Spotlight | PVHS Student Entrepreneur

PVSchools met up with Gia Saggar, a senior studying bioscience in the Center for Research in Engineering, Science, and Technology (CREST) program, who is also a young entrepreneur helping others. In our conversation, Gia tells us how she turned her concept of the Omi & Friendz Brand into reality.

Gia, during your CREST STEM Collaborative class, you came up with the idea of Omi & Friendz, a Mindful Buddiez collection; however, your class project team decided to go in a different direction. How did you persevere in turning your idea into a reality? Mindfulness practices are becoming more common; however, many people (especially my age) still struggle to understand its concepts. Instead of taking rejection to heart, I thought about how I could better convey my passion and create a kid-friendly product. I am actually grateful that my team questioned my ideas because it made me work much harder to bring it to reality.

So, how does Omni & Friendz help children? With stress and anxiety on the rise, teenagers like myself can become overwhelmed with school, extracurriculars, and our social demands. I created Omi & Friendz because these cuddly stuffed toys introduce kids to awareness of the breath, emotional recognition skills, and a positive mindset in a way a child can relate to. Kids feel comfort in the practice and have something tangible to help them when they need a calm down moment, and Omi the Elephant is an effective tool to help kids develop mindfulness concepts. 

The idea was even recognized by the National Society of High School Scholars BE MORE Grant when they listed you as a finalist! As a grant winner, you received $10,000. How did that impact your journey? Being selected as a winner of the BE MORE Grant was a great honor as it validated my efforts and desire to make the world a better and more equitable place. Presenting my project to a panel of judges and seeing their positive responses gave me instant motivation. I was more convinced I needed to continue building the Omi & Friendz Brand and bring mindfulness into the lives of young children. I have already put the grant funds to good use and have increased inventory. I have also prioritized giving back to my community. We donated Omi's to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Arizona Foster Care, and social workers at local elementary schools. 

As an entrepreneur, what was your process from the initial concept of Omi & Friendz to developing the product and selling your product to the masses? The process began with a simple prototype. From there, I was grateful to have a family member get me in touch with a toy manufacturer. We created several samples and eventually found the perfect design for Omi the Elephant. From there, I borrowed and raised funds to make my first batch of 500 elephants. I built a website and reached out to several social media influencers as a way to spread my product. Within a few months, I was sold out! This was proof of concept for me, and I used all the funds collected to order a second batch.  

As a young entrepreneur and full-time student, I knew I would need help to grow my product line and the brand's success. I have had tremendous support from my mom and sister, who help with the daily management of our company. I teamed up with Amazon experts who believed in my product and helped me launch Omi on this platform. Amazon has been where we have seen most success and now has over 250 5-star reviews. Ultimately, I could not do this alone, and I am grateful to have the expertise of those who have helped carry Omi & Friendz to where we are today.

What advice would you give to other young entrepreneurs who may not know where to start? That's a great question! If you are unsure where to start, remain true to your passions and, ultimately, what you believe to be your true north. With this, you will be driven to find the answers and solutions to your ideas. Don't be afraid to fail because, in failure, you are learning. If you are learning, you are continually growing.

Gia, as a student studying bioscience in the CREST Program, how have you been prepared for post-secondary education? The CREST Program has provided me with several opportunities to learn and grow in my area of interest. I have obtained several essential skills both inside the lab and outside. The curriculum's internship requirement lets you deeper explore your interests and has helped me solidify my choice to pursue medicine. Through CREST, I have created lifelong connections and skill sets that will continue to benefit me for the rest of my career. 

As a senior at PVHS, and a successful businesswoman, it's an exciting time for you! Have you made any final decisions about your post-secondary plans? I am applying to several schools but hope to pursue a career with a mental health focus. I would love to study medicine and possibly become a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner.  

Gia, as we wrap up our conversation today, the PVSchools motto is the Journey of Excellence. What does this mean to you? Life is a journey. We will travel several paths, each with a unique outcome. My time at Paradise Valley High School has been one of significant growth from an academic and personal perspective. I have been challenged inside the classroom and have learned the value of collaboration amongst my peers. With this, I am ready in life to always put my best foot forward and strive for excellence.

Thanks, Gia. For your time here today and for all you do to support others. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!