Exploring Life & Business with Jessica Brown of College Gurl, LLC & College Gurl Foundation

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Brown.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2013, I started my career in financial aid and worked at Strayer University & my alma mater Howard University during the 2014-2015 academic year. However, in July 2015, I was abruptly terminated from my position and still wanted to help students around the nation understand how to pay for college.

Therefore, in the Fall of 2015, I started my business College Gurl, LLC and published my first book in September 2016, entitled How to Pay for College When You’re Broke. My book allowed me to go across the nation, educating students and families on how to make the best-informed decisions around financing a college education. During that time, I had the opportunity to be on my first tour as a speaker with Rainbow PUSH and General Motors: Money Matters tour. As I was teaching students how to pay for college, I felt that I had to take students on a college tour. Therefore, in 2017, founded my non-profit The College Gurl Foundation which provides a world of opportunity for underserved minority youth in the Washington Metropolitan area to be exposed to college, careers, and life-changing opportunities to ensure they become the next future leaders of tomorrow. As the President of The College Gurl Foundation (CGF), I have provided 175 students locally with a free in-person 4-day college tour and 500 students around the nation through our virtual college tours. Since CGF’s inception, we have awarded over $100,000 in scholarships, have a 100% graduation rate from high school, and 90% enrollment into college! In these past few years, I have been able to be featured on Good Morning America, Tamron Hall Show, MSNBC, FOX Business, BET News, and many more! Moreover, am sponsored by AT&T and Dark & Lovely!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Navigating the seas of entrepreneurship has not been easy. When I started College Gurl in 2015, I was on unemployment and relying on family to support my entrepreneurial endeavors. I had to work jobs that didn’t pay much to invest in myself. Many times, sacrificing my rent money to make it happen. When the foundation was born, it was even more of a struggle as I had to raise money to ensure educational programs for underserved minority youth were free! Unlike other programs, The College Gurl Foundations unique educational programs are free for students who are accepted into our foundation and every graduating senior receives a scholarship as long as they are going to college.

This road has not been easy, yet I have learned it’s not the destiny but the journey. I must say, it has been challenging but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing as it made me stronger, focused, determined, and joyful to see the beautiful futures I have built for youth!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about College Gurl, LLC & College Gurl Foundation?
As the Founder of College Gurl, LLC, I am internationally known as the Financial Aid Fairy Godmother. I use my platform to educate students and families around the nation on college readiness through my book How to Pay for College When You’re Broke and the children’s book College Girl’s First College Tour to empower children to begin thinking about their future endeavors.

As the President of The College Gurl Foundation, I create a world of opportunity for underserved minority youth to become the next future leaders of tomorrow. My college tours and programs are not like others! Annually, we wrap a tour bus and take students on an all-expense paid college tour. We visit colleges, attend HBCU homecoming events, visit cultural landmarks, and network with business professionals/entrepreneurs to create a life-changing experience. Monthly, we mentor students and provide unique educational programs that equip students with the tools they need for their toolbox for success!

What sets me apart from others is I am one of a kind and no one does it like College Gurl! I am 33 years old and have been doing this work since I was 25. As a millennial, students around the world are able to connect with me and understand anything is possible through hard work and dedication.

I am most proud of seeing my mentees achieve their educational and professional endeavors! Also, proud to impact minority female scholars with my partnership with Dark & Lovely. Together, we are awarding minority female scholars around the nation with scholarships through the Build Beautiful Futures initiative. Additionally, my work with AT&T to ensure underserved communities have digital equity. Lastly, I was recently selected as a 2023 White House Fellows Regional Candidate.

College Gurl, LLC does motivational speaking engagements, consults families on paying for college, plans college tours for organizations, as well as hosts workshops in college readiness, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and professional development.

How do you think about luck?
I wouldn’t say luck, yet FAITH! As a dreamer, I had to have faith and trust the process. Also, understand what is for me will never miss me. Yet, have patience and never stop believing. Life is about learning from mistakes and understanding how to create solutions to the world’s biggest challenges.

Contact Info:

• Website: collegegurl.com / collegegurlfoundation.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegegurljb/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collegegurljb
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/collegegurljb
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@collegegurltv6325/videos

Image Credits
Nathan Pearcy @npearcypics Andre Russell @drezdigitalz