by Angelique Hill is a Self-Published Author, Certified Family Life Educator, and an Endometriosis Advocate. She is also an entrepreneur and owns Rising Adults Academy which is an online learning center for emerging adults. She is also the owner of The Business Shower School which is a center dedicated to teaching female entrepreneurs how to get resources for their start-ups. Recently we interviewed Angelique Hill to know about her successful entrepreneurial journey. In this interview, she even shares the challenges she faced during her journey as an entrepreneur together with advice for others. Read the interview with Angelique Hill. This will be an inspirational story for your success!
1. Hello Angelique! Please tell us about yourself.
I am a published author, Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE-P), and advocate for endometriosis. I am also the owner of Rising Adults Academy, an online learning center that provides life skills education to emerging adults, and the owner of The Business Shower School; a center that teaches female entrepreneurs how to get resources for their start-ups. I am a wife and mother of four who enjoys reading, writing, going to concerts, and spending time with my family!
2. You are playing many roles as an entrepreneur. What is your story behind becoming an author, certified family life educator, and endometriosis advocate? Please share more about your journey.
My story behind becoming an author, CFLE, and an endometriosis advocate comes from me using personal life experiences to help others going through similar situations that I’ve gone through. I didn’t learn the life skills that I needed as an emerging adult, so I became a Certified Family Life Educator to teach this specific group basic skills they will need in adulthood. I battled with depression and other mental challenges, so I wrote about how my faith as a Christian got me through some of the darkest times of my life—in hopes that it would give others hope for better days. I am 1 in 10 of the women that live with endometriosis, a chronic condition that can cause pain, infertility, and so many other problems; so I created a guide for those who have been diagnosed or think they may have it. I am a firm believer that we should share our stories, particularly the ones where we overcame or managed difficult challenges in our lives so that we can help the next person. Knowing that I can empower and inspire people by sharing my story is what keeps me going every day—it keeps me motivated to continue being a light.
3. What inspired you to launch Rising Adults Academy?
Rising Adults Academy was inspired by a life skills guide that I started making for my children if something happened to me and I’m unable to teach them before they reach adulthood. Also, as a graduate student, it was in my research on emerging adults that I realized how a significant portion of this population lacked basic life skills that are needed to be successful in adulthood. It was then that I decided to create life skills courses that would not only help my children but other emerging adults, too. I launched Rising Adults Academy as an online learning center where students can learn important life skills, have access to general resources, and have a social environment to connect with other emerging adults. I feel that our communities can benefit from young individuals being successful in adulthood, as the more skills they have, the more likely they will be able to contribute back to society. Therefore, the best thing we all can do is make sure they have the necessary tools to be self-sufficient and productive.
4. Why do you think it is vital to teach female entrepreneurs on getting resources for their start-ups? What is the importance of launching ‘’The Business Shower School’’ just for female entrepreneurs?
We are in a time now where women are all over the world are becoming entrepreneurs and starting their own businesses, which I think is absolutely amazing. While many females have gotten their businesses off the ground and growing, there are still other women who aspire to be an entrepreneur, but they lack access to the resources and education that can help them. I think It’s important to teach both aspiring female entrepreneurs and those new to entrepreneurship how to acquire the different resources available to them so that they have the opportunity to successfully grow and maintain their businesses.
It was important for me to launch The Business Shower School specifically for women because research shows that female entrepreneurs have a harder time getting loans from banks than their male counterparts. I found that hosting a business shower can allow women to get help with funding for their start-ups. Just like women are celebrated with gifts for having a baby, friends and family come together and congratulate women for starting a business—bringing gifts and other supplies they may need. This is probably the easiest way for women to get resources for their businesses, and The Business Shower School gives them the tools they need to execute this event, from beginning to end.
5. Did you face any difficulties or challenges in your journey as a young female entrepreneur? How did you handle the challenges?
I have definitely faced challenges while growing as a female entrepreneur. I think the most difficult part in this process was balancing work, graduate school, and home life while dealing with a painful chronic condition. There are some days that I’m very productive and get a lot done, but there are even more days where I’m either too nauseous or in too much pain to do anything—those are my worst days. I get frustrated when I can’t work like I want during the times I have flare-ups.
This is something that I’m still working on every day, as it’s kinda hard to overcome the challenges of having a chronic condition. I’ve just learned to manage my symptoms and take more self-care days to prevent burning out with the many responsibilities that I have. As a Christian, my faith has also played a huge part in how I get through the tough days—I strongly believe that prayer works, therefore I do it regularly, especially when things get hard.
6. As a female entrepreneur, would you like to share some advice for others who want to become entrepreneurs?
The moment you realize that you aren’t made for the typical 9-5, start exploring different business ideas and figure out what it is that you want to do and how you want to make a significant impact with your products or services. Once you have that idea, put the wheels in motion and get your business registered. Don’t wait on the “perfect time”, just go for it. Put the work in until you start seeing the results you want. It may take a few years for your business to reach the level you want it to be at, and that’s okay. As they say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” What matters is that you just get started—you can do this!
Thanks, Angelique for this interview.
You can read more about Angelique Hill, Certified Family Life Educator, Endometriosis Advocate and a Self-Published Author by visiting her website: www.angelique-hill.com
