Isaiah's Story
One of Isaiah's earliest memories takes place in his family's living room in the budding suburb of Clear Lake City, located roughly 20 miles from Downtown Houston. Known by all as a curious child, Isaiah was known to look through objects that would not commonly fascinate kids at his age level. After looking at a newly published version of Forbes, he remarked to his father after glancing at the cover, "I wish I could be like Steve Jobs." Without a thought, Isaiah's dad said something that would shape him forever; "Why not you?" Those simple three words would be used as motivation to start a fire that would last forever.
I dont think he knew it at the time, but I would go back to that conversation almost every day. If they could do it, why not me?
Entrepreneurial Beginnings
Knowing his son's lust for success in business, Isaiah's father worked to create an atmosphere growing up that would help groom his son's business acumen. After seeing success after appointing him 11-year-old bookkeeper of the family's banquet hall business, Dr. Martin wanted to develop his son's entrepreneurial creativity. After a now 13-year-old Isaiah begged for the newly released iPad mini, Isaiah's father directed him, "if you want it, earn it."
Not knowing how to come up with the money, Isaiah went through and examined how exactly he could generate an income at 13. After noticing sweaty, dehydrated participants at a yoga class taking place at the family's event center, young "Zay" engineered a plan to sell frozen lemonade to the participants, while using his eight-year-old brother to pass out free samples. "Martin's Lemonade" went on to be a huge success generating enough profit not only to buy Isaiah an iPad but his brother one too!
Knowing his son's lust for success in business, Isaiah's father worked to create an atmosphere growing up that would help groom his son's business acumen. After seeing success after appointing him 11-year-old bookkeeper of the family's banquet hall business, Dr. Martin wanted to develop his son's entrepreneurial creativity. After a now 13-year-old Isaiah begged for the newly released iPad mini, Isaiah's father directed him, "if you want it, earn it."
Not knowing how to come up with the money, Isaiah went through and examined how exactly he could generate an income at 13. After noticing sweaty, dehydrated participants at a yoga class taking place at the family's event center, young "Zay" engineered a plan to sell frozen lemonade to the participants, while using his eight-year-old brother to pass out free samples. "Martin's Lemonade" went on to be a huge success generating enough profit not only to buy Isaiah an iPad but his brother one too!
Picking Up Steam
After developing a history of getting things done, Isaiah was selected to become chairman of the Houston Area UNCF Gala, an annual fundraiser that raises money for underprivileged youth African American high school kids to attend college. While serving as the first-ever two-year chairman, Isaiah's team was responsible for raising over $150,000 for the fund, breaking the record for any chairman to date.
After developing a history of getting things done, Isaiah was selected to become chairman of the Houston Area UNCF Gala, an annual fundraiser that raises money for underprivileged youth African American high school kids to attend college. While serving as the first-ever two-year chairman, Isaiah's team was responsible for raising over $150,000 for the fund, breaking the record for any chairman to date.
It was my experience with UNCF in which I learned how to manage a team. Through the organization, I learned the importance of team work to drive a winning culture.
"Mini Mark Cuban"
After leaving UNCF, Isaiah wanted to start his first major corporate venture while seeking to make a difference in his city. After a parent in a coffee shop complained about how her child sports team didn't value academics; Isaiah created Team Future Athletics, a youth basketball organization that strived to prove one idea: athletes can compete at the highest level of athletics while also competing at the highest level in the classroom. Team Future employed local school district administrators as well as former D1 basketball players to engineer a curriculum that would feature career planning, SAT/ACT prep, personalized subject tutors, as well as professional coaching, which would create a culture conducive for success. Isaiah's idea proved to be a reality; not only did the team have a 33-9 while capturing five major platinum division championships, but all players also maintained an A/B report card while seeing grade increases across the board. After receiving national media attention, Isaiah was dubbed "Mini Mark Cuban" by CBS after drawing comparison to Dallas Maverick's owner and Shark Tank star, Mark Cuban. Similar to Cuban and the Mavericks, Isaiah was the youngest owner and CEO of a club sports organization in history.
After leaving UNCF, Isaiah wanted to start his first major corporate venture while seeking to make a difference in his city. After a parent in a coffee shop complained about how her child sports team didn't value academics; Isaiah created Team Future Athletics, a youth basketball organization that strived to prove one idea: athletes can compete at the highest level of athletics while also competing at the highest level in the classroom. Team Future employed local school district administrators as well as former D1 basketball players to engineer a curriculum that would feature career planning, SAT/ACT prep, personalized subject tutors, as well as professional coaching, which would create a culture conducive for success. Isaiah's idea proved to be a reality; not only did the team have a 33-9 while capturing five major platinum division championships, but all players also maintained an A/B report card while seeing grade increases across the board. After receiving national media attention, Isaiah was dubbed "Mini Mark Cuban" by CBS after drawing comparison to Dallas Maverick's owner and Shark Tank star, Mark Cuban. Similar to Cuban and the Mavericks, Isaiah was the youngest owner and CEO of a club sports organization in history.
TF is where I realized, woah this is real. Looking back, I credit the organization for giving me the confidence I needed to grow as a person and further my career in business.
Candidate for Student Body President
On a cold February in 2019, a question popped up between Isaiah's study group as to why UH is not often held in the same conversation nationally (ranked 185 {U.S. News}) as the University of Texas (ranked 48 {U.S. News}) and Texas A&M University (ranked 70 {U.S. News}). After doing more research, he saw that there were three glaring weaknesses: Only 2/3rds of the students who walk through the doors of orientation will ever be able to sing our alma mater on graduation night, women are being sexually assaulted on campus while not given the support their need to report their transgressors, and a vast amount of students don't even feel safe walking to their car at night. All three weaknesses lower the brand for the University and lead to a lower ranking, which in turn leads to a degree with less value as compared top two state schools. After not seeing any of the weaknesses' on any Student Government agenda, Isaiah decided it was his time to run for Student Body President to ensure that the issues affecting the day to day lives of the student body were officially represented.
On a cold February in 2019, a question popped up between Isaiah's study group as to why UH is not often held in the same conversation nationally (ranked 185 {U.S. News}) as the University of Texas (ranked 48 {U.S. News}) and Texas A&M University (ranked 70 {U.S. News}). After doing more research, he saw that there were three glaring weaknesses: Only 2/3rds of the students who walk through the doors of orientation will ever be able to sing our alma mater on graduation night, women are being sexually assaulted on campus while not given the support their need to report their transgressors, and a vast amount of students don't even feel safe walking to their car at night. All three weaknesses lower the brand for the University and lead to a lower ranking, which in turn leads to a degree with less value as compared top two state schools. After not seeing any of the weaknesses' on any Student Government agenda, Isaiah decided it was his time to run for Student Body President to ensure that the issues affecting the day to day lives of the student body were officially represented.
Attending the University of Houston has afforded me opportunities that I never would have imagined. While I do love UH, it is apparent that we have problems that need to be fixed. The current standing of our student government has shown an inability to simply GET THINGS DONE. I believe that my experience as an executive will translate directly to the negotiation table among university leadership allowing us to make real change to the University. We all benefit from the University getting better (appreciating degrees); its up to us to get it done.
|
|