Kadia Soulemane: the Art of Entrepreneurship

Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration / Vail Valley at Edwards Campus

Kadia Soulemane is originally from Senegal, West Africa and moved to the Vail Valley when she was 15. She didn’t know English when she arrived, but eventually mastered the language and graduated from Battle Mountain High School in Edwards before deciding to attend CMC to study business and marketing.

The choice was pretty easy. “It was here…and CMC was affordable,” Kadia said. She’s already putting what she’s learned in her business classes to work in her own online fashion brand, Nganoh, which celebrates community, joy and her African heritage.

Kadia is a first-generation college student and has found support from the TRIO program, which helps first-generation, low-income students reach their full potential and achieve academic success.

“Everyone at TRIO and CMC are involved in helping students and connecting us to the right resources. And, they are constantly checking on us to make sure we are doing well both academically and mentally.”

Her short-term goal is finishing her Bachelor’s degree. As for the long-term, Kadia says she wants to keep working on herself. “I want to be a better person every day,” Kadia said, adding that her goal is a balanced lifestyle. “I figure what is working. What isn’t working. Follow my goals and dreams. I just keep working on it every single day. Whatever I do in life I always want to include making a difference and creating positive change in my community and in the world.”