5 WAYS TO GROW YOUR COMMUNITY
There's something about the start of a new school year that I love.
Every August, campuses come back to life. Students return with fresh ideas, new goals, and lots of excitement (and maybe a little uncertainty, too). It's a chance to reset, try something new, and decide what kind of impact you want to have in the year ahead.
As I was thinking about how I would kick off this year’s Lindsay’s Letter Series, I kept coming back to one simple idea:
Yes, being a part of Student-Made will create lots of opportunities for you. We host pop-ups, promote and highlight our creators, connect across campuses, teach business concepts, and much more.
But what really makes this program special is… the people in it! There are even a few standout individuals each year who make us say—“they’re a huge reason why that branch did so well.”
Those small moments are what have slowly but surely made Student-Made synonymous with ‘community.’ So, as we kick off another school year, I want to challenge all of us to be that person.
You don't have to sell at every pop-up to make a difference. Simply attending the pop-up shows that you care and want to support your branch. Maybe you meet some new people, or purchase something that makes someone's day.
And the best part is—simply making the choice to show up leads to opportunities you never expected. The best connections, friendships, and collaborations usually happen because you were present and available.
One thing I love about this community is the power that each of us has to truly impact someone else simply by sharing the things we admire and find impressive.
When you lift someone else up, they grow. This growth compounds—bringing them more attention, more customers, and more excitement to those around them.
Success is contagious!
And this goes beyond Creators. Is there a Manager who is going above and beyond, or has helped you in a way that they might not know? Let them know next time you see ‘em!
Some of the biggest opportunities can happen because someone puts in the effort to make an introduction.
Those simple conversations can lead to partnerships, internships, friendships, and even lifelong business relationships.
The people who say “yes” and lean in tend to get invited into more opportunities themselves. Not because they were doing anything revolutionary, but because they consistently showed up for others.
Student-Made has never been about individual success— It's always been about creating an authentic and supportive community where students can gain support to thrive in whatever passion they choose to follow.
As we begin another school year, my hope isn't just that more students join this program or sell more products. My hope is that every branch of Student-Made becomes known for something even more lasting…
Together, let's be those kinds of people this year.
Here's to another incredible year of building businesses, building friendships, and most importantly, building a community that makes all of us better!
