I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I just thought it would happen later, after I had graduated, gotten a job, and built a career first. Ohio State changed that timeline.

My mom is an artist, and I started PILLOVV to create more opportunities for artists to earn income from their work. At Ohio State, that idea became a company. The President’s Buckeye Accelerator, the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, Fisher College of Business, Moritz College of Law, and so many people across the university gave me the resources, guidance, and confidence to begin building. Ohio State did not just support the company. It created the conditions that allowed me to believe I could build one at all.

Today, PILLOVV transforms original artwork into textiles that sit at the intersection of fine art and craftsmanship, where the quality of the object is treated as an extension of the artwork itself. Our Ohio State collection includes embroidered pillows and 100% mulberry silk scarves featuring original artwork and supporting the artists behind it. Our pillows are also featured in every guest room at The Blackwell Inn and Conference Center.

What feels most meaningful now is returning as an alumna and continuing to invest in the university that invested in me. That means supporting student scholarships, staying involved with the programs and people who helped me build, and encouraging future student entrepreneurs to believe they can build something too.

For me, PILLOVV’s Ohio State collection is more than merchandise. It is art that celebrates a place we love, the artists who capture it, and the university that helped make the company possible.