I am a small business owner, entrepreneur, and sustainability advocate based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Together with my parents, I manage our North African/Mediterranean market, café and catering service called "El Harissa." I have been heavily involved in every step of this business's life, from the conception of the idea, then through to the drafting of business plans, scouting of locations, construction of the space itself. I was tasked with building and training a team of talented, hard-working employees, managing our marketing and online/social media presence, building an organized system upon which we can expand our business endeavors, and traversing the day-to-day obstacles that all small businesses must face. We have now been in operation for over 10 years. My efforts have been instrumental in seeing our business continually and reliably grow year over year, and emerge from the global pandemic stronger than ever. We have become one of the most treasured food destinations in our area, and are a fixture in our community. In recent years, I have used my business as an incubator for sustainability initiatives, working to advance a more environmentally friendly model for local food systems.The experiences I have accrued while working with my family are unique and invaluable: I have learned how to manage people, how to sell an unique product, and how to market a small business; I am highly skilled in customer service, human resources, and business development; I have learned how to balance many responsibilities, and how to manage my time. Most importantly, I now understand the incredible amount of of work, dedication, and patience necessary to take an idea or dream and make it a reality. I can honestly say that there is a thriving business that is succeeding in large part due to the efforts and sacrifices that I have poured into it, and I consider that to be one of my greatest accomplishments to date.