Danielle Brown considers herself a lifelong learner. Even though she already has experience starting multiple e-commerce businesses, this freshman is excited to watch more visions come to life as she fosters new skills and collaborative connections at IYA. 

“I am most excited to utilize the makerspace and collaborate with the rest of Cohort 10. Being surrounded by so many resources to innovate, such as the podcast or mixed reality studio, offer the limitless potential to accomplish all of my ‘out there’ project ideas,” Brown shares. 

A music lover who aims to do research on sound waves to innovate in the health industry, Brown values creativity and the power of challenge-based learning. Did we mention she was in a JoJo Siwa music video? Get to know her below.

Tell us a little bit about your journey to IYA. What were you looking for in an undergraduate program?					

I consider myself a “Renaissance” woman. From building legos, crafting, dancing, and launching various businesses, I have valued the expression of creativity from a young age. Growing up, my collection of different interests didn’t necessarily match or have a clear path. Passionate about pursuing higher education, I wanted a major that would allow me to explore a diverse range of subjects and prepare me for a career in today’s world of emerging technology. I didn’t want to be limited in my studies when looking for an undergraduate program, and thus landed upon USC Iovine and Young Academy! I was excited to discover the Academy’s challenge-based curriculum would not only allow me to continue entrepreneurship but encourage disruptive inventiveness.

What are you most looking forward to at IYA?

I am most excited to utilize the maker space and collaborate with the rest of Cohort 10. Being surrounded by so many resources to innovate, such as the creator, podcast, or mixed reality studio, offer the limitless potential to accomplish all of my “out there” project ideas. Additionally, it is super inspiring to be in the presence of like-minded individuals who also want to share their passion for creating in new ways.

What are three goals you want to accomplish during your time at IYA and/or USC?

I plan to make influential connections, produce my own unique product, and start my own company. While I have started multiple e-commerce businesses in the past, I want to produce something on a larger scale with a bigger impact on humanity. I’m hoping my time at the Academy will provide me with the tools, skills, and experience needed to achieve this.					

Let’s say you were miraculously provided $1,000,000 in seed funding tomorrow. What would you create?

Given I had almost 100,000 hours of listening time on Spotify last year, I would use the funding to expand on my app idea to enhance people’s music experience. To provide my project with good backing, I would first use the $1,000,000 in seed funding to do extensive research on the benefits and dangers of sound waves. Finding the best way to present audio to users, I would then collaborate with popular streaming platforms to provide new services to listeners that positively affect their health. Through music, I would revolutionize the health industry with scientific knowledge of the unconscious mind.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

 I am proud of my ability to persevere in everything I do. Upon facing many “no’s”, rejections, or lack of immediate success, I have remained driven in my pursuits. Specifically, I am most proud of my 15-year-old self for being ambitious enough to start her first e-commerce business. I learned everything I could about sublimation products and jumped headfirst into launching a website and social media platforms. I marketed my “trendy and affordable” phone cases and generated an audience of 2 million viewers with a viral TikTok. I then went on to build an online community of 20,000 followers and amassed over 1,000 orders. It was amazing to see the global growth of my business in the span of a couple of months, but even more astonishing to observe its impact within my local community. Like a domino effect, kids and teens around me gained the courage to start their own businesses. My high school and the city it is located in began to host an annual Kids Entrepreneurs' Fair to support our endeavors. I felt like my efforts really made a difference to the people around me. Walking through the halls at school, I would see peers happily using my products and sharing my brand with their friends. Although I have since sold this business and moved on to other start-ups, I will always admire the work of small businesses.

Describe one thing most people don’t know about you.

I was in a JoJo Siwa music video when I was 13 as a backup dancer! It was a super cool experience being on set and grew my appreciation for performance and media content creation. 

What is one thing a significant person in your life taught you that you’d like to share? 

My mom has taught me the importance of putting myself out there and being confident. As a shy child, I had to work extra hard to get outside my comfort zone. Dance was exceptionally instrumental in building confidence. As a dancer of over 10 years, it remains an important aspect of my life and grounds me as a disciplined individual.

What is one skill/thing that you learned during the COVID-19 pandemic?

During the pandemic, I really focused on my health and self-improvement. I began to practice meditation and yoga, which I still enjoy today! I also started my first business during this time and learned valuable web development/marketing skills.

If you could be any kitchen appliance, what would you be and why?

I would be an air fryer because they are incredibly versatile. From salmon dinners to donut desserts, an air fryer is a reliable appliance for almost any task. 

What do you like to do/watch/read during your downtime?

I love to read fiction books! My favorite series is the Percy Jackson books, which I just finished the last of five novels. I also watch a lot of Netflix reality shows for fun.

I love to create vision boards to motivate me when goal setting. I use Pinterest and other online tools to clearly visualize who I want to be and what I want to achieve. Picturing my future always inspires me to keep going.

What would the title of your autobiography be?

Although my story is far from over, I would title my autobiography: The Lifelong Learner. 

A music lover who aims to do research on sound waves to innovate in the health industry, Brown values creativity and the power of challenge-based learning. Did we mention she was in a JoJo Siwa music video?

Fresh Encounters: Danielle Brown