26A

• Tell us about a time this past semester that you failed -- whether in this class or outside of this class. Don't spare any details! It'd be even better if there was something you tried several times this semester and failed each time. 
• Just recently, I felt like I failed as a leader. As the president and co-founder of the nation's second black public relations student society, I first launched my organization earlier this semester. I remember holding my first meeting in August and having an amazing turnout of over 40 people. At the second meeting, I had a turnout of only three people. I felt like I failed immediately.
• Tell us what you learned from it.  
• I learned that failure is needed to light an ignition and create a fire. In other words, I needed to see that we as an organization lacked stable and loyal participants. I learned in general that it is important to come up with new tactics and learn our audience. We are mainly targeting students of color who major in the communications field because we share commonalities. I tabled on campus, posted in group chats and directed my board to promote our meetings everywhere they could. We ended up having a great turnout of students.
  
  
• Reflect, in general, on what you think about failure.
  This experience showed me that failure is only a learning opportunity. It drives me personally to analyze what I did wrong, and what to do better next time. I am truly grateful for failure because I am able to sit down and view exactly what next steps I need to take as a student and future professional. I would tell people around me as advice to never give up. Failure is truly about learning. I can't wait to continue spreading this message.

25A

What I Think Is Next:

I think the next service for my venture should be led by TSA. The Transportation Security Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that has authority over the security of the traveling public in the United States, was created in response to the 9/11 attack in New York City. While it was created for the safety of people, there should be a sperate entity of workers who give time in reporting checkpoint times. Checkpoint times are too unpredictable in the day in age. TSA serves as a govermental entity and should use its resources to fund the creation of time clocks throughout airports. These time clocks should state the estimated time of how long checkpoints will take.   

Existing Market Interviews:

1 – Kim, a 22-year-old student at UF is a frequent traveler. She wins traveling opportunities through scholarships and programs like being a Truth Initiative Ambassador. She believes, up next should be the implementation of buzzers that airline checkpoints should give travelers when they enter the airport that indicates the approximate time of TSA checkpoints. She believes customers would want this as a heads up rather than have an app because some people do not have smartphones. Although we do live in a digital world, it's important to cater to offline publics.  

2 – I interviewed Andy a 23-year-old. As my cousin, he travels often because he owns a trending podcast called: That One Interesting Podcast. He understands the environment of digital platforms and apps as a frequent user and believes I should be starting the app now. He stated that it takes months to fully design and plan out what functions I want the app to do before paying designers to do it. He mentioned it is important to do pre-work.

3 – I interviewed Laylani, a 26-year-old working-class woman who works for IBM, a corporate technology company in New York and worldwide. She mentioned We should be pushing the importance of downloads. She thinks my idea is clear but not as specific. It's important to cater to Millenials like her through mass text and email as well, not just social media. She personally does not use Instagram often. She said customers who are millennials will want e-mails instead.

Reflection:

After listening to what these three individuals had to say, I can grow by listening. They each had a different approach to improving my idea and catering to what I have not already thought about. My first interviewee emphasized the importance of having a buzzer for people who do not have the means to download an app. While it is a great idea, I believe in the world we live in, people should have smartphones. My second interviewee mentioned how important it is to do additional work prior to launching the app and hiring employees. Lastly, my third interviewee made it clear how important it is to use different methods of communication. I could not agree with her more. E-mail is truly a popular means of communication.

New Market: 

I think a new market that I have not previously thought of are Baby Boomers. While many baby boomers are not very digitally versed, they maintain a high presence in the world today. This new market thinks much differently from millennials and gen-zers today because they grew up during a different era. I believe it is important to learn from baby boomers and know how I can reach them more.

New Market Interviews:

1 –Kim Hunter who serves as my mentor, is 60 years old and owns his own public relations agency. As an award winner and father, he emphasized the importance of creating a kid's friendly app and an app for people of his age. He believes that is the aspect that is missing, making sure the app caters to all ages.

2 – Joseph Jones is a public relations professor at the University of Florida and is 69 years old. He mentioned how digital the world is today and how his grandkids have had to teach him how to use apps. It took him a while to learn how to work the app store so he suggested having a tutorial within my app once people download it. He said a video would be perfect and it should show one person downloading the app after booking their flight and using the app on their way to the airport.

Reflection:

Both of my interviewees mentioned amazing ideas. I personally have to do research on baby boomers, but when speaking to them, I get to understand their perspectives a bit more. I learned from both interviewees that it is important to have simple instructions. Since they did not grow in a huge digital age, they like more hand-on resources. They way I can make my app hands-on is by adding a kids feature on my app and by adding instructional videos.

24A

• Opportunity:
• On June 26, 2018, Forbes reported that one out of every seven travelers has missed their flights due to long airport security lines. 
• Capital One conducted a survey in June of 2018. The survey shows millennials (ages 20-37) are the age group most affected by backups at security checkpoints.  14 percent of all people surveyed missed their flights and 28 percent of millennials surveyed say they weren't able to board on time and were left behind.
• The forces that allow this to occur are a lack of being notified or dealing with additional distractions that are unpredictable. The window of opportunity is open until these factors are resolved.
• There is a satisfactory resolution to this need. My interviewees mostly stated that they believe notifications throughout the day of their trip and reminders of updates on how security checkpoints are going will benefit them. My interviewees also felt that it is important to have a free system that caters to these needs. Usually, plane tickets themselves are already expensive. My product will help cater to my targeted audience because no one is satisfied just yet.
• Potential customers: millennials who travel often (the majority being men and women aged 20-37) who are concerned about TSA lines
• Innovation:
• For individuals with a limited budget, they would be just in luck. My app will be offered for users at no cost on apple and android app stores. The app would be offered directly after travelers book their flights online. My profit will come from every airline ticket booked.
• For businesses, I will be partnering with airline brands including Ameican Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Air Canada, and more. With my partnership, these airlines would send me 25% of each ticket book and linked to my app download. My app will ask passengers for their confirmation codes to track their departure and arrival dates and times.
• Initial profits will come from sponsors and donors that I know personally including Lakesha Brown, CCO for American Airlines, the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications Dean McFarlin, and more. I would need about 15,000 to kickstart the designing and promotion of my app: FlyFrenzy.
  
  
• Venture Concept: 
• Individuals will buy my product if they are concerned with missing flights because of backed up and unpredictable TSA lines.
  
  
• Businesses will buy my product to demonstrate corporate social responsibility. 
  Airlines need to be able to cater to the concerns of their stakeholders, and those stakeholders include travelers who book tickets. I share the same target audience of all airlines around the country. Our audience, frequent millennial travelers, typically have the concern of missing flights and not receiving a refund all because they were held up in a TSA line. While TSA deals with governmental entities, there is no way to speed up the security process, but my app will leverage companies and show that they want their consumers to save their money and not miss a flight again.
• Besides time clock manufacturers, there are no major competitors.  I've not seen any advertisement for TSA prevention 
• Price points: I will be mainly charging the airlines 25% for each ticket purchased
  & traveler that downloads my app.
• Distribution: I will begin distributing my app through airlines social media pages. For example, my exclusive partnership will allow FlyFrenzy to be placed on the American Airlines' official Instagram and Twitter pages. This will not only bring exposure to my new brand but show that American, as one of many airlines, cares about their passengers catching flights on time. Promotional material will include download information, a website and a hotline number for customers to call.
• Customer Service: Since the company is built upon care for other travelers, employees will be required to work full time and have access to a hotline number. Travelers who see the promotional material for FlyFrenzy will be able to immediately reach a representative and learn about how the app works and how it will benefit them.
• Location: Online on all app stores.
• Packaging:  In this case, the packaging will be digital. It will show that we are sustainable and want to make it easy for travelers to learn how our app can benefit them.
• Employees:  I’m estimating around 40 employees, to begin with.

• Customer service specialists: Answering phone calls
• IT personnel & Marketing employees: to tract trends and kickstart FlyFrenzy on social media. These employees will shape consumer minds.
• Web Designers & App designers
• Distributers – Airlines ambassadors
• Artists to assist with app launch and design
  
  

• Unfair advantage: I not only am a student but I cater to what Millenials are attracted to. I will be able to think like my consumers and understand what they need. I am also a frequent traveler who understands the importance of being on-time for a flight. I have also served as a leader and public speaker so I will be able to serve as a primary spokesperson and plan out which goals I want my team and partnered airlines to accomplish.
• What’s next: I plan on figuring out the logistics of how to design an app and find the right people to be on my team.
• For Me: Within 5 years, I would like to launch this app on all social media platforms. I would also like to pitch this to Shark Tank.

23A

WHAT MAKES ME SPECIAL: MY VENTURE'S UNFAIR ADVANTAGE

10 Resources

1. Leadership Experience: Since middle school, I have served as president of two organizations. I was the president of Palm Beach County's National Achievers Society and now I am the president for the University of Florida's first National Black Public Relations Student Society.
Valuable- This can help me as I am building my own business on campus. I have tested myself and seen that I am capable of leading a team.
Rare- I have both experiences and dealing with high school students and college students.
Inimitable- Building my products gives me an advantage because generation Zers who I am closer too, can understand my perspective through the launch of my product.
Non-substitutable- I can understand how exactly to communicate with this audience.

2. Personal Relationships with frequent travelers: At UF's college of journalism and communications, I am surrounded by frequent travelers including professors who constantly win awards and conduct speaking engagements nationwide, and students who do the same.
Valuable- The people I have relationships with and meet each day can help me as in the pre-stages of figuring out how frequent certain age groups travel and why they travel.
Rare- I can figure out the value through conducting a survey before launching the product.
Inimitable- I can do this right in the heart of my college.
Non-substitutable- Everyone has a different story so all findings will not be the same.

3. Public Speaking Experience: In high school, I was chosen to host my school's communications showcase and multicultural show. I always shined bright when it came to public speaking.
Valuable- I will be able to use this when it comes to pitching my product.
Rare- I consider myself an introvert but when it comes to giving a formal speech I am very extroverted.
Inimitable- I will be able to craft a message like no other about why my FlyFrenzy app is the best resource to use when traveling.
Non-substitutable- I can use public speaking as a means of communication when it comes to speaking with my future team.

4. Creativity Skills: Currently as a side hustle, I use Instagram as a platform to showcase my graphic designing and I recently started a youtube channel called The Thrive Guide! (GO SUBSCRIBE)
Valuable- I know how to record and edit videos and I also know how to design graphics.
Rare- Many business owners have to hire people to use digital platforms.
Inimitable- I am a business owner with many traits. Being creative sets me apart from any possible competitor.
Non-substitutable- My skill differs from any general graphic designer or video editor.

5. Social Contact: Airlines Executive: Just this past week,  I met the American Airlines Communications Officer Ms. Lakesha Brown.
Valuable- Lakesha now serves as a mentor for me.
Rare- People usually do not know or meet executives in the airline industry, an industry that is truly male-dominated.
Inimitable- She has been able to explain to me what it's like dealing with customers worldwide and the importance of understanding cultures worldwide.
Non-substitutable- This drives me to learn about cultures if my product launches globally.

6. Fundraising Experience: As an organization's president, I have fundraised for products like shirts and stickers.
Valuable- Fundraising is needed at the beginning of launching my product. It will not be cheap to launch my app.
Rare- I understand the long process it takes to fundraise or find donors.
Inimitable- This skill can not be learned quickly. It took me years.
Non-substitutable- This can be substituted by a treasurer.

7. Publicity: I have contacts with media personnel.
Valuable- As a major in communications, I love having access to people who thrive in media.
Rare- Many people do not work in the media.
Inimitable- People can have contacts with news channels or media executives.
Non-substitutable- This could be substituted by online sources and compiling a list of media contacts. It takes time to build media relationships.

8. Lack of Competitors: There is currently not a product similar to mine.
Valuable- Many airports do not have time clocks or ways to know about TSA times.
Rare- Usually people do not think about TSA times holding them back from missing flights.
Inimitable- While my product is unique now, there can be future competitors.
Non-substitutable- For now there are no competitors and the app can be put together by AI.

9. Personal Relationships with fellow entrepreneurs: I have several ways I can contact entrepreneurs. I currently live with a hairstylist and I have a friend who runs an online podcast where he interviews people who deal with daily issues.
Valuable- I can ask the entrepreneurs I know to use their resources to promote my service.
Rare- Many entrepreneurs are willing to work with additional entrepreneurs. I am looking to help people I know and vice versa.
Inimitable- This can work if people know others who own businesses.
Non-substitutable- This can be substituted with anyone who owns an app already.

10. Social Capital: Student Travelers: I currently live with roommates who own their own businesses and tend to travel often across the world for fun.
Valuable- I can use the people I know as spokespeople who can advocate for my product.
Rare- The people I know are very private when it comes to traveling but they are willing to speak to me.
Inimitable- I can get to learn about the perspectives of others.
Non-substitutable- I can try coming up with additional ideas of how student travelors can help me get my product out to more customers.

After completing this assignment, I realized that my top resource is leadership experience. With years of experience as a leader, I know the value of being understanding, planning and setting goals. I can use these same practices when it comes to leading a team and building my app with a team. Since I am not skilled in building an entire app, this will help me when it comes to communicating what exactly I want throughout my FlyFrenzy app.

22A: Pitch 3

https://youtu.be/zZgu_QAvLkI

Its a beautiful weekday. You booked your flight, packed your bags, and now facing an emergency. It's the day of your trip... You could have payed for flight insurance but you didn't. Why? Because it was too expensive. Today I have the ultimate solution to never missing your flight again. My name is Gernise Gregoire and I am the CEO of FlyFrenzy, the free app. In the market today, we have the most effective form of missed-flight prevention right through your cell phone. Just last year, Forbes reported that one out of every seven travelers has missed their flights due to long airport security lines.  Let Flight Frenzy help you fly easy & never miss a flight again BUSINESS PEOPLE. So how does it work? Our FlyFrenzy App will alert you. Just download it after you book your flight. What's in it for you? You'll know how long security checkpoints will take four hours before your trip, on your way to your trip, and once you enter your designated airport. Our inclusivity agreement with your favorite airlines will give you 25% off just for downloading! That 25% profit comes back to us. So the next time you book your flight, know your security checkpoint time too and never miss a flight again!  Book the flight and download it now for this exclusive offer! Thank you. 

Reflection of feedback:

Based on the feedback, I realized that my viewers loved my second pitch. They said it was better from my first and I showed that I was very comfortable and confident in my words. The only real feedback mentioned that it's important for me to sound excited about my product. I must show my passion through my words and hand gestures. The feedback also made me realize that this pitch needs to be more memorized and enunciated to make sure my point comes out as clear as possible.  

What I changed, based of feedback:
I changed the wording for this video to add a more compelling tone. I also tried to memorize most of the pitch while recording and use more hand gestures while recording.

21A

For this assignment, I chose to read "The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users" by Guy Kawasaki. The general theme of this book encompassed the realities of how social media is at the top of what determines success and failure with a business. A business's public image through just its brand or owner is not enough. In addition, I learned that social media plays a huge role in society today if people know how to use it effectively. For example, the book talks about the importance of building a foundation for social media. Its important that even a profile picture is appropriate, asymmetric, and focuses on the face if it is a personal account. 

The book connected with what I'm learning in ENT 3003 tremendously. In our class, we have learned the importance of "investing in a self-hosted blog" which is a topic also covered in the book. By updating this blog on this site itself, we are practicing how important it is to have a media presence for our future companies/organizations. I also love the fact that in this class, we give each other feedback and learn from each other's profiles and ideas. The same thing goes for social media, comments and direct messages can serve as feedback.

If I had to design an activity for this class, it would be for students to create a Instagram account for their business. Of course, it wouldn't be a real account and would maybe have to be private so others don't steal ideas, but it would help students get a feel for what it feels like to control messaging from two angles: their personal accounts and their business accounts. Posts on both accounts cannot be the same. I would make this assignment one month long for people to rack up a certain number of followers, learn how to engage with their audience and keep up with analytics by using programs like Buffer which is mentioned in the book. 

My biggest 'aha' moment was how users must be bold and consistent. This meant that audiences need to be able to see the authenticity of an account or company, and audiences must be able to relate. That is why it is important to keep up with trends to have a personal touch on social media platforms. This was a great book!

20A

Person 1

1)My first contact is a computer engineering major at the University of Florida. His interests are in coding and app creations. He has helped create his church's app "Christ Fellowship."

2) He is a domain expert.

3) I found this person through one-on-one engagement. As my neighbor for three years, I was able to contact him easily.

4) He did me the favor of downloading a program I need to actually create and app on my computer. He expects nothing in return. 

5) This person will benefit me because he is willing to teach me. He is not just a neighbor but someone who advises me and has already gone through the learning process. He is an expert at creating applications and someday I hope to get to his level. 

Person 2

1) Cassandra is a desk clerk for Frontier Airlines. She checks people into flights, collects tickets and boards flights often.

2) I consider her to be a market expert since she works in the field I am marketing. 

3) I found Cassandra when I was boarding my flight to a public relations international conference in San Diego, CA last week. We spoke about the exclusive flight deals Frontier has. For example, if I am a consistent guest, I can get deals to go to Las Vegas for $1. I got her number to stay in contact with her.

4) Cassandra was able to tell me about how many guests who arrive to their flights late, are late because of long security checkpoint waits. She told me it would be innovative to have a system where they can track the time it would take. She has asked for nothing in return. She serves as a primary source for me because she works in the flight market. 

5) Including her in my network will benefit me. She can serve as a witness who has seen the issue of missed flights because of long checkpoint times. She has witnessed people cry because they missed a flight or get very mad.

Person 3

1) Tania is a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida, works a corporate job and serves the world as a private travel agent. 

2) I consider Tania to be a supplier. With the ability to schedule trips and book flights, she sells her organizational skills and global awareness. 

3) I found Tania on Instagram. She planned a trip for my cousin during this year's spring break and I reached out to her through direct messages.  

4) As a travel agent, Tania has offered me the option of getting a 30% discount for her services to plan my trip if I am willing to promote her small business on my own social media accounts. She wants me to serve as her ambassador.

5) With Tania, I'll be able to use her ability to plan trips at an affordable cost. She will be able to refer her customers to using my app since I would serve as her ambassador.

Reflect: This experience allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and truly network. I believe the more networking I do, the easier it will become second nature. At times I am afraid to speak to people but I should not be when we can benefit each other. This experience has not differed from my networking habits in the past because I am in the field of communications. In a way, I am expected to network with people, be extroverted and form conversations. My major is public relations so I must build relationships with people.