“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has genuine, power and magic in it.” -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

May 27, 2006
CosmoGIRL! Magazine

I admit it- I have the entrepreneurship bug!  I want to be the “Martha Stewart” of the college market, and I am constantly inspired by Martha’s trailblazing achievements.

Last year I developed the business plan for InCollege Magazine (ICM) with my friend Joshua Feinberg, and I also helped another student at Bates College launch a new company called ShopYourSchool.com, slated to launch in the fall of 2006.

As you know, entrepreneurship is spreading across college campuses nationwide.  Like Facebook and THE U, the hottest new companies are being started in students’ dorm rooms.  However, I am not merely riding on the wave of this trend.  As I reflect on the inspiration for my entrepreneurial endeavors, it is clear that I have been deeply impacted by the strong examples of a few bold visionaries.

Martha Stewart is a tremendous inspiration in my life since, like my dad, she worked for every penny she earned and started with very little in assets.  What makes Martha stand out in my mind is that she realized the importance of branding herself as well as her business.  ICM will not only be a magazine; but a brand, just like Martha Stewart.  I want to be known for providing college students with the best information regarding majors, internships, careers, and college and networking events.  Globally college students are not connected even with the modern connectivity provided by the internet.  ICM plans to create a base for students across the globe to interact and develop their interests.  Social networking is vastly growing through groups such as 85 Broads, Ladies Who Launch, and Facebook.  I am also designing and implementing a marketing plan for ShopYourSchool.com, a website that will provide college students with a place to sell their furniture, DVD’s, electronics and textbooks.  With proper implementation, we plan to be the eBay for college students.  With Martha as my inspiration, I know I have big shoes to fill, but I know my hard work and perseverance will bring me in that direction.

Why is Martha Inspiring?

I was first introduced to Martha when I was a little girl, since my mom idolized her and Martha Stewart Living was her favorite show.  When my mom and I would go for walks around the neighborhood, we would identify “Martha Stewart” homes – houses with beautiful gardens growing with flowers, plants and vines.  Even as a young child, Martha was a brand and an inspiration to me.

Furthermore, Martha Stewart’s fierce determination and work ethic set a prime example for teens and women globally.  No one could ever say that she didn’t build her empire on her own.  And even in recent times of criticism, she has remained a brand of elegance because she has displayed nothing but patience and good humor.  I would love to have the opportunity to meet her because she personifies the type of businesswoman I hope to become one day.  As an entrepreneur, I will face numerous obstacles, and I hope to face each challenge with grace and a relentless drive.  Economists predict that the gender gap between men and women will not die away until my generation retires.  Martha Stewart gives every girl and woman the inspiration to narrow that gap and blaze their own trail through the obstacles that cause the gap to exist in the first place; such as women veering away from industries like business because they are male dominated.  Women are able to understand what they are capable of because of Martha and her extraordinary career.

I would be tremendously grateful for the opportunity to interview Martha Stewart for CosmoGIRL’s project 2024 initiative.  I want to inspire other CosmoGIRL’s to pursue entrepreneurship, which I have found so empowering and rewarding.  I cannot think of a better person to share as an inspiration than Martha Stewart.  Thank you so much for your attention and I hope to hear from you in the near future.

Sincerely,
Emmie Twombly