Jessica Kinsey
Represented the University of Tulsa in 2012 Governor’s Cup
2012 High Growth Graduate Winner
Currently CEO/Founder of Prodigy & Co
Please provide a few details on your winning Entrepreneur’s Cup business idea.
Our business was SpectrumFX. We had an exclusive license for the aviation industry for a fire suppressant called Firebane, which was the only fire suppressant that could put out a full spectrum of fires, including lithium battery fires. We targeted the shipping and cargo segment of aviation, as there had been devastating losses of planes, cargo, and lives due to lithium battery fires on cargo planes. In addition to the safety benefits, our product was lighter than the industry standard, saving companies millions in fuel costs.
We did not personally pursue the business after the competition was completed, as we were working with a local pilot and entrepreneur who had the license for the aviation industry. He moved forward with the business, using aspects of our ideas and plan.
What inspired you to participate in the competition?
During my MBA program, I focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, knowing that I wanted to start my own business someday, so the competition was a natural fit for me. The competition was the closest thing to a real-world entrepreneurial experience that was offered during the MBA program at that time and allowed me to further hone my skills around strategy and business development.
How did your experience from the Entrepreneur’s Cup shape your future goals in the business world?
The success of our team and business plan was a catalyst for me, giving me the confidence to know that I could be an entrepreneur, develop ideas with real potential, and lead a team. It was the most impactful thing I did as a part of my MBA program. My team member John Galbraith and I mentored teams in the competition for eight subsequent years, including numerous first-place winners. Since then, I have been a part of an education technology startup, and John and I own a real estate investment company and a consulting and training company.
Prodigy & Co exists to make work better for everyone. No more bad bosses, poor communication, messy strategies, and systems and processes that don’t support your people or your clients. We spend 40+ hours a week at work trying to make the world a better place – let’s make it a great place to work.
Through our facilitation and professional development programs, system implementations, and consulting services, we help mission-driven organizations develop people, processes, and systems that not only change the world but create environments that people love to work in and never want to leave.
In the past eight years, we have developed and delivered over 1,200 hours of leadership and professional development training to over 1,250 participants; conducted or coordinated over 40 organizational needs assessments leading to additional grant funding for capacity-building projects; and implemented 18 systems covering over 22 operational processes, such as accounting, client management, time tracking, volunteer management, grant management, and more.
