Markey Culver
Founder / President / Treasurer
The Women's Bakery
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
I was diagnosed with my auditory processing disorder when I was in second grade.
After that, I moved from school to school, trying to find one with resources that could help me.
When I graduated from college, I had no clue what to do. I thought maybe I'd become a lawyer.
I had four different jobs after college, varying from lobbying for big oil, to being a wine barista.
I'd wanted to join the Peace Corps since I was in high school, and in 2010, I finally joined.
I was assigned to the one country I'd been wary of: Rwanda. It pushed me way out of my comfort zone.
I taught nutrition lessons to my rural village; no one had been trained to eat raw, healthy foods.
I started The Women's Bakery to bring nutrition, education, and empowerment to the women of Rwanda.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Westover School
Westover School
Career
Founder / President / Treasurer
I build bakeries that foster financial independence and social empowerment for women globally.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Entrepreneurship
Teaching / Mentoring
Day to Day
In the United States, we'd get up at 5 a.m. to hop on a phone or Skype call to check in with our headquarters in Rwanda. Then I go to my classes for most of the day. Then I'll come home and work on marketing collateral for the bakery. I'm conceptualizing how can we best get our message out there, then sharing that content with all different kinds of people. In Rwanda, we'd also get up at 5 a.m.! For 3-4 days a week, we'd train women in Kigali in the classroom, or kitchen. It's very hands-on.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for middle school students
I didn't figure out what I wanted to do until after I'd graduated from college, so I'd say that the earlier you gain access and exposure to new ideas, in business or elsewhere, the better. Getting the juices flowing by learning how to solve problems in new, creative ways, and participating in some form of civic engagement when you're in middle and high school is key to pursuing a fulfilling career down the road.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"You're dumb, slow, and unable. You won't make it through high school."
Challenges I Overcame
Learning Issues
