Meet Olivia F. Gresham, natural-born leader who’s been hustling practically since birth. Now a student in the Ross School of Business Global MBA program (Class of 2026) and pursuing the Center for Entrepreneurship’s Certificate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Olivia has been turning opportunities into achievements for as long as she can remember.
Hustling Since Day One
“I didn’t use the term ‘entrepreneur’ until my late 20s,” Olivia shares. “But I had what my people call a ‘side hustle’ as a kid.” Growing up in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Olivia joined her cousins and sister in selling freeze pops – frozen cups of Kool-Aid – to neighborhood kids. “We made the mixture, poured it, and got some of the profits. Back then, a dollar was a big deal, and I just remember feeling rich!”
From there, Olivia’s entrepreneurial spirit took off. She sold jewelry, made mixed CDs, typed papers, designed websites, and even sewed t-shirts. “I saw opportunities to make money doing things I enjoyed,” she says. But not everything she loved turned into a business. “I learned some hobbies are just for me, and not everything needs to be monetized.”
The Leap to Leadership
When Olivia graduated during the 2009 recession, she started her own company to gain the experience employers wanted. “I offered services like logo creation, graphic design, web development, and photography to hone my User Experience research skills,” she explains. That hustle landed her a dream role as an Information Architect within a year.
For 15 years, Olivia’s career thrived as a UX researcher, UI designer, and front-end developer, working with clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. But she realized something was missing. “I was great at doing the work that made money, but managing the day-to-day of a business was out of my depth. That’s what led me to pursue my MBA and the CFE certificate.”
Finding the CFE
Olivia discovered the CFE through a resume exercise during her Global MBA orientation. “One of the resumes listed the certificate, so I decided to look into it,” she says. “The classes broadened my view and forced me to figure out what I should learn moving forward.”
For Olivia, an entrepreneurial mindset means seeing opportunities everywhere. “When I created my first official business, I just jumped in without considering everything that comes with being a business owner,” she admits. “The CFE classes showed me what I should focus on to be successful.”
What’s Next?
Olivia’s goals are as ambitious as they are inspiring. “I hope to pivot my business from providing services to creating my first web-based product,” she says. She’s also eyeing a potential role as a founder-in-residence with a VC firm to help other entrepreneurs with UX while continuing to work on her own projects.
One of those projects holds a special place in her heart. “I hope to launch a project my late father started a few years ago,” she says. “It’s a way to honor him and keep his entrepreneurial spirit alive.”
Advice for Future CFE Students
Olivia hasn’t officially started the program yet, but she’s already learning a lot by talking to CFE professors and staff. Her advice? “Figure out what’s available to you and take full advantage. There’s so much to learn, and the unknown unknowns are the most exciting part.”
From freeze pops to Fortune 500s, Olivia F. Gresham is proof that an entrepreneurial mindset can take you anywhere. With the CFE by her side, there’s no telling how far she’ll go. We can’t wait to see what she builds next!