Alecia Venkataraman

Founder - Make It Beautiful

 

Successful Entrepreneur and Founder of the non-profit Make It Beautiful (MIB), Alecia Venkataraman was born on September 22, 1985, in Nashville, Tennessee. As the first to arrive of triplet girls she grew up in a household where she learned to consider others’ needs. Alecia’s parents, Ravi, a new U.S. citizen hailing from India, and Shirley, an American from Ohio, raised their three daughters to be hard working and to live by the values of their Christian faith. 

As a young girl Alecia could barely sit still. She excelled as a skillful dancer and figure skater, and a talented song writer and musician. In her adolescence she was both an unassuming member of her close-knit family, as well as a very determined young lady. Alecia started to develop life goals of her own design.  By the age of twelve Alecia had compiled, not just a long list, but a full book of aspirations she wanted to accomplish in her life. These grand visions included projects driven by her passionate desire to help others. She would declare to anyone who would listen, “I’m going to change the world”. 

Committed to see her dreams come to fruition, Alecia decided that there was only one way to fit it all into one lifetime. She set out to complete her education early. And she did just that. At sixteen years old, while others were entering their second year, Alecia graduated high school having earned scholarships and twice graced the Dean’s Honor List. 

Alecia began her studies at Belmont University in Nashville, and soon a new relationship as well. Once again on a fast track to graduation, she had very little social time available in her ambitious schedule. Yet she continued to date her college sweetheart for the next three years. As planned, Alecia earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree a full year early at the age of nineteen. Now in the rhythm of hitting milestones ahead of her peers, a mature and accomplished Alecia also married her longtime boyfriend that same year. 

While she should have been enjoying marital bliss, a dark period in her life was just beginning. It was only on their honeymoon, since she was no longer preoccupied with school, that Alecia learned of the double life that her husband had been leading. His numerous and ongoing infidelities were quickly exposed. Subsequently, alcoholism became apparent and Alecia found herself the victim of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her spouse. 

A few months after getting married, Alecia joined her father in opening 1STOPdigital, a digital production studio. She took on the responsibility of managing the growing business, which led to the opening of a second location in the first year. While she continued to work hard by day, after business-hours was a different reality and when at home Alecia would hide in her car or the closet in fear for her life. Yet at the time, the idea of divorce was inconceivable to her.  One night she prayed to be shown a way out of her nightmare.  She asked, “God if you intended for my life to be more than this, than please get me out of here, because I am not strong enough to do this on my own..”

 
After spending two years in an abusive marriage Alecia’s confidence and self-esteem were very low. However, her prayers were answered and the day came that she had the strength to do what she knew was right. When she finally left she found she had a challenging road ahead of her.   

With family, friends, and faith as her source of comfort, inspiration and strength, she began to rebuild her confidence and her life. Alecia was now revisiting her dream list and continued to oversee the company while pursuing her MBA in the evenings at the Massey Graduate School of Business. She was back on track and wanted to help others who were facing paralyzing challenges in their lives.

 
She was inspired to establish a resource and support organization committed to empowering people to overcome their adversity and make something beautiful out of their situation. As the result of hard work and community support, on June 5, 2009 Alecia celebrated the grand opening of Make It Beautiful. Fate would have it this date was also the two-year anniversary of the day she walked out of the abusive marital home and onto the path to freedom and unlimited potential. Make It Beautiful is a non-profit dedicated to offering education, hope, and to connect people with resources and opportunities to make positive change in their lives.

 
MIB’s organizational flagship operates out of Franklin, Tennessee. Alecia’s vision is to have a chapter in every major city and eventually one in each of the fifty states. “I also plan to get into politics and I’d like to run for the U.S. Senate and then Governor of Tennessee.” 

Alecia is a veteran political campaign supporter who has worked on the presidential campaign effort, as well as her state senator race and local representatives. She is involved with a number of charities in the area, and the Global Advocacy Initiative. For many years she has volunteered with her church community and for local school programs. 

With a grace and reverence beyond her years, Alecia possesses a quiet confidence with a warm genuine demeanor. The sky is not even the limit for this twenty-four year old woman who is changing lives, and yes, helping to change the world!