Meet Nia Rae’ Echols, a dedicated student at the University of Michigan who’s making waves with her dual focus in Spanish and Entrepreneurship. Nia’s journey into the world of entrepreneurship is as inspiring as it is insightful, reflecting her curiosity and determination to explore new avenues.
Nia’s fascination with entrepreneurship began long before she set foot on campus. “I’ve always been enthralled by the concept of entrepreneurship,” she shared. “I knew that businesses came from an initial idea or thought, but I never knew what actually goes into a startup and what the process of getting a business to the point where it’s official is like.”
This curiosity lingered, and although she didn’t initially seek out ways to educate herself about it, the desire to understand the intricacies of starting a business never left her. “It wasn’t until I found out about the Center for Entrepreneurship that I realized I could fully engage with entrepreneurship and focus on school, because I could now minor in it,” she recalls.
Nia’s introduction to the CFE was serendipitous. “I first became aware of the CFE on my walk to class. There were a few students representing CFE that asked me if I had any entrepreneurial ideas that could benefit U-M. At that time I didn’t have any ideas in mind, but it definitely did spark my attention.” This chance encounter led her to explore the opportunities the CFE had to offer, ultimately leading her to pursue the Entrepreneurship minor.
The CFE’s programs and classes have been instrumental in shaping Nia’s entrepreneurial knowledge. “I feel like each of the CFE classes that I took this past year have played a huge part in helping me to create and establish a great foundation of entrepreneurial knowledge.” She particularly highlights the impact of ENTR 490: Urban Entrepreneurship, instructed by W. David Tarver. “ENTR 490 was by far my most engaging and informative entrepreneurship class that I’ve had. It vastly increased my understanding of the way businesses function in general as well as how business model canvases are created and modified to better appeal to their target market/audience.”
The hands-on experiences and interactions with urban business owners in Detroit provided Nia with a unique perspective. “Having the opportunity to actually go on excursions to visit and interact with urban business owners in Detroit was unlike any course experience I’ve ever had. As a student, it was a really great way for me to put myself in the mental headspace of an entrepreneur and improve my analytical skills regarding executive startup/business decisions.”
Nia’s future is as bright as her passion for learning. She plans to continue her education in dental hygiene, aiming to become a Registered Dental Hygienist. “I hope to one day leverage my fluency in both English and Spanish to provide top-tier dental healthcare and give back to the community. Maybe I’ll think of an oral hygiene-related innovation to begin a startup with too!”
When asked what advice she would give to undergraduate students about getting involved with entrepreneurship, Nia emphasizes the value of taking ENTR 490: Urban Entrepreneurship and ENTR 407: Entrepreneurship Hour. “ENTR 407 was a wonderful class to get different perspectives and business insights from successful people from a multitude of fields. This class informs students about more careers and markets that are available to explore that they may not have considered before, or simply provides students more insight into the professions that they previously had interest in.”
Nia’s final piece of advice encapsulates her experience and the opportunities available through the CFE. “Overall, I can say that no matter your career aspirations, the CFE has a class with content that will benefit any individual in some way, shape or form. In my opinion, it’s an opportunity everyone should take advantage of.”
Nia Rae’ Echols is a testament to the transformative power of entrepreneurship education and the endless possibilities it unlocks. Her journey with the CFE not only enhanced her entrepreneurial knowledge but also equipped her with the skills and mindset to excel in any professional endeavor she chooses to pursue.