Stats: Full-time MBA student at The University of British Columbia, and owner of her own clothing line, Osei-Duro. ACE 2010 Student Entrepreneur, British Columbia Champion.
The 411 on Osei-Duro.
Osei-Duro is dedicated to creating socially responsible and sustainable clothing that encourages international and intercultural cooperation. It provides employment opportunities and job training to West African women who would otherwise be underemployed. 
What inspired you to start your own business?
I had done Fashion Design at school in Montreal and then took some time off to travel around the world. I started out doing a capsule collection in Ghana and seeing the rich textile industry made me want to learn more. I wanted to participate in something more exploratory, encompassing and interesting, and so my friend (Molly Keogh) became my business partner and we got started.
What was the biggest challenge you faced when getting your business off the ground?
For me, it was giving up artistic control when I started working in a partnership instead of on my own. I had been used to designing clothes by myself and working with another person is always a challenge. Nowadays, our challenge is capacity. We are getting more and more orders and we have had to change the way we operate a bit to keep up with the demand.
You started the business and then went back to do your MBA. Why do it in that order?
Well my degree was in Fashion Design, and after four years of running my own business it was clear that I needed more skills that my prior education just didn't provide. So I went back to school and Molly really stepped up in terms of production and kept the business going.
What surprised you most about starting a business?
I think I didn't really know the risks associated with starting my own business, and I didn't know how hard it would be. During my MBA, I learned a lot about how to strategize and make better financial plans for the company. We had zero expectations going into the process and we didn't think anything would be all that difficult. If I had done my MBA first, I might not have gone through with starting the company, so maybe it's just as well that I went in the order I did.
After winning your title of ACE 2010 Student Entrepreneur, British Columbia Champion, you've had some practice presenting your business plan to critics. What advice would you give current students doing the same thing?
Preparation is key. I can't say this enough; be prepared. Try to predict the questions you might be asked. If you are doing a PowerPoint presentation, have some extra slides at the end that will answer the questions you think might be asked.
What is the culture like for young, female entrepreneurs in Canada?
Fortunately, I have never had any issues being a young woman in business. In Canada, we have a lot of support from people who want us to succeed. In Ghana, it's a bit of a different story and I think businessmen have a hard time taking us seriously because they usually work with other men. Whenever I am in Canada, I am amazed and grateful at how smoothly things run for us.
What advice would you give to another student entrepreneur?
People always say you should work for a company and then start your own, which I agree with on one hand. But I also think that if you have a great idea, it's worthwhile to take a look at the business and see if it will work. Try it on a small scale before you go bigger.
And if you believe in it, don't listen to others if they don't. Stick to your guns.