During my first year at RIT, I worked on a year-long project that started in Business 1 and continued into Business 2, which focused entirely on creating and pitching a product from the ground up. This hands-on experience challenged us to think like entrepreneurs—from identifying a real-world problem to designing, developing, and pitching a viable product to real business professionals.

My team and I developed Audio Armor, a customizable, water-resistant cover for over-the-ear headphones. The idea came from seeing how easily headphones get damaged by rain, sweat, and everyday use. We researched the market, designed the product, determined production methods, and created a full marketing and sales strategy.

I naturally stepped into a leadership role, delegating tasks, managing timelines, and taking on the more difficult pieces of the project. I especially enjoyed building out the marketing strategy and branding. I had a lot of ideas early on and loved diving into competitor research, audience targeting, and figuring out how to position our product in the market.

At the end of the semester, we pitched Audio Armor to a panel of business professionals, and out of 26 teams, we were proud to be named Best Product. It was incredibly rewarding to see our hard work recognized, and the experience confirmed my passion for product development, leadership, and marketing.