Inspired by summers in Haiti with her father, 30-year-old entrepreneur works to improve students’ lives via education
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Black business month
The Miami Herald interviewed Black business owners and entrepreneurs in South Florida about their journeys and inspirations.
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Chrissybil Boulin views education as the gateway to a higher quality of life.
Spending time with family in Haiti as a child and later serving as a change education ambassador for Intel Corp. in India gave Boulin insight into how education can improve the lives of people around the world.
In late 2018, a year after graduating from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, she launched Jumpstart Tutoring Center in South Florida. The 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 selection has traveled to countries like Haiti and India to better understand how education can improve the lives of young people. (Each year, Forbes recognizes 600 entrepreneurs from around the world, with 30 individuals selected from 20 different industries.)
Her latest startup business venture, Vero Learning, is a digital platform that involves using artificial intelligence via an app for students to improve their learning capabilities.
Boulin, 30, a Fort Lauderdale resident, took time to speak with the Miami Herald about her inspiration in becoming an entrepreneur and her journey as a Black woman in the business world. The interview was edited and condensed for clarity and brevity.
▪ Question: How did going back and forth between Haiti and the United States in your childhood shape your worldview?
▪ Answer: My dad is a doctor in Haiti and has lived there his whole life. Growing up, I had this unique experience of visiting Haiti every summer and living in New York City with my single mother who worked a lot.
I distinctly remember being 6 years old and saw little kids in Haiti crying chasing after his car. I asked my dad why they were chasing it and he explained to me that kids in Haiti couldn’t afford to have a childhood and had to work. At that moment, my vision of the world shattered. I didn’t know it was a poor country. I just saw people spending time with one another. I didn’t realize my friends in Haiti didn’t have the same opportunities that I did in the U.S. I said to myself that one day I would create something that would make a change.
I worked hard in school because I wanted to make a difference. There’s this strong connection between education, economic development and self-empowerment.
▪ Q: What led you to launch a student tutoring business?
▪ A: At age 18, I was the president of three clubs and had a 4.0 grade point average. My dream was to go to Duke University. One day, I chased the mail carrier down and I found out that I had gotten put on Duke’s wait list for admission because of my SAT test scores. My mom couldn’t have spent thousands of dollars on test prep. I thought it was unfair and I created an SAT curriculum. Fast-forward to Jumpstart Tutoring. This Jumpstart class will help you save money and build critical-thinking skills. If you’re going to college, why not have them pay for you.
▪ Q: How would you describe your day-to-day experience as an entrepreneur?
▪ A: It’s challenging. You always have to be a little crazy to start a business. Many days you end up working 12 to 14 hours for yourself, but it’s definitely been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I’m doing something that’s meaningful. Jumpstart Tutoring is a dream, to touch lives and make the community better.
My new education technology company Vero Learning will bridge the gap in South Florida between tutoring and artificial intelligence. Through an app, we’re using that intelligence and machine learning to pinpoint students’ weaknesses and provide them with adaptive learning experiences to help students achieve their dream SAT scores.
We’re raising $1.3 million in funding via friends and family to continue developing the app.
▪ Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a Black female entrepreneur?
▪ A: When it comes to being a Black woman in particular, there are special challenges. I’m young and most businesspeople I deal with are older white men. As a young woman, it’s important to assert yourself. Don’t be afraid to lead your business in a different direction. Even being on the Forbes list and even being a Cambridge grad, I have a hard time raising funds for business. Less than 100 Black women have raised $1 million in business funding. People usually invest in people they know and relate to. Black women start businesses more than anyone, yet we’re invested in the least. If we’re going to really start creating more generational wealth in our communities, we need to invest more in Black businesses.
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