Student Entrepreneur

Transcript

Next up is Amelia who is balancing her classes in international relations with her philanthropy. With the help of StartUp FIU and Panther alumni, she is working on an app that will centralize donations. Can’t wait to hear more, Amelia take it away.

Hi everyone, my name is Amelia Raudales and I’m a senior here at Florida International University. I’m currently majoring in international relations and pursuing three certificate programs, one in public policy, one in human rights and political transitions, and the last in law ethics and society. And the reason why I chose this university and this educational path is because of its commitment to challenge me to think critically about issues around the world, while also preparing me for a future in public policy. I was born and raised in Miami and over the last three years I have had the opportunity to be involved in five different fellowships, as well as run three different organizations. I was president of our student ambassador program, FIU student philanthropic council tasked with raising funds for our student emergency fund. I also had the opportunity to be the honors college senator for our student government association, captain of our leadership club lead the team, as well as director of our social justice club, the Panther Community Action Board. Now over the past year, I’ve also had the amazing opportunity to work with three FIU alumni in order to create an app that will centralize in kind donation giving. Working with the Center for Leadership and Service, the global learning office, as well StartUp FIU has been instrumental to my success as a student entrepreneur and helping me develop this idea as well as getting the seed funding. Now StartUp FIU is a university wide initiative to foster entrepreneurship as well as innovation. FIU has even been ranked a top 50 US utility patent producer around the world. As an Ashoka Changemaker Campus, a title that has only been given to 42 colleges and universities around the world, this has opened so many doors for me as a student entrepreneur. I was able to compete in placing the Fowler Global Social Innovation challenge pitch competition become a millennium Fowler alumni as well as a Clinton Global University Initiative fellow. On top of this, our college of business even offer its own entrepreneurship certifications for students ready to take their startup ventures to the next level. As Miami’s only public research university, this has afforded me and my peers countless opportunities to conduct research. Now the FIU Honors College has a class called diplomacy lab in which we’re able to conduct research on issues identified by state department officials under guidance of FIU faculty who have years of experience when it comes to diplomacy, as well as the international relations. Now this past year, I was able to conduct research on human trafficking and smuggling laws for the International Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enforcement. Because of this research I will now able to conduct research on different topics and brief my updates to US Southern Command, USAID as well as MITRE. All these opportunities have afforded me the chance to now be a congressional intern, as well as an intern for the Smithsonian. Thank you so much for listening to my story. What’s next Alex?

That’s a lot of hustling Amelia, as a businessman I recognize that entrepreneurial spirit, you’ve really optimized all the opportunities FIU provides from working with StartUp FIU, to bring your idea to market, to developing pivotal skills for the 21st century diplomat. Congratulations on the congressional and Smithsonian internships, we’ll see you soon.