At just 11 years old, Neema picked up a comb and started braiding her mom’s and sisters’ hair. She quickly realized it was something she was naturally good at. In the early stages of building her business, she recalled thinking, “Hmm, I’m good at this… let me see what I can do with it.”
What began as a casual skill quickly grew into a passion and eventually, a business. Now a college student and entrepreneur, Neema balances her books and her braids with a grace that’s rooted in discipline, community, and a deep sense of purpose.
As a first-generation college student, Neema never lost sight of her “why.” “Being a first-gen African, it’s important for me to get my degree, not just for myself but for my family,” she says. “I had no one in my family help me navigate college or tell me how to run a business, but I want to be that person for my family and the people around me.”
Over time, she’s developed an elite workflow, an intentional rhythm that helps her stay grounded while juggling school and business. Through personal discipline and entrepreneurial flexibility, she’s found a system that works for her. “Self-discipline helps me get things done,” she says. And when things get overwhelming, her family and friends step in, not just to help but to remind her she’s not alone.
Though she’s a psychology major, Neema’s business education has been entirely self-taught. From navigating licensing, time management, and handling the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship, she’s accomplished it alone. Still, college has shaped her in other essential ways such as teaching her how to communicate effectively, listen deeply, and grow through connection with others.
She often shares her challenges with friends and community, sparking new ideas she wouldn’t have reached on her own. She even draws from other students’ experiences with braiders to refine her own approach. “I want every client to feel love, care, and intention in my work,” she says. “It’s not just about hair, it’s about how people feel when they leave my chair.”
Despite her packed schedule, Neema is intentional about committing to both college and her business, two paths that challenge and fulfill her in different ways. She’s learned to avoid burnout through self care. With rest, movement, and mental health days, she sees self-care as strategy, not luxury. For her, success means showing up fully in both spaces without losing herself in the process.
What keeps her going is bigger than just ambition. “So many times people tell you that you can’t do something. But I want people to know that you can. You don’t always have to know what you’re doing—because I don’t even know what I’m doing sometimes.” This mindset has transformed her relationship with failure. Instead of fearing it, she uses it. Failure teaches. Success teaches. Both are part of the process. College has taught her she can do hard things, and that she gets to choose how she does them.
If there’s one thing Neema wishes people understood about student entrepreneurs, it’s that support comes in many forms. “You don’t have to buy something to support a small business. Share their posts. Tell your friends. Hand out their business cards. There are so many ways to show up—and I hope you do.”
