Aaliyah Duah, a Virginia State University alumna, has been selected the HBCU Entrepreneur of the Year for her excellent work in promoting entrepreneurship and financial literacy in the black community.
At the age of 20, Aaliyah launched Financial Revolutionn, a social media platform that employs engaging material to educate her peers about the importance of financial literacy and entrepreneurship, and she has already made a significant effect, according to Black News.
Growing up in Brooklyn, New York City, she witnessed firsthand the devastation that poor financial decisions can have on individuals and communities. But she realized, as a result of the pandemic, that she had been valuing worldly things over what was actually important.
At that particular moment, Aaliyah took the decision to lead a financial revolution in the Black community, and she has since devoted her entire life to making this happen.
As a sophomore in college, the young businesswoman wrote her first book, The Blueprint for Investing. It provides users with a step-by-step guide to stock market investing. In just two weeks, she smashed records by selling over 100 copies. She also designed the game “Rap Cards,” which educates young people about money management by using rap lyrics.
Aaliyah also owns “The Billion Dollar Plan,” a financial planning enterprise that helps clients define their financial goals.
In addition to her business ventures, the young leader is passionate about community service; as vice president of the VSU Student Government Association, she pushed for a yearly funded trip to Ghana, West Africa, to give faculty and students an opportunity to learn about their African history. Aaliyah has also coordinated numerous back-to-school drives, free events, and webinars.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are noted for generating great graduates, including many well-known and prominent persons.
No of their age, these graduates never lose up on lifting the bar and breaking down any hurdles that people of color may face in their respective fields or industries.
Some notable HBCU alumni include; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Alice Walker, Vice President Kamala Harris, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Oprah Winfrey, Chadwick Boseman, and many others.
McDonald’s has named Aaliyah Duah one of the 2023 Black & Positively Golden Change Leaders in appreciation of her efforts. Each change leader receives a $20,000 grant to use for their business, as well as a media campaign highlighting their platform.
The young change-maker intends to use these resources to continue creating unique and enjoyable ways for people of color of all ages to learn about money management through music, movies, courses, books, podcasts, and a variety of other mediums.
