Grace Neil grew up in a small town in South Carolina, with dreams beyond those city limits. On the recommendation of her father and sister – both CofC alumni – she applied to the College and was immediately drawn by the energy around campus: "Charleston is so much more than a small town," she says. "It's got just about everything you could possibly want."
As a freshman, Grace started chipping away at a biology major in preparation for medical school, but then she discovered the potential of studying computer information systems. "I love technology and computers, and while studying biology, chemistry and physics, I found myself writing computer programs to make it more interesting." That was when she realized that so many problems can be solved with technology, so Grace decided to shift gears and begin her pursuit of a major in CIS.
That decision led her to take an entrepreneurship course that required students to present "wild pitches" on a variety of different topics. Always a dreamer, Grace developed a computer program that enhances communication between restaurants and their customers. Her pitch went so well that it secured her a spot in the Innovator Games competition at the College's Women Entrepreneurs Summit. She not only won that contest, but she has also since successfully launched her own business based on that original i.
As a CIS major, Grace says she's especially excited about the tech scene sprouting up around her in Charleston. "The tech industry here has influenced everything I have accomplished thus far. The whole vibe in this city is that people want to help, and companies succeed here partly because of the talent that the College produces."
As if her full course load and entrepreneurial endeavors aren't keeping her busy enough, Grace is making plans to continue her education. "After graduation," she explains, "I want to get my MBA here at the College. I know the preparation I've gotten as an undergraduate will serve me well and I can't wait to see where an MBA with a CIS background can take me."