Horn Entrepreneurship reaches far beyond the confines of the University of Delaware and through an unexpected lens - the Diamond Challenge. This global youth entrepreneurship competition engages more than 1800 teens annually from more than 30 countries. Leading the Diamond Challenge is a new team member at Horn, Maggie Nelson.
As a 2022 graduate of the University of Delaware, Maggie brings enthusiasm and energy to the Diamond Challenge. She earned a B.S. in Organizational and Community Leadership and was an active member of the entrepreneurship community through VentureOn, Pitch Party and the Siegfried Entrepreneurial Leadership Fellows.
We sat down with Maggie and learned a few things about her.
Launching a startup
Maggie’s startup is called Kindness Always Wins. Her startup aimed to increase awareness and promote the visibility of the chronic illness and mental health communities. After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in high school, Maggie shared her recovery on social media and sold sweatshirts. Through telling her story, she empowered others to share their stories and created a community.
Maggie moves as a way to slow down
Maggie loves to run. You may see Maggie running down Main Street or through the University of Delaware campus in Newark, Delaware. She tracks more than 1800 miles each year. Maggie finds that Running clears her head and helps to open up new creativity.
Maggie’s brush with local fame
At the age of 12, Maggie was a lead singer for Halo - a group of five pre-teens who attended rock school together. They performed at a few venues, the most notable was the Queen - a historic venue in Wilmington, Delaware.
Maggie’s favorite piece of advice for young entrepreneurs
Maggie’s motto is ‘get comfortable with being uncomfortable.’ She believes that being uncomfortable can be motivating. It can lead to new perspectives and new opportunities.
The Diamond Challenge submission period opens August 31, 2022. Participation in the competition includes online workshops, networking opportunities, and mentorship. The Diamond Challenge culminates at the Summit, April 23 - 25, 2023. This year’s Summit is expanding to include any teen with an interest in entrepreneurship with the intention of being the premier entrepreneurship conference for high school students around the world.
About Horn Entrepreneurship
Horn Entrepreneurship serves as the creative engine for entrepreneurship education and advancement at the University of Delaware. Currently ranked among the best entrepreneurship programs in the US, Horn Entrepreneurship was built and is actively supported by successful entrepreneurs, empowering aspiring innovators as they pursue new ideas for a better world.
