As we honor Black Girls’s Historical past Month, BOSSIP is celebrating Skánia Florestal as a licensed Magic Maker within the tech area, somebody who’s not solely strolling in function but in addition leaving a robust legacy within the course of.
The dynamo Boston native is the pressure behind HBCU MADE, a tech-forward platform she created to bridge the hole between HBCU alumni and college students.
Skánia’s street to success wasn’t linear. Throughout her senior 12 months of highschool, she was confronted with the sudden lack of a cherished one and the tragedy that briefly positioned her school desires on maintain. However with resilience and the help of the Boston City New Basis and its CEO, Chris Troy, Skánia pressed ahead. Her willpower paid off. She was accepted to a number of faculties, however it was Virginia State College (VSU) that stepped up with substantial monetary assist and a group she didn’t know she wanted.
“I didn’t select Virginia State. Virginia State selected me,” Skánia informed BOSSIP.
Though she initially deliberate to switch after one semester, VSU’s vibrant campus tradition and sense of group impressed her to remain. Her first semester ended with a 4.0 GPA, her first ever. Skánia had discovered her footing and rapidly leaned into her function, becoming a member of scholar organizations like The Betterment of Brothers & Sisters Included and forming significant bonds that deepened her pleasure in being a part of the HBCU legacy.
That keenness for group and Black excellence adopted her past commencement and sparked the thought for HBCU MADE.
A digital area designed to attach, empower, and have fun HBCU alumni and college students, HBCU MADE was born out of Skánia’s private experiences navigating post-grad life. Like many HBCU grads, she struggled to keep up these sturdy college bonds as soon as she entered the skilled world.
“The aim of HBCUMade is to roll out that pink carpet for one another, but when we don’t know one another, then how can we do this and be that help system?” requested the lady in tech. “I simply took all of these ache factors from my very own expertise from speaking to alumni and college students and I simply put it on this platform the place we will actually simply share our personal tales moderately than having to undergo the schools or wait till homecoming. Once I created this I requested, how do we actually break down these boundaries and simply actually bridge these gaps.”
Moderately than ready till homecoming or counting on scattered alumni occasions, HBCU MADE presents an intentional platform to share tales, community, and construct lasting relationships year-round.
“It’s not only a cute identify,” she added. “I’m HBCU MADE. We’re HBCU MADE.”
Greater than a model, HBCU MADE is a mirrored image of id, pleasure, and the ability of shared experiences. And with Skánia Florestal on the helm, it’s solely simply starting.
As we proceed to uplift Black girls who’re blazing new trails and reshaping narratives, BOSSIP proudly salutes Skánia for her innovation, affect, and simple #BlackGirlMagic.
To study extra about HBCU MADE or to hitch the group, go to hbcu-made.com.
