Naomi Porter Economics Honoree

Naomi is equipping Gen Z with an entrepreneurial mindset

If you can dream it, you can do it

16-year-old Naomi Porter became the CEO of her own company when she was only 11 years old. “As a young entrepreneur, I noticed there was a need for an eco-friendly, portable spice kit,” she recalls. “So, I created a product that could fill this need.”

“But in reality- we are far more similar to one another than we are different. We all strive to make our world a better place."

Naomi’s story is a reminder for Gen Z’ers that dreams are achievable no matter how old you might be and that young people have the power to build a better future. Like many women, her age she started in the business world by selling Girl Scout cookies, and her entrepreneurial spirit took off from there. “In our world, we are sometimes taught to doubt ourselves and compare ourselves to others,” she said. “But in reality- we are far more similar to one another than we are different. We all strive to make our world a better place. It starts with uplifting each other. It starts with showing up. Thus, it starts with becoming an entrepreneur.”

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An entrepreneurial mindset

Today, Naomi is a serial entrepreneur, public speaker, and activist. She is the CEO and founder of two businesses, Bright Futures and Spice It Up.  In 2019, she founded EntrepreYOUership, an organization that’s served over 600 young people through workshops that equip young people with an entrepreneurial mindset. She is also a 2020 Gold Award Girl Scout and National Intern for Girl Scouts USA. “I use my voice to promote entrepreneurship and connect youth to mentors and economic resources needed to launch their passions,” she said.

“I use my voice to promote entrepreneurship and connect youth to mentors and economic resources needed to launch their passions.”

As an exceptional Gen Z’er using her voice for good, Naomi was honored for her work in Economics through The ConversationaLIST. “I am passionate about entrepreneurship and equipping my generation with the skills they need to create their jobs and movements,” she said. “The core of my work is that the future is not what it used to be. We are constantly re-evaluating our priorities and seeking to be on the right side of change. It starts with becoming an entrepreneur and developing an entrepreneurial mindset.”

For Gen Z’ers still looking to find their voices, Naomi encourages them to ask themselves three questions and take action from there: “What is the best course of action now? How do I use my gifts and talents now? What can I do to make the world a better place now?”

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Find your passion and show up 

Naomi believes The Conversationalist is the place to be for all change makers. “I have met some of the most driven, educated, and talented people through TC,” she said. “TC makes me proud to be a part of Gen Z. TC makes me hopeful for the future.”

For Naomi, a unified world is a world where everyone feels like they have a voice. She hopes Gen Z can continue to look for ways to connect with others and get involved. “Finding our passions and showing up is the best way to figure out how we want to use our talent,” she said. “When we fully understand our capabilities and passions, we can become more unified.”

“Sometimes listening and reading is the best form of education and activism."

Naomi joined The Conversationalist to expand her network and mindset. “Even if you’re not actively participating in Geneva or posting every day, you can still be listening,” she said. “Sometimes listening and reading is the best form of education and activism. Read. Listen. Learn. Educate yourself so we can all, in turn, expand our echo chambers.”

Naomi believes one of the hardest things to do when approaching hard conversations is to have an open mindset. “We feel the need to argue our points across to make the other aware of our beliefs,” she said. “In my experience, the easiest thing to do is to be an active listener. Don’t just nod your head and wait for a pause in the conversation to jump right in.”

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We couldn’t be more grateful to Naomi Porter for all she does to uplift Gen Z. Keep up with her on Instagram and follow Spice it Up and EntrepreYOUership to learn more about her work.

Come hang out with Naomi and all of our LIST honorees! Join us in Geneva and follow The Conversationalist on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to stay up to date with all of our future events.