Hey Changemakers,
It turns out that over 50% of new grads end up in shit jobs after finishing school.
Today's story shows how to take that harsh reality and turn it on its head.
We are talking about a liberal art grad who managed to get into one of the most coveted organization AND built an global startup from the ground up.
Her energy is simply off the charts and we met her earlier this week at OCE's summer cohort.
Let’s dive in…
But FIRST
If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks:
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How it all started...
A few years ago, Alexa Bednarz was just another communications major at the University of Washington, dreaming of a career in the nonprofit sector.
Her ultimate goal?
Land a job at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
But word on the street was they never hire fresh grads.
Undeterred, Alexa started networking and, on the advice of BMGF employees, applied for a short-term contract gig during the final quarter of her senior year.
When she got the offer—a mere six-week contract —she took a leap of faith, dropped several classes and jumped in. “It was such a short contract that no one else wanted it,” she recalls. “But I knew this could be my only shot at the Gates Foundation.”
That gutsy move? It paid off.
The Foundation extended her contract, and six months later, she was a full-time employee. Alexa spent the next seven years at BMGF, rubbing shoulders with global leaders and even spending six months in India.
It was in India, where the reality of poor roofing materials in low-income areas hit her. Asbestos cement sheets—cheap, toxic, and prone to damage—were the norm.
Every storm brought new repairs. Alexa knew there had to be a better way.
You can't teach motivation
Armed with nothing more than her liberal arts background and a desire to make a difference, she started brainstorming a business idea that could benefit society.
This when The Eco-Shelter Inc was born.
The company seeks to produce affordable and sustainable building materials in emerging markets, starting with an ultra-low carbon roofing material made from bamboo.
She pitched her idea at Seattle’s Social Venture Partners (SVP) Fast Pitch competition and won the $6,000 Audience Choice Award, which she used to pilot her roofing project in India.
The pilot showed promise, but she hit a major roadblock: the production costs were too high for mass-market adoption.
It was a tough pill to swallow.
Thinking through her next step
“I thought the problem was impossible to overcome,” she admits. But then, a mentor suggested reaching out to universities to see if the technical issues could be solved.
This led Alexa to connect with Vikram Yadama, a distinguished professor at Washington State University.
Together, they submitted a research proposal to the National Science Foundation and secured a $225,000 phase-one Small Business Technology Transfer Research award.
Later, they received an additional $1 million phase-two award to refine the production process for carbon-neutral roofing panels.
How impressive is that?!
Global Dominaton
Now, Bednarz is raising capital from private investors, with plans to open Eco-Shelter’s first production facility in India later this year.
The product has already caught the attention of housing organizations in India and builders in the US who are eager for low-carbon building materials.
“While we’ll launch in India, we’re also looking to export a portion of the product to the US,” says Alexa.
Knowing how to work your strength
Alexa credits her liberal arts education for giving her the skills to understand the world and respect diverse cultures—skills that have been crucial to Eco-Shelter’s success.
Starting anything wasn’t without its challenges. Alexa faced plenty of doubt, especially being a woman with no formal technical background, launching a company abroad.
“Entrepreneurship constantly pushes you out of your comfort zone,” she says.
“But I knew this problem was important, and someone needed to solve it. So why not me?”
Like what you read? Share with friends!
PS. This summer, we are going to tackle pressing global issues and drive innovation in regions (such as your own community) where it is needed the most. Want in?
We run a summer cohort for ambitious youth (high school and undergrads) to work directly with world-class founders while learning from Silicon Valley leaders.
You can also explore purposeful opportunities through our Impact Internship Opportunities Database.
Get Curious.
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Lena
https://www.openclassroomexperience.com/
