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The Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (KS WELI) focuses on curricular and co-curricular programs that will empower women to lead and encourage the world to follow. EmpowHER Hours are a KS WELI signature speaker series sponsored by the Alumni Board where students and the members of the (UT) Austin community can hear from The University of Texas at Austin women alumni.
The Alumni Board hosts the EmpowHER Hour series monthly to equip and empower the next generation of women leaders. Vetted courageous women speakers who are alumni of the University of Texas at Austin are invited to host EmpowHER Hours on being a leader, entrepreneur, or creative.
September's UT Alumni was Ashley Raymond, who is the co-founder of Safely, which works to provide practical safety products and resources for all. Ashley began her entrepreneurship journey as an undergraduate student at UT Austin. She was heavily involved in the KS WELI when it first launched at UT Austin, and she has been a great resource for other students looking to begin their careers as an entrepreneur.
Ashley's EmpowHER Hour talk was centered around product validation and idea generation. Ashley walked students through the process that needs to happen every time you think you have a feasible idea for a business or startup to validate that product within the market and gauge how marketable the product will be. Ashley explained how this validation process should take place multiple times throughout your product's beginning life so you will know where to pivot in your entrepreneurial journey. Ashley was able to provide tangible assets to students who are looking to start their own businesses by providing them with tools that are easily accessible and easy to digest and understand. At the end of this event, Ashley gave away three pepper sprays from Safely to fulfill her company's goal of providing a safer tomorrow for all, but especially women.
About The Author:
Sydney Key'25
Management Information Systems
LeadHERship Associate Intern
Student Board VP of Logistics
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