Hi, I'm Ryan.
I'm a solopreneur, nonprofit leader, accountant, marketer, — but most of all, I’m a student of life and a Dreamer seeking to make the world a better place for all of us.
I’ve been plagued by obsessions my entire life. I just can’t get enough of learning and building.
What started with a childhood fascination with weather at four years old turned into a lifelong love of journalism and storytelling. A marketing agency I founded as a teenager sparked my solopreneurship. The charity I started at eleven years old and still lead today reminds me to keep innovating for a better world. My background in accounting and marketing keeps me sharp and thinking outside the box. I’m always asking questions and seeking to understand the world around me deeply — join me as I explore the nooks and crannies of business, nonprofits, the creator economy, and life.
A little more about me
- I’m 24 years young and (probably, to some) a ridiculously proud Texan!
- My incredible single mom instilled a tireless curiosity in my sister and me from an early age — we lived at the library growing up and spent hours researching everything from science to the news.
- Inspired by my dad’s entrepreneurial spirit and ambition (He came from Iraq to America with just the clothes on his back and worked his way up from being a car detailer to a proud business owner of 15+ years.) I started my first business in third grade and have been loyal to solopreneurship since.
- Wanting to make a difference in my local community, I started a charity called Charitable Crusaders when I was eleven years old. More than a decade later, we are still going strong — we just rebranded to dream: success, and our mission is now to bring education to children around the world.
- After barely making it into college, I walked away from a full-ride scholarship (worth $250K) to my Dream university to pursue my real passions: charity and business.
From Dreamer to Creator
Growing up, there weren’t many people my age I could look to for inspiration or advice. The mentors I was lucky to find were usually much older than me and had different experiences — they hadn’t grown up in the age of the internet. They didn’t know about many topics I wanted to tap into, like marketing, youth activism, and fundraising.
So, this is for you: the up-and-coming student, small business owner, or nonprofit leader, especially if you’re part of Gen Z or a kid curious about the solopreneur path. As I grow, I’ll share all the secrets I wish I had known when I was first starting out.
2005
Aspiring Texas Meteorologist
At 5 years old, I performed weather forecasts for a YouTube audience of family mainly. This would spark my interest in news/media, and creating.
2011
Started Charitable Crusaders
When I was eleven, I founded a nonprofit focused on getting youth involved in their community. We had multiple programs like Slay Hunger, a feeding program, and Hearts as Big as Texas, a youth-led disaster relief group. It made me realize that you're never too young to Dream up a better world.
2012
Launched a marketing agency in middle school
I taught myself to design and develop websites, and started my first big business. I fell in love with entrepreneurship and the freedom it provided.
2017
Prudential Spirit of Community & President's Volunteer Service Award
I was recognized as Texas's top high school youth volunteer and received the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. I was also invited to Washington, D.C., to receive the President's Volunteer Service Award from former President Barack Obama.
2018
(Barely) graduated high school
Let's just say attendance was not my forte freshman year — I hated sitting in a classroom and wanted flexibility over my time. I opted out and lost credits. After making them up a week before graduation, I was able to walk the stage and the rest was history.
2019
Charitable Crusaders → dream: success
After graduating high school, we rebranded our charity to dream of success and changed our mission to bring education to children around the world.
Scored a full-ride scholarship to Texas Christian University (TCU)
I was selected for the TCU Chancellor's Scholar program, the most prestigious academic scholarship students can earn, valued at over $250,000. After a semester of experiencing various diversity issues on campus, I considered leaving.
Goodbye, TCU.
After weighing the pros and cons of walking away from my full-ride (and hearing many people's unsolicited opinions), I decided it wasn't worth staying. I left to pursue my charity and continue my education elsewhere.
2020
Running social for a household skincare brand
While scrolling on LinkedIn, I stumbled on an ad for an internship. I applied and became a social media intern for Galderma, the pharmaceutical company behind popular brands like Cetaphil and Differin. At twenty, I was still in school studying marketing and owning the social strategy for a global brand. I fell in love with researching trends, analyzing consumer behavior, and managing a marketing budget. It was derm' good experience! 😉
The rest is still unwritten...
While I may not know what my future holds, I do know it must be in service of something greater. I'm obsessed with the power of Dream and the infinite possibilities that exist to be a better human.
Dream bigger, achieve more.
Stop feeling lost. Join a growing community of Dreamers to get the tools and knowledge to make your mark on the world. Subscribe to my twice-weekly newsletter and unlock your full potential.