Sophomore gains perspective through The Catalyst
Sofia Bowman finds value in mentorship, entrepreneurial development for branding business
Sofia Bowman, a sophomore triple majoring in marketing, international business and psychology, is carving her path as an entrepreneur through her online digital branding company for small businesses.
In addition to her part-time serving jobs and being a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, the Bonner Springs, Kansas, native has found direction in helping start her business through The Catalyst, a KU School of Business program that encourages entrepreneurship and professional development through mentoring. Participating students gain opportunities to work out ideas and venture plans with input from industry mentors.
Bowman has been able to work through details that are often forgotten while crafting a new business, thanks to the program’s mentors, as well as Ryan Rains, director of entrepreneurship co-curricular programming.
“You do not have to have a business to want to be an entrepreneur,” she said. “You do not have an idea to be an entrepreneur. All it takes is meeting one person to turn your idea into something real, and that is what happened to me. You could have the faintest idea or a million little ideas and apply for The Catalyst, and you will be able to leave the program with something tangible and something to prove.”
Bowman’s first client came through her local network. She previously worked with Lawrence-based kombucha company, KANbucha, and she hopes to expand her business through Instagram by starting in Lawrence and Douglas County and expanding into the Kansas City metropolitan area. While she is still working on her business’s identity and brand, she plans to fully launch her business in the fall.
Bowman has received distinctive insights from mentors within The Catalyst that have provided her guidance and direction. The direction goes beyond just business advice; she has found that asking mentors about how they got to where they are today is just as valuable.
As the world evolves, she is excited about the opportunities that new technology, like Web3, has for her business and is eager to incorporate new ideas. Web3 is a new technology focusing on blockchain technologies, data privacy and cryptocurrencies that directly benefits the customer. Bowman says that this technology will help streamline her business’s payment forms making them more accessible and user-friendly.
Learn more about The Catalyst at business.ku.edu/catalyst.
By Alexander Houston
