Continued From Page 1

How did you get started in business?

At 6 years old, I started to paint rocks and go door to door and sell them as paperweights and doorstoppers. I would create lotions and different concoctions and try to sell them. I actually made a business card for myself at that age. I called myself the 21st century CEO. I ended up meeting this guy, Roi Tauer and I gave him my card. I was very proud of it. I was probably about seven and a half at this time. I said 'nice to meet you, sir.' He said 'What do you do?' I replied 'I don't know. I just have a nice business card.' He said 'Well, you seem to be very ambitious, but do you have ambitious plans?' I said yes, I wanted to start my own business. He suggested that we start a club where we could come together and talk about our ideas. From there we started U.N.E.E.C. (pronounced ‘unique’) which stood for the Urban Neighborhood Economic Enterprise Club. We brought in local business professionals to talk to us about ideas we could turn into a business. They really came in to explain to us about business and to talk about their careers. We went to some of the same business professionals who had previously spoken to us and asked them to put money into a fund for us. We did not want donations, but an actual investment. You can just imagine an eight year old knocking on your door and asking for an investment and promising a return on it as well. From that we raised about $15,000, which allowed us to fund our various ventures.

In what ways have you contributed by giving back to your community or society?

The Farrah Gray Foundation was set up for me to give a certain portion of my personal income from honorariums and my various salaries to charity. Its primary purpose is to help youth organizations and with inner city literacy and after school programs having the Farrah Gray Foundation led to my board seat and intensive work with United Way

What are some of your future goals?

My plans for the future include spreading my message as far as I can. I would like to make my magazine a household name. I also plan on pursuing a JDMBA degree as well. My whole purpose in life is to grow and to contribute. I will continue to grow and expand my business ventures. I will continue to try and help people. It is what makes me whole. My grandmother always said, 'If better is possible, than good is just not enough.’

What kind ventures did you start with your investment firm?

Some of the businesses were successful and some were not. "As it grew, we took the association and split it into two parts. One aspect would actually scout young people who wanted to start their own business and those who would teach entrepreneurship. We created one branch called NE2W, which was New Early Entrepreneur Wonders and ANE2W, which was the Association of New Early Entrepreneur Wonders. As we grew we worked up to a higher network of investors, people with more money. Our ideas got bigger and better. We were able to open an office on Wall Street, where my offices remain today and raised one million dollars."

Material used by permission of HCI Books.