Kayla Austin

Kayla Austin is an entrepreneur, activist, and creative visionary dedicated to driving social change through innovation. She is a graduating senior at Howard University, majoring in Television and Film, where she has maintained a 4.0 GPA while serving as Vice President of Howard University ELITE Models and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. 
 
At just 12 years old, Kayla founded *My Gun’s Been Moved*, a groundbreaking gun safety startup designed to prevent accidental shootings through innovative technology. Her entrepreneurial journey has been recognized nationally—she received her first investment from Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize and raised an additional $120,000 through independent crowdfunding. Kayla’s work has been featured in *Teen Vogue*, *Black Enterprise*, *AfroTech*, *ABC 7 Chicago*, and *Fox Chicago*, and she was honored as an AT&T HBCU Rising Future Maker, one of just 25 students selected for the inaugural cohort. 
 
In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Kayla has extensive leadership experience, including participating in the HBCU Founders Initiative and the 1867 Undergraduate Assembly Assistantship Program at Howard, where she engaged with the university’s Board of Trustees. She is also a creative force in media, producing and directing content for major brands like Meta, with projects reaching over 16 million views. 
 
Kayla’s passion for community impact is reflected in her *Shoot for Safety* initiative, a community event aimed at raising awareness about gun violence. She is committed to using entrepreneurship, storytelling, and activism to create a safer, more equitable world.