Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lianna Kushi.
Lianna, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in a big family, the oldest of six kids. This experience gave me a sense of responsibility, a passion to support others and developed my interest to find work that would make a difference. After a few years working at an academic research center, I decided to pursue my M.A. in Regional Economic and Social Development at UMass Lowell. Immediately upon moving to Lowell I discovered it was a really special city. Lowell is the kind of place where you’re encouraged to get involved. As I finished my Master’s in 2011, I joined the founding team of Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll).
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have always been driven by a desire to create a better life for myself and was the first in my family to attend college. It was a challenge putting myself through school, managing multiple jobs and my school work, but I remained motivated because I saw higher education as a path to increase my opportunities. Attending college and pursuing my Master’s were game changers. In college and graduate school, I worked with incredible advisors and mentors that connected me to projects and work that led me to my career today.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
At EforAll, we believe that the best way to continue to revitalize mid- sized U.S. cities is to fuel the dreams and ambitions of entrepreneurs. Together with my colleagues, we developed a business Accelerator to support aspiring entrepreneurs. Our vision is to build on the strength of cities like Lowell and Lawrence and grow the local economies with inclusive entrepreneurship. This means bringing together the community and resources to support aspiring businesses owners to get started.
What sets us apart is our focus on inclusivity. We work with entrepreneurs from all walks of life and all different types of business ideas. 70% of our businesses are founded by women, half by entrepreneurs of color and over half by immigrants. Our entrepreneurs are an incredible reflection of these cities. In just a few years, they’ve created hundreds of local jobs. Everyday, I wake up inspired by the entrepreneurs we work with. Their passion to pursue their dreams, build businesses and make a difference is contagious.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
The biggest change in my life is the birth of my daughter. She is six months old and when I’m not working with entrepreneurs, she occupies a majority of my time and attention. For the future, my goal is to continue to grow our organization’s impact and reach more aspiring entrepreneurs. As my daughter grows up, I want her to see herself in the business owners, CEOs and leaders building our future.
Contact Info:
- Address: Wannalancit Mills, 175 Cabot Street, Suite 100, Lowell, MA 01854
- Website: https://eforall.org/
- Phone: 978-934-6518
- Email: lola@eforall.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/lolaeforall
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lolaeforall
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoLaEforAll
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