Abi Smithson founded Love Sandal, a philanthropic footwear company, at the age of 10. This Toronto native funded her company through Indigogo, and recently celebrated Small Business Month over October. Abi seems to be primarily motivated by curiosity, as she explained h
er experience with learning HTML coding as “fun” and an opportunity to “learn a new language”. Abi’s personality, at such a young age, embodies many of the traits listed by Ron Conway to be possessed by a natural born entrepreneur. She had the curiosity, intelligence, and ambition to act upon to create a product that she felt that the shoe market needed. This is particular case contributes to the debate of whether entrepreneurs develop and grow to become who they are, or are simply genetically born with certain traits common among entrepreneurs.
Because Abi is merely 1
0 years old, it is easy to say that she was simply born to be an entrepreneur. However, I believe that the most successful innovators are those who grow to posses these certain personality characteristics. It is not enough to have an idea if one is not prepared for the adversity of presenting their idea to the wrath of the business world.