The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation proudly announces that Katyra Waller has been named 2024’s Mark F. Rieth Scholar in Entrepreneurship Studies. Waller is a sophomore majoring in Marketing and is the founder and owner of BC Cosmetics. Waller’s cosmetics company is inspired by her goal to push beginner-friendly and inclusive makeup into the beauty industry.
Mark Rieth (Broad College of Business ’89), a Detroit native and successful entrepreneur, established this scholarship as one of the ways he wants to give back to the Spartan community.
“I am passionate about supporting entrepreneurship at Michigan State,” said Rieth. “I wanted to establish a scholarship that lifts up student entrepreneurs from the Detroit Metro area and recognizes student excellence in the innovation space.”
Best known for his role with Detroit-based Atwater Brewery—the company he first invested in and later purchased in its entirety—Reith leveraged his automotive background to grow Atwater into the fourth-largest craft brewery in Michigan before selling it to Molson Coors. Rieth is proud to support students leveraging the entrepreneurial mindset to take risks and pursue new ventures.
The Mark F. Rieth Scholarship for Entrepreneurship Studies advances exemplary students within the Burgess Institute's venture creation programming. Waller truly embodies a student this scholarship was meant for.
Katyra Waller’s Journey
Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Waller’s upbringing has been filled with support and role models to look up to. From being raised in a home with parents who were entrepreneurs and owned their own company to extended family members who also owned businesses, Waller knew from a young age she too would be a successful businesswoman.
“I’ve had motivators around me my whole life,” said Waller. “My parents have their own commercial company as well as my uncle, who has had his teams build beautiful homes. The constant support, inspiration, and advice I receive from those around me, I can say all those factors play a huge part in my overall success and entrepreneurial mindset development.”
Waller’s support and love during her upbringing were crucial for her success. "I am grateful to say my upbringing was very loving, supportive, and filled with many life lessons. Anytime I think of my entrepreneurial mindset, I always think about this one day in middle school when I posted a story post on Snapchat that said, “I’m going to be a successful entrepreneur and business owner one day. If my family can do it, I know I can.”
For Waller, entrepreneurship is creating and innovating solutions to better the lives of your community and those close to you.
Waller interprets entrepreneurship as more than a product created to be sold, instead, she views it as truly caring about who you are doing it for. “I find being fully invested and caring for the people you are serving or helping and what you're able to do for them will get you further. I always value my community. From mental check-ins on our social platforms, desiring consumer feedback, prioritizing their experiences, etc. For me, it’s people first.” This is what motivates her in her venture and shows in many ways through her company.
"I first heard about the Burgess Institute when I was working with an upperclassman who was helping my group at a Residential Business College event,” Waller recalled. The Burgess Institute provides many channels for students to jumpstart their businesses, and, for Waller, this was nothing short of true. “My first year at MSU I was able to be a finalist and attend three different pitch competitions, be introduced to the student marketplace, Student-Made, and network with some of the best people.”
Joining the Burgess Institute at the beginning of the 2023–2024 academic year, Waller could not have imagined the possibilities and opportunities that would come from the institute. "Little did I know, this would be the start of so many other opportunities," Waller reflected on her initial introduction to the Institute.
Receiving the Mark F. Rieth Scholarship is an honor for Waller and a significant recognition of her academic and entrepreneurial achievements. "This scholarship means so much to me. I am not only honored to receive such an amazing scholarship, but also I am especially honored that it is the Mark F. Rieth Scholarship, sponsored by a fellow Spartan and Detroiter."
As Waller looks ahead, she is inspired by this scholarship and by Mark to reach new milestones personally, academically, and professionally with her venture. This opportunity has truly given her a significant boost in the right direction to pursue her goals. “I admire all that Mark has done, and I am inspired to reach new milestones within my journey,” she says.