Beginning her entrepreneurial journey at 5 years old, selling cookies and coffee, Sophia Fairweather has always had the mind of someone who will go on to achieve great things. Fast-forward to a few years later and Sophia is now an incredibly young founder of Key Angels, filling the gap of supporting the youth through working to solve the housing crisis. 

From the importance of networking to facing your fears to cultivating and maintaining confidence in your abilities, Sophia has many tips for anyone looking to embark on their own entrepreneurial journey.

What are three things every entrepreneur should know?

From her point of view, as being part of the youth, Sophia believes greatly in the importance of going to events and networking as it helps her to be more comfortable with talking as well as creating and maintaining professional relationships. This has helped her feel more comfortable engaging in conversations without relying heavily on notes or scripts. 

She encourages entrepreneurs to build confidence in their speaking abilities and embrace opportunities for Q&A sessions, as it allows for meaningful conversations and fosters connections with the audience.

Sophia also recognizes the significance of networking to establish visibility as gaining awareness and credibility is crucial for startup founders. Sophia personally experienced the transformation of her perspective on networking and now considers it an essential aspect of entrepreneurship. She values the ability to engage in conversations, actively listen to others, and ask questions about their own experiences. 

By focusing on building connections and genuinely engaging with people from a place of curiosity about what you could learn from them, entrepreneurs can alleviate anxiety and create more meaningful interactions that grow into genuine relationships.

Lastly, Sophia expressed gratitude for the support and guidance she received from her father at a young age. He played a pivotal role in helping her step out of her comfort zone, approach people, and initiate conversations. This led to Sophia’s third point which is that Sophia values and recommends having a mentor or someone who can provide referrals and introductions to further facilitate networking efforts for entrepreneurs.

What problem does your business solve and who are its customers?

Sophia’s business, Key Angels, solves the problem of supporting youth in both their pursuit of education and housing. Sophia mentioned that her business considers themselves a “community accelerator” that operates through property-based solutions with a sustainable model that specifically caters to young individuals, typically aged 18 to 25, who are either single parents or lack parental support. 

Sophia’s primary goal is to assist and empower youth, particularly those interested in STEM entrepreneurship, by providing them with the necessary resources and opportunities for growth, helping them lock down their first home while offering the free time and energy they need to focus on their education.

What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?

Sophia was inspired to become an entrepreneur through her early experiences and the support of her father. As mentioned earlier, Sophia began with small ventures like baking cookies and making coffee at the age of five. She did this by shadowing her father at work and distributing cookies to his colleagues. 

Recognizing the connection between cookies and coffee, she eventually took over the coffee club at her father’s workplace. It was through this experience that Sophia realized how much she enjoyed engaging in activities outside of school and experiencing personal growth.

Sophia then highlighted the limitations she observed within the school system, where the expectation is to conform and not surpass the average achievements of one’s peers or challenge the overall school system. This realization motivated her to explore opportunities beyond traditional education and begin pursuing her own entrepreneurial endeavors. 

Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Sophia noticed that the youth she was surrounded with didn’t share her drive and ambition to venture beyond the societal norms and begin truly pursuing entrepreneurship. Sophia greatly appreciates the freedom and growth potential that being a business owner offers. Despite the challenges and limited peer support, she found immense fulfillment through her entrepreneurial pursuits and continues to seek opportunities to innovate and make a difference.

Sophia’s entrepreneurial journey took a significant turn when she secured an $11 million government fund for women’s equality in STEM, enabling her to engage with officials and drive progress in a field that she is genuinely interested in. Familiar with the 3Ds concept (Deflect, Deny, Delay), she found resonance in her government interactions. 

Collaborating with Girl Guides and Big Brothers Big Sisters, Sophia witnessed firsthand the need for improved visibility and access to resources among the youth. Founding Key Angels also had the intention of connecting these youth with credibility, resources, and credentials. Recognizing the shortcomings of existing programs, Sophia sought to provide sustainable solutions, breaking the cycle of reliance and fostering stability and confidence for a brighter future.

If someone had given you a million dollars when you first started your business, what would you have spent it on?

Sophia began answering this question by acknowledging that she likely doesn’t know everything she needs to know just yet. Honestly, no one ever does, and entrepreneurship is definitely a constantly evolving journey of learning. However, if someone had given Sophia a million dollars when she first started her business, there are various ways she would have considered using it for the benefit of the youth she aimed to support. 

One way would have been to invest the money in purchasing a property that could generate a stable income. Sophia drew from her previous experience of investing a portion of the funds from her startup, Buy Sofia, into a fourplex, which resulted in a doubled profit. Therefore, she toyed with the idea of using the million dollars to acquire another property that could continue generating a reliable cash flow for her business. 

Alternatively, Sophia contemplated using the funds to address specific needs within her Key Angels model. An option would have been to allocate the million dollars towards supporting youths who lack the necessary down payment for housing – an investment that has the potential to provide them with greater stability and access to suitable accommodations. 

Another consideration would be to invest in social working programs, ensuring there are sufficient resources and personnel to support the youth effectively. Sophia also pondered the idea of directing the funds towards financial literacy programs that empower young individuals with essential financial knowledge and skills.

Sophia acknowledged that a million dollars may not seem like a significant amount in some contexts, but decided to focus on the impact it could make if deployed correctly. Whether it be investing in properties to generate ongoing revenue or channeling the funds towards initiatives that support youth in various ways, Sophia’s ultimate goal would be to use the money to create lasting and meaningful change for the youth.

What is your proudest accomplishment as an Entrepreneur?

Sophia’s proudest accomplishment revolves around two aspects, both on a personal and professional level. Personally, she takes immense pride in acquiring her own property, as it has provided her with stability in the present and a sense of security for her future. Having a place to live while attending university as well as the prospect of independence in her own space brings her great satisfaction and motivation.

On a professional front, Sophia’s proudest accomplishment is not tied to a specific moment but rather her overall growth and development throughout her journey. She reflected on the growth she’s experienced in developing her communication skills, particularly in written correspondence such as emails. 

Sophia feels a heightened sense of professionalism, a downturn in anxiety, and increased confidence when engaging with others. The improvements to her conversational skills have allowed her to express herself, articulate her vision, and discuss her goals in a way that better resonates with her work. 

Another personal evolution point that Sophia finds pride in is her improved memory, as she can now retain important information and effectively recall sound bites during conversations. This has had a massive impact on her ability to represent herself and her aspirations with authenticity and clarity.

What big goals are you looking to achieve?

Sophia has several goals in mind for the coming year, both encompassing her education and her professional endeavours. Regarding her education, she intends to complete her high school education and aims to continue excelling academically. 

Sophia has also engaged in discussions with Lance, resulting in a job offer. This is a massive opportunity and achievement for her as many organizations require individuals to be 18 years old, even with a high school diploma, in order to work for them. Sophia is excited to explore the job opportunity along with grant opportunities, as she has encountered challenges in finding funding due to age restrictions.

On the more professional side of things, Sophia is focused on the growth of Key Angels. She has already gained traction in North Carolina, collaborating with universities and mega churches. She now aspires to further expand her business, as she is deeply passionate about its intention and impact. Sophia finds contentment in nurturing the growth of her organization and continuously working towards its mission that aligns with her personal values as well as expertise. She is determined to continue dedicating herself to this cause.

An award-winning STEMprenuer at such a young age with incredible insights to offer to anyone, Sophia Fairweather’s story is a great one and we can’t wait to see what more she will achieve as her journey continues to evolve. 

What achievements have you got under your belt, with the growth and learning experience to back it? We at Amplomedia would love to discuss your entrepreneur story as well as the nuggets of gold you’ve discovered along the way. Reach out to us today so that you can tell your story tomorrow.