Carmyn Robey, a Computer Science major with a minor in Business Administration is paving way at Howard University with her entrepreneurial skills. This native of Houston, TX has already won the 100 black entrepreneurs business plan -pitch competition, opened up two businesses, interned at one of the biggest fortune 500 companies on Wall St., and she hasn’t even graduated yet! Taking a break from managing her business and schoolwork, Robey sits down with HerCampus-Howard to explain the life of a young entrepreneur.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I really don’t get too much free time with managing school, my businesses, and working on my senior project. When I can manage to get some time for myself I enjoy working out, cooking, and hanging with my friends. I’m always creating something in the kitchen, trying to find new recipes for my cookbook. I’ve been working on it for a couple years. It is full of health conscious meals for people who have lost weight and are trying to manage their weight loss.
What makes you a “young entrepreneur?”
I think what makes me an entrepreneur is the fact that when I have an idea I will do anything to make it my reality. Ever since my weight loss, I have always had the mentality I could do anything I put my mind too. I’m currently running two businesses, Easy As Pie and The Sweet Spot. With the ‘The Sweet Spot’, I do mostly catering for various organizations on my campus. I started making cakes when I was around 12 and I made my first wedding cake when I was 15. Ever since then, I’ve been very ambitious with the cakes I do. The second company, Easy As Pie, is a weight loss company primarily targeted for woman. I’m currently in the progress of changing a few things. Originally Easy As Pie, offered services like: pre-made meals, custom meal plans, pantry assessments, etc. I’ve now decided to combine my two companies and develop a line of low fat desserts. I’m still in the process of developing different recipes but I hope to have things in action by the end of the year.
What are the three biggest things that you have accomplished in your life?
1) My biggest accomplishment was my weight loss of 140 lbs. It took me around 2 years to lose all the weight and I’ve been able to keep it off for the past 8 1/2 years.
2) In 2011 I won the 100 black entrepreneurs business plan -pitch competition and received $10,000 for Easy As Pie. Soon after I was featured in black enterprise as “The Entrepreneur of the week”.
3) For the past three summers I’ve interned at one of the biggest fortune 500 companies on Wall Street. This was such a huge accomplishment for me because the first time I applied for the company I was turned down. I knew that was the company I wanted to work for so I choose not to take no for an answer. The next school year I took 21 hrs per semester and boosted my GPA. I didn’t do anything that I thought would help my chances, and I re applied. After 5 interviews I was given an offer and then managed to get returning offers for the following years.
Can you explain more about your “Easy As Pie” mobile app?
Losing weight is more than just counting calories; it is a complete lifestyle change. It’s important to understand your body type, how it works and what activities work best. Easy as Pie is a mobile application that creates diet plans for users based on their weight loss goal, timeframe, cardio availability, and physical activities selected. The plan tells you exactly what you need to do to lose your desired amount of weight. If the user follows the plan exactly, mathematically it is guaranteed to work. Also, Easy as Pie provides a physical activity calculator that calculates either the amount of calories burned or time needed to burn a specific amount of calories based upon the physical activity selected and the duration or calories entered. This tool allows the user to keep track of the amount of calories they’ve burned while working out.
What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I’ve accepted a job offer with a very respected pharmaceutical company in NJ, in their IT department.
Would you like to offer any advice for future entrepreneurs?
1) Take everyday, one day at a time.
2) You can’t do it all on your own, or you will go nuts!
3) Never take no for an answer
4) If you have faith in yourself, others will follow.
5) Take advantage of every opportunity and relationship you can build.
6) Networking is key.