An interview with Emily Cummins

Emily Cummins, 24, is an ethical inventor and entrepreneur. Her latest invention is a sustainable fridge, which runs without the need for electricity. Emily was named 'Technology Woman of the Future 2006', the 'British Female Innovator of the Year' for 2007 and 'Cosmopolitan Magazine Ultimate Save the Planet Pioneer'.

 

More recently, Emily has been awarded 'Woman of the Year 2009',  'Business for Peace Award 2010' and has been named as one of JCI's 'Top 10 Most Outstanding Young People in the World'.  

Name: Emily Cummins
Job Title: Co-Founder MyKindaCrowd
Born: 11/02/1987 in West Yorkshire
Education: South Craven Secondary School in Crosshills and Leeds University
First Job: Paper Round
Home towns: I grew up in Crosshills in West Yorkshire and now I live in the centre of Leeds
Favourite / Most Inspirational Book: The Element by Ken Robinson
Favourite / Most inspirational Film: The Shawshank Redemption
Favourite Music: Anything I can sing (badly) to!
Best Gadget: My iphone

What is your best award won to date for your invention ?

I was named as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Young People in the World 2010

Have you always been interested in Science?

Not always, I like identifying problems and solving them. It just happens that the problems I have solved have involved an element of science, as well as engineering, technology and maths. 

What is keeping you busy now? What are you working on at the moment?

I am the Co-Founder of MyKindaCrowd, which is a student-focussed crowd sourcing website. www.mykindacrowd.com 

Why did you decided to get involved in MyKindaCrowd? What is it all about?

I really believe in the concept of MyKindaCrowd. I love the way students can create links with businesses, solve real-world problems and at the same time showcase their talents. When I was at school I solved real-world problems during my technology classes and by combining that with industry networking I have been able to achieve my goals and be internationally recognised for it. I want to encourage other young people to promote themselves and their talents as well as enhance their employability skills and I believe that MyKindaCrowd will provide those opportunities to the masses.

What are you enjoying the most about it?

I love the whole process, I have been involved in the web design, the technical development, the setting of challenges to signing up schools, universities and students. It has been a real learning curve for me. I must say though, my favourite part is firstly showing the challenge setter the fantastic responses that we gain from our student users and secondly letting the winning students know they have won!

How does it challenge you?

I have never created a website before and never managed a team of people. These are both completely new for me. Although they are challenges, I love learning new things so developing a new website is really exciting, especially to be part of the whole journey. Secondly I have the most amazing team, so managing them is great, it is just holding the whole process together when you have such eager and talented employees which makes my job a little tricky at times.

What advice would you give teachers on how to help their students be enterprising and the benefits of getting involved in MyKindaCrowd?

I really see the value in young people being involved in real world challenges and would encourage teachers to allow their students to do so at any opportunity. When I was at school, my product design teachers encouraged me to challenge myself and suggested I contacted external companies, and looked at being involved in solving an actual problem rather than simply deciding to design and make a clock or a lamp in my technology classroom. It was this opportunity that kick started my career.

I truly believe that MyKindaCrowd should be used by teachers as it is a fantastic tool to enable students to be more enterprising as well as developing their skills and promoting their talents. It gives young people a real insight into what goes on in companies as well as letting them put what they have learnt in the classroom into action to solve real-life challenges. Not only is that hugely beneficial, but by winning the challenges they could receive a work-experience placement or a shadowing opportunities, plus other prizes, which will enhance their employability skills and their CV!

What advice would you give to students who want to be more enterprising?

I think students should challenge themselves. They should try and think outside the box and try and stand out from the crowd – it sounds daunting, but this is what puts young people ahead of your peers. They should also look for opportunities to network and make contacts and of course SIGN UP TO MYKINDACROWD.

What skills do you think students need to become ‘work-ready’?

Students should have the basic skills of reading, writing, mathematics, listening and speaking but should also have thinking skills such as; creative thinking, decision making, problem solving and a readiness to learn. Other than skills I think students should have certain personal qualities such as self-belief, sociability, integrity, be able to work as part of a team and a real want to learn, achieve and make a great impression.

What is the biggest challenge you currently face?

Time management, I have so much going on there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day!

What do you do in your spare time?

Living in Leeds city centre, I’m never short of things to do!

 

Thank you Emily!

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