District Five 5th grader wins grand prize in inaugural business pitch contest

Harbison West Elementary fifth grader and founder of Gabby Bows, Gabrielle Goodwin, has exceeded all expectations by creating a popular and successful business. The 11-year-old recently added to her accolades by winning the $10,000 junior grand prize for HERs OWNly TM Jr pitch contest that “awards cash and services to female business owners of color.”

Gabrielle launched and began selling her barrettes at the age of seven through her personal online store (gabbybows.com) in February of 2014. In less than three years, it has excelled to new heights reaching out to eight different countries.

In 2016, her business was SCORE’S Outstanding Diverse Business of the Year. Gabrielle will be presenting her workshop “Big Courage: How I Went from a Shy Kid to Kid CEO” On November 18th at EdVenture Children’s Museum.  She also has recently launched a children’s book entitled Gabby Creates the Perfect Hair Bow, which she donated to the library at Harbison West Elementary School.

Gabrielle said, “My advice to other girls is if you believe you can achieve, try your best, work hard, and persevere and never give up.”

As a student in District Five’s Escolares Academy Academic Magnet, Gabrielle has been featured in numerous media outlets for her business, including the Washington Post and Reader’s Digest.

TOFi™ International in partnership with HERs OWNly™ Pitch Contest’s aim is to influence the future of one woman/girl at a time through fiscal investments, thought leadership and philanthropic endeavors. Each division of the company has been developed to provide services and resources to cultivate the community of women and girls.