, her grandmother was burdened with cleaning up the mess.
In her effort to solve this problem, she designed a three-leg cup to prevent the spill. Her three-legged cup later became famous as the Kangaroo Cup.
The cup is a ceramic tumbler with three legs of moldable plastic attached. Eventually, Lily founded Imagiroo LLC, the company that manufactured the cups.
Moreover, Lily, together with his father, teamed up with well-known designers and manufacturers to perfect the design. It took some time to make the perfect three-legged cup, but Lily’s passion is for her to keep on going.
Currently, she is 20 years old. Her advice for youngsters like her is never to be afraid of failure. It is always a part of success.
Mikaila Ulmer
Mikaila Ulmer is a 19-year-old American entrepreneur and CEO of “Me & The Bees.”
This entrepreneur has turned her fears into success, while most people developed trauma from past experiences. For young Mikaila Ulmer, the stings of two bees have paved the way for her success in the business world. Instead of being paralyzed by her fears, she was inspired to study bees and started the Me and Bees Lemonade business.
Hence, at age four and a half, Mikaila started selling her lemonade inspired by her grandmother’s recipe. Her passion did not stop her from moving forward, although financial constraints drained her to compete with the big brands. Soon, her brand was recognized by influential leaders around the world.
In 2017, her lemonade, “Me & The Bees Lemonade,” was being sold in over 500 shops in America.
According to her, learning to adapt to the changes in this world is very important. Moreover, not being afraid to ask for help is the secret to lasting success. Now, a portion of her profits were donated to protect honey bees from extinction.
Cory Nieves
Reaching financial success and independence is a significant motivator for many young entrepreneurs. For example, being tired of the daily bus commute and the desire to own a car brought this young entrepreneur to fame.
Cory Nieves is a 19-year-old baker, founder, and CEO of Mr. Cory’s Cookies.
At a young age, Cory envisioned creating a better world for his family and for everyone around him, without a doubt.
For this reason, Cory insisted on selling homemade cookies to raise funds eventually. At age six, Cory became the CEO of Mr. Cory and Cookies with the help of his mother. Mr. Cory and Cookie is a company famous for making gourmet cookies with the finest ingredients.
Currently, Cory’s passion brought him into collaborations with other leading companies and brands.
Furthermore, he introduced other products in addition to his cookies, such as hot cocoa and lemonade. Cory insisted on going back to school to finish his studies in spite of his business career.
Moziah Bridges
Young individuals often possess a fresh perspective and are more inclined to think outside the box.
Moreover, they may be driven by a desire to innovate, disrupt industries, and introduce new ideas to the market. Moziah Bridges began his entrepreneurial journey at the age of nine.
Moziah learned how to sew his bow tie when he didn’t find any that would fit his style and personality. At a young age, he began sewing with the help of his grandmother eventually. When Moziah found that others seemed to like his creation, he started the Mo’s Bows company.
In fact, when people began noticing the beauty and uniqueness of his bow ties, Moziah started selling in online stores and retail. This generated significant revenues for the company, making Mo’s Bows surprisingly famous worldwide.
At age 23, Moziah’s advice for young kids is to live their passion and make money out of it.
Rachel Zietz
Young entrepreneurs are born out of necessity. Young Rachel Zietz became the founder of Gladiator Lacrosse, a high-quality sports training equipment line. Surprisingly, her teammates in lacrosse varsity were amazed to find out she was the maker of such equipment.
Previously, being unable to find equipment that would hold up under intense practice, Rachel designed her own. Rachel also worked with manufacturers to select durable materials likewise. In spite of some challenges he faced as a starter, her business grew and brought forth massive revenues.
Moreover, Rachel believed that lack of experience was not a barrier to attaining success, and neither was age. She is now 26 years old, and according to her, it is never too young to start.
Isabella Rose Taylor
Entrepreneurship provides an avenue for pursuing one’s passions and interests. Indeed, building a business around something you love can be incredibly fulfilling and can lead to a more satisfying career. For an artist like Isabella, passion can evoke success.
At the age of three, Isabella manifested her artistic skills through her paintings. However, this passion shifted to fashion design when she was eight. At the age of eleven, Isabella finally launched her first fashion collection.
Later, she launched her first line well before attending Parsons School of Design in New York City. Despite being successful, she stressed the importance of a balance between life and work. In addition, This young CEO is now 23 years old. She encouraged the young generation to live their dreams no matter what.
Hart Main
Hart Main is 27 years old. But as young as 13 years old, Main started his manly-scented candle business. In late 2016, ManCans became successful with annual sales of more than six figures surprisingly.
Economic circumstances may drive young individuals to start their businesses. Moreover, they may see entrepreneurship as a means to overcome financial challenges. Initially, Main’s idea was to earn money to purchase a bike.
In addition, he was annoyed every day by the files of candles her sister was selling for the fundraising campaigns. Likewise, he doesn’t like the girly scent of the candles. But instead of dropping the business once he purchased the bike, Main acted on his idea and lived his passion.
Furthermore, Main stated that becoming an entrepreneur at a young age increased his self-confidence and gave him more freedom.
Katie Carson
Who would think that a simple soap-making course can turn into a successful business?
Katie never thought that her soap-making habit could turn her into a social media star. Katie was just 16 years old and a homeschooled teenager when she launched her business called Royalty Soaps.
In fact, at the age of 29, Katie had successfully conquered the YouTube channel. She continued making hand-poured cold process soap from her parent’s house in Texas and gained 880,000 subscribers. Moreover, Royalty Soaps was launched as an online business on Etsy and now on Shopify.
Further, Katie’s initial intention in creating the soap channel was to connect with others who have the same habits as hers. But after that, her business channel became her marketing strategy. Knowing the needs and passions of the audience is very important to her.
Thus, for her, finding joy in everything you wish to pursue is vital. Knowing your audience is also of great importance.
The Shared Traits of These Top 10 Young CEOs
These young CEOs shared common entrepreneurial traits contrary to their diverse backgrounds.
First, they all solved a problem. Each of these bright minds started by finding a solution to an already existing problem. They sought to make a difference with their solutions, and they did!
They lived their passions to bring about positive influence to others obviously. Next, they maintained their flexibility towards changing market trends, which became crucial for success.
In addition, their risk-taking mindsets have been very helpful for them to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations. They also valued their target audiences for that reason and made them their utmost inspirations.
Becoming digitally savvy at the same time increases their chances of competing in the past-faced business world. Using digital platforms for marketing, community building, and product development simultaneously enabled the world to see them and allowed them to taste the sweetness of success.
Conclusion
The stories of these top 10 CEOs below 30 can be an inspiration for aspiring young entrepreneurs and those already in business. Their journeys highlighted the importance of passion, hard work, innovation, and a deep understanding of the market without a doubt.
These young leaders continued to shape the business landscape, and their stories will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of young entrepreneurs. To dream big and turn your visions into reality in the first place are the things that will be remembered.
Now, Age aside, are you ready to take the world by storm with your products or services? We have just what you need to reach out to a broader audience. Click this link to learn more.
Good luck!
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