Taylor Yuen is among this year's honorees of Pacific Business News’ annual Inno Under 25 awards. To see the other winners, click here.
Taylor Yuen
Age: 19
Taylor Yuen created the Keiki Makers Market when she was a senior in high school, in an effort to make entrepreneurship education, opportunities, and resources accessible to students across the state. The initiative hosts seasonal marketplace events featuring art, jewelry, food, and more from keiki-led businesses.
Yuen hosted the first Keiki Makers Market in spring 2023, in collaboration with the Children’s Discovery Center.
“Surrounded by similar innovative minds, students are able to immerse themselves in a dynamic experiential learning environment like no other. Led by student entrepreneurs for student entrepreneurs, our unique organization model nurtures a network of students through which cohorts can learn from each other and evolve together,” she said.
In addition to supporting young entrepreneurs, she’s also one herself: Yuen runs a design and digital marketing business called Amataya. While at Punahou School, Yuen also served as a leader for an entrepreneurship program, where she helped create curriculums and teach entrepreneurship lessons to other students.
Now in college, Yuen is studying business at Chapman University in California, but she still returns to host Keiki Makers Market, and this past summer, she interned with Mana Up.
Since its launch, Keiki Makers Market has hosted six events and grown its reach to more than 100 student entrepreneurs. The next market is slated for Nov. 10 at the Children’s Discovery Center.
What accomplishment are you most proud of to date?
While I cherish every event and milestone that the Keiki Makers Market has achieved, our most recent market at SALT at Our Kakaako stands out as my proudest accomplishment to date. Being our biggest market yet, this was the largest-scale operation I have had to organize, but equally the most fulfilling. After weeks of work, there is nothing quite like bringing an event to life and seeing the smiling faces of our student entrepreneurs having an opportunity to shine in a space where they can feel supported in their ideas and can confidently pursue their passions.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
My favorite aspect of organizing our Keiki Makers Markets is witnessing this learning and interaction occur in real time. It is incredibly fulfilling to see our student entrepreneurs sharing their stories, building friendships with fellow vendors, engaging with customers, and experiencing the thrill of selling something they crafted with care and intention. During markets, I make it a point to personally connect with each and every one of the vendors. Learning about them as individuals as well as their successes and struggles as entrepreneurs enables me to make the best experience for future events and participants and also reinforces that these are not just numbers, but real businesses and individuals whose dreams we are supporting. This opportunity to see these young entrepreneurs rise and succeed is, without a doubt, the best part of what I do.
How do you envision the future — what is next for you, and what is your ultimate career goal?
In terms of the future of the Keiki Makers Market, I envision an expansion of our organization, its programs, and its capacity to cultivate a lasting impact of innovation and entrepreneurship that resonates throughout our community. … Ultimately, my work with the Keiki Makers Market isn’t about the lengths to which I can grow our organization or how much I can accomplish personally; it’s about bringing others along on this journey —specifically the student entrepreneurs — and elevating them to new heights. … Regarding my personal professional ambitions, I am hoping to continue developing the Keiki Makers Market alongside my own knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship. I am currently attending college in California, where I am pursuing a degree in business administration with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. I am also exploring design and digital marketing through my personal business, Amataya. Although I am not sure where I will be in a few years, I know that my ties will eventually bring me back home to Hawaii.
The “brain drain” has long been an issue for Hawaii. What do you think the state needs to retain its younger workforce?
I think we should work towards creating environments in which individuals feel they can thrive both personally and professionally without needing to leave the Islands. Such change can start with supporting industries that reinforce the values and aspirations of the younger generation, such as sustainability, technology and well-being. Additionally, we can focus on fostering a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem that promotes technological innovation and provides opportunities for our youth to develop their ideas right here in Hawaii. … Through the Keiki Makers Market, I aim to address these issues by providing a platform for our community’s young changemakers to explore their entrepreneurial interests and initiate their ventures in a safe and supportive space. … The Keiki Makers Market believes that our network of emerging student entrepreneurs can bring about a true impact on our community here in Hawaii and beyond. Many of our makers champion causes including education, healthcare, food security, and sustainability through their businesses. … The Keiki Makers Market is more than an event; it is a movement to inspire and nurture the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives.
