National Entrepreneurship Week: Hayes Johnson
We’re nearing the end of National Entrepreneurship Week. As we continue to highlight #UofSC alumni who have started their own business, today we will focus on 2012 Visual Communications graduate Hayes Johnson, who is the founder of Rooted.
Briefly describe your business and what drove you to start it?
Rooted is a boutique marketing firm focused on branding, design, website design/development and strategy. I always had the desire to do my thing, and the thought of starting my own company was intriguing to me. I began picking up steady business as a freelancer doing various graphic design projects outside of working a 9-5 corporate job. As business began to increase and I saw the money I could potentially make, I thought “hmm...I could do this on my own”. I’m very much a creative so corporate America was never that appealing to me anyway. It didn’t take much to push me out.
What was your major and why did you choose it?
Visual Communications. I wanted to be the one actually creating the ads and logos. I wanted to get to use my creativity to do something with journalism that was very hands-on. VisComm was just that. And more.
What experiences at USC helped to foster your entrepreneurial drive?
1. Real-life design projects that were applicable to real world design opportunities; creating a final portfolio book that could be/and was used for post-graduation interviews.
2. Negative feedback from professors on projects that I expected to get A’s (okay maybe at least a B-) but received a letter grade far from it. This helped me create thicker skin, which is much needed in the real world when difficult clients don’t love your work. You can’t take it too personally or let someone’s subjective opinion make you feel defeated, but rather keep pushing through in order to get the job done and get it done well.
3. Internships - this was HUGE in preparing me for my entrepreneurial drive. I learned aspects of real-life job opportunities. Some that I loved, and some that I didn’t love, but helped me paint a clearer picture of what I wanted to do past Visual Communications, while growing my bank of skills that could be used far beyond VisComm.
4. Working in groups with other creative people and learning from my peers who I knew were much more talented and taking what I learned and observed in order to make myself better.
How did USC prepare you for opening your own business?
I was able to learn an actual skill (Adobe Creative Suite) that I could apply to the real world - a skill most employers were heavily seeking - that set me a part from the other 50 marketing-minded college grads applying for the same job(s) in my area who didn’t know Adobe.
What student organizations helped you the most?
Campus Crusade
Kappa Delta
University 101 Peer Leader Program
What advice would you give to students who may want to pursue a similar path?
GO FOR IT!!! Obtaining the skills you’ll get from VisComm will take you far. The money you and/or your parents are paying for you to go to college to get a degree will actually be put to use AFTER you graduate. These are skills you can take with you wherever you go. Even FOUR YEARS AFTER you’ve graduated, like me :) AND you can essentially work anywhere as long as you have a reliable Mac and Adobe Creative Suite :)
Visit Rooted online at http://rootedbrands.com.
The Career Center is the resource that helps students at the University of South Carolina obtain internships in fields of interest. For more information on internships at the University of South Carolina click here.
As Hayes mentioned, she was a Peer Leader for the University 101 program. University 101 is an academic program that fosters the success, development of first-year students. To learn more about U101, click here.
