Katie Sulzner is only a sophomore, but she already has some big accomplishments under her belt, including her own small business.

Small business owner

Sulzner, a marketing major at Missouri State University, and her friend, Jesse Romano, began their own business to cover the cost of a trip. They began selling earrings, hair scarves and hand-painted jean jackets.

They named their small business, “She Is Wonderfully Made,” based off of a bible verse reflecting a woman’s identity in faith.

“When we started the company, we said that if we could make $50 in profit, we would be ecstatic,” said Sulzner. “To our surprise, we generated $3,700 in profits within two months.”

Now that they’ve taken the trip, the two girls relaunched the company focusing on the sale of customized denim.

“It’s been such a great learning experience to directly apply what I hear in class,” said Sulzner.

Growing in leadership

Sulzner recently attended Forte’s College to Business Leadership Conference hosted by Citi in New York City. She was one of 100 college women from across the country selected to participate.

The conference focused on leadership, networking and what it takes to launch a marketplace business.

Sulzner received mentorship from women in the business field, underwent a marketplace business simulation and heard how to take leadership to the next level.

The conference concluded with a career and college expo. There, she got to speak with corporations such as Bloomberg and J.P. Morgan.

“This was such a great experience to further expand my leadership qualities while expanding my network,” said Sulzner.

Strong faculty support

Sulzner’s professors in MSU’s College of Business have supported her to further her education and career.

Dr. Michael Albritton, management instructor, taught Sulzner how to chase after opportunities and make a positive impact on others.

Carly Pierson, marketing instructor, has impacted Sulzner the most. Pierson helped her to find the right major, connect with other faculty members and even grow her small business.

“She is always excited for the opportunities I’m exploring and genuinely cares to invest in me,” said Sulzner. “Having a professor that backs me in all aspects of my academic and career endeavors means the world to me. It has definitely molded my Missouri State experience for the better.”