Education
Student Spotlight: An FSU student’s path from Sneex to startup
Key Points
- Florida State University junior commercial entrepreneurship major Kensington Wheeler gained incredible real-world experience this summer as part of an exclusive internship at Sneex, a luxury hybrid footwear brand founded by FSU Alumna Sara Blakely.
- The experience offered an in-depth look at brand strategy, marketing and storytelling, and is an example of the type of opportunities afforded to FSU students at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship.
Less than halfway through her summer internship at Sneex, Florida State University junior Kensington Wheeler was handed a challenge by the company founded by childhood inspiration Sara Blakely: Plan and execute a brand activation at Atlanta’s famous Ponce City Market in less than two weeks.
For Wheeler, a commercial entrepreneurship major with a minor in computer science at FSU’s Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, it was exactly the kind of real-world experience she wanted. The Sneex intern team divided responsibilities, with Wheeler taking charge of event planning, location scouting and on-site logistics.
Given creative freedom by the Sneex team, the interns had to determine how to approach the project and bring their vision to life.
“The process felt a little untraditional in the beginning because none of us came in knowing exactly how to do it or what to do,” Wheeler said. “There were too many different opinions, so we had to create areas of leadership. My mom’s business involves creating culinary events, and I grew up assisting her with them. I’ve always loved everything from the planning process to the last-minute touches that bring the magic.”
Wheeler’s passion for entrepreneurship began long before she arrived at FSU, inspired by growing up around her mother’s business and her admiration for successful female entrepreneurs. At FSU, she continues exploring that passion through hands-on experiences in business, creative marketing and entrepreneurship.
That interest helped lead Wheeler to a highly competitive summer internship with Sneex, the innovative footwear brand founded by FSU alumna and Spanx creator Blakely. Wheeler was selected as one of eight interns out of thousands of applicants nationwide for the six-week program over the summer.
“I grew up listening to Sara Blakely’s story and the road she paved for so many female entrepreneurs,” Wheeler said. “She was always someone I deeply admired, so having the opportunity to work for her company felt like such a full-circle moment.”
“I grew up listening to Sara Blakely’s story and the road she paved for so many female entrepreneurs. She was always someone I deeply admired, so having the opportunity to work for her company felt like such a full-circle moment.”
– Kensington Wheeler, FSU junior commercial entrepreneurship major
The internship offered Wheeler a close-up look at brand strategy, marketing and storytelling. She worked alongside Sneex Head of Storytelling Jamie Spielmaker and Head of Brand Strategy Bassima Mroue, gaining valuable insight into the creative and strategic processes behind building a brand.
The internship was fast-paced and hands-on, often requiring late nights and extra hours of preparation.
“Kensington stood out because of her passion for entrepreneurship, but we ultimately chose her because of her infectious enthusiasm for the brand and her demonstrated work ethic,” Spielmaker said.
Over the six weeks, Wheeler said one of her biggest lessons was learning to adapt her own style to fit the brand’s established identity.
“For me, it was a learning curve to be able to separate your own writing and your own personal way of doing things versus the brand,” Wheeler said. “That was a big takeaway, identifying with the brand voice and being able to carry that through.”
The experience also shaped her campus role as a student engagement intern at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship and gave her momentum to further develop her own venture.
Drawing on her experience as a ballroom dancer, Wheeler came up with the idea for her startup TeenOp, a digital marketplace designed to connect high school students with local work opportunities. She recently launched a beta website version of TeenOp and is also working on a mobile app for the startup.
The idea grew when she began teaching dance lessons to younger students while she was in high school. She realized many of her peers did not have the same access to flexible, part-time work that they could easily balance with their school, athletics and extracurriculars.
“I wanted my friends to have that same opportunity to capitalize off their skills,” Wheeler added.
Experiences such as Wheeler’s Sneex internship give Jim Moran College students a chance to apply what they learn in the classroom and see firsthand how entrepreneurs and established companies build their brands and businesses.
“Student engagement inside and outside the classroom in the JMC is and has always been a focus for our faculty and staff,” JMC Interim Senior Director Susan Fiorito said. “Kensington has excelled not only in her coursework but has taken advantage of every opportunity that the JMC has to offer. We are so proud of all of her accomplishments.”
Looking back on her summer, Wheeler encourages other aspiring student entrepreneurs to gain experience while developing their own ideas.
“Take the time to invest in yourself, invest in your skills, whether that is through your own business or working for someone else,” Wheeler said. “But then keep your eyes open to problems that need to be solved.”
Wheeler’s summer at Sneex offered more than a firsthand look at building a national brand; it sharpened the skills, confidence and entrepreneurial instincts she will carry into a promising future. The experience will play a defining role and provide a roadmap for how to approach new opportunities and challenges throughout her career.
