NOCCA | Mandeville High Student Part of New Wave of Young Entrepreneurs

Hope Winchell looks just like most students as she walks into NOCCA. Exiting the bus she rides each day to NOCCA from the northshore, moving fast so she is not late for her art instruction. What most of her classmates do not realize is that Hope is a budding entrepreneur, already receiving real world business experience in the exciting world of lifestyle design.

As a hobby, Hope & her sister Emily started the company White Elephant Designs, www.thewhiteelephantdesigns.com three years ago. Since its inception, Hope has shared the responsibility of web designer, buyer and key creative in the unique business.

Hope and Emily explain their company as “….two sisters who love to share our ideas with others. Being in a family of 7 kids, everything always has to be personalized – that is the only way to keep track of your belongings. We carry that same idea with us today, but wanted to make more fun and exquisite items for our customers!”

Over the summer, Hope attended the national conference Create & Cultivate which celebrated female entrepreneurs in the digital space. At the conference, Hope was able to network, blog and share design ideas with others.

“I face time with my sister three to four times a week,” Hope said. “Our business is something I help manage in addition to my Theatre Design focus here at NOCCA and studies at Mandeville High School. In college, I plan to major in business and design, to bring together all my passions.”

Look for Hope in the next couple weeks in Los Angeles, a business trip is already on the books. Just the jet setting lifestyle of one of those NOCCA students who quietly manage to do it all.