If you can see HER you can be HER - Project Xylem

Project Xylem was born from a crazy what if that I had no clue whether it would be possible. I saw firsthand the effects of climate change and dying reefs growing up and I’ve always been passionate about marine life preservation. So during lockdown, with a little extra time on my hands, I got involved in an entrepreneurship program at UT and decided to give my idea a shot. The first thing I did was pitch to other students who might have more relevant knowledge or aligned interests and see if they would be interested in joining me or helping out in any way. Since we want to repurpose offshore oil rigs, it was really important for me to start networking with people who knew more about the field than me. And even now, having done a lot more research, I still find it extremely valuable to talk about my idea with people. So the most important thing I’ve learned from this process is to get out there and start talking to people- family, friends, other students, professors, experts etc. I was taking on a project that I did not have too much background in and my idea wasn’t even fully developed. But starting a conversation and really using the feedback (even when it sounded harsh) is what has helped me get this far, and will definitely keep me going as well. No ideas can operate alone, so don’t be scared to start the conversation, ask for help and make connections!