I’m Avery Medved, a student at Edgemont Junior-Senior High School in New York and the founder of BizEmpress. I created BizEmpress to make business and entrepreneurship more accessible to young people, with a particular focus on helping girls see a future for themselves in the field.

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Alongside founder interviews and a blog exploring business and entrepreneurship, I developed BizEmpress Academy, an interactive learning experience for middle- and high-school students. Through eight quests combining founder stories, activities, and quizzes, students explore how to identify a problem, understand customers, understand business finances, and pitch an idea. They can bring those lessons together in a one-page business plan, turning what they learn into a starting point for a venture of their own.

 

My interview guests have included Rudina Seseri of Glasswing Ventures, Karin Klein of Bloomberg Beta, and Sisi Song of Everful. Our conversations bring students practical perspectives from women building and funding businesses, including how they recognize opportunities, navigate uncertainty, and grow their companies.

 

As Founder and CEO of LocalLabelz, a youth-led clothing brand, I partner with girls in different communities to create and grow their own local branches. Each team gains hands-on business experience while developing clothing that celebrates individuality and local pride. My goal is to help young women build confidence by making decisions, taking responsibility, and bringing their ideas to life.

 

I also serve as Co-President of the Westchester Youth Congress, working with fellow students to advance community initiatives and expand opportunities for youth leadership. I secured the TEDx license and launched TEDxEdgemontSchool, organizing and hosting an event featuring 16 student talks. From selecting speakers to coordinating production, I led the effort to bring students’ ideas to the stage. Those talks have earned more than 11,000 combined views on the TEDx Talks YouTube channel, reaching audiences far beyond our school community.

 

I’ve continued to develop my own leadership skills through programs that support and empower young women. In 2025, I was selected for the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute’s Journey to Leadership Program. In 2026, I was a Louis August Jonas Foundation Camp Rising Sun Scholar. Both programs were selective and fully funded, giving me opportunities to learn from peers with different backgrounds and broaden my approach to leadership.

 

I’ve also explored entrepreneurship by supporting other founders. I have beta-tested products for the college-planning startup GoalsEye and contributed market research for Dr. Amy Wechsler and Zoe Wechsler’s dermatology venture, Spotless. I worked summers at The Beach Hut, gaining firsthand experience in customer service, teamwork, and small business operations. At school, I serve as Secretary of DECA and have competed at the state level in Entrepreneurship.

 

Beyond business, I’m Co-Founder and President of the Edgemont Drama Club, a three-time gold medalist in the National French Competition, and a Scholastic Art & Writing Award recipient for poetry. Outside of school, I ride with my barn’s Interscholastic Equestrian Association Varsity Team and volunteer at a local therapeutic riding program, helping children and adults with disabilities experience horseback riding. I also enjoy surfing, baking, and live music.

 

Through BizEmpress, I want more young people, especially girls, to see themselves as future founders and gain the knowledge and confidence to turn their ideas into action.