Akaycia Berger, ’22
Akaycia Berger, ’22, is no stranger to a life of hustle and self-determination. Growing up in a family where the entrepreneurial mindset was deeply ingrained, it was no surprise that she chose to attend CMU to study business with a concentration in entrepreneurship.
While Berger was determined to apply her education toward a future career, she couldn’t shake the nervousness that came with starting college. She was eager to gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge that she could apply to her business classes. She was waiting for a sign to stick with her degree path, and sure enough, one presented itself at the last moment.
A family friend and founder of a local company, Rooted Gypsy Farms, reached out to Berger and her mom with a proposition: to take on the business and make it their own. It was exactly the kind of opportunity Berger was waiting on, and it felt like such divine timing that she couldn’t resist the chance to jump at it.
“Right as I was about to unenroll from college, we got the call from our family friend and she was actually the reason why I finished college, because she gave me this opportunity to take over a business. It was a huge sign to keep applying my education,” said Berger.
Rooted Gypsy Farms is a subscription-based food delivery service focused on providing more than 300 customers across the Grand Valley with fresh, locally grown food. Building a network of farmers and vendors, Berger learned early on the importance of personable communication.
Juggling a full-time business role amidst attending classes and submitting assignments, she was faced with a steep learning curve but found her professors were a key resource to her success. Taking time to visit with her professors at CMU proved critical to her new business venture success, as well as her education.
“They were heavily involved in what I was doing. You get out of it what you put into it,” Berger said.
Owning a business is no small feat, but Berger’s strong networking skills and entrepreneurial spirit allowed her to pick herself up time and time again. She embraced setbacks as learning opportunities and tapped into her resources on campus to maximize the value of her degree.
Celebrating the little wins is what makes running a small business like Rooted Gypsy Farms so near and dear to Berger’s heart — and what makes her entrepreneurial journey, which has only just begun, truly special.