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I started my company when I was seventeen years old. It began the summer after my junior year of high school when I attended the Kentucky Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE.) GSE is a residential summer program where high school students aim to create a solution to a problem, then take their idea and create a product with a business model. While these business models don’t typically move forward after the three-week program my team’s idea has a rather unique success story.
The problem we chose to solve was accidental overdose, tens of thousands of kids visit ER’s across the nation every year after accidentally ingesting medications. After discovering that most of these occur when loose pills get lost around people's homes for children to find, we created our solution, DoseDEFENSE. DoseDEFENSE is a pill bottle insert that limits pill output to just one at a time, allowing better control over the dispensing of medication. It can be implemented by pharmacists and producers of over-the-counter medications to ensure that each and every bottle is safe–before it even reaches the hands of the consumer.
I didn’t go to GSE intending to start a legitimate company yet I walked away as a seventeen-year-old CEO. I had no idea what I was doing, but the past three years have been one of the most rewarding learning experiences of my life. DoseDEFENSE is now a patented device with a pilot program running in a small chain pharmacy and a licensing deal in the cards. Being a young woman in business has taught me more about myself and the world than I ever would have known otherwise, so here are a few of the most important things I’ve learned on my accidental journey as the CEO of a medical device company:
1. Imposter Syndrome is Real
If you’ve ever felt like your feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy override your sense of success then you’ve probably experienced imposter syndrome. Sometimes it feels as though I am constantly seeking to fulfill a role that I will never be qualified for when in reality I am strong and competent. Overcoming imposter syndrome can be done by constantly reminding yourself that you know what you’re doing. I constantly have to remind myself that I am qualified to run my company and that’s okay.
2. Wear Red
When almost every meeting you attend is dominated by men three times your age confidence Is key and red is a power color. I’ve found that dressing to feel powerful can double your confidence, so wearing red gives me the boost I need to dominate the room.
3. Youth is Invaluable
The pros of being a young business owner by far outweigh the cons. The entrepreneurial community is so supportive of young founders, that almost anyone is willing to give you time and advice. If you are a young person with big goals and big ideas, most of the time, the world is going to support you.
4. Stand Your Ground
There will be people who try to tell you they know better than you. Know when to take advice and when to accept that your opinion is the best to defer to. It took me a while to figure out that I know the ins and outs of my company better than anyone, so it's important to know that advice has to be taken with a grain of salt.
Abigail Cheek is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2023. She is studying psychology, history, and political science at the University of Louisville.