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United States Maya Penn is an entrepreneur, environmental activist, and animator who founded a sustainable fashion brand at an early age and has delivered multiple TED Talks.
An award-winning slow fashion brand creating sustainable, artisan crafted, accessories and clothing made from organic, recycled, and vintage materials, founded by Maya Penn in 2008.
Each piece from Maya's Ideas helps MAG clear unexploded bombs, supporting their humanitarian efforts.
Maya Penn is a three-time TED speaker, addressing topics as a Gen Z environmental justice activist, filmmaker, and founder of a sustainable fashion company.
Maya Penn appeared on The Tamron Hall Show to discuss Gen-Z sustainable fashion and her efforts to end fast fashion.
Maya Penn, founder and CEO of Maya's Ideas, participated in a Q&A with GoDaddy, sharing her journey as an entrepreneur and environmental activist.
Her foundation, Maya's Ideas 4 The Planet, gives back through The Pad Project to girls in Haiti, Somalia, Senegal and other countries.
Maya Penn published her first book, 'You Got This!', with Simon & Schuster.
Maya Penn's animation work, through Upenndo! Productions, can be seen in projects for LUNA Bars.
Maya Penn's animation work, through Upenndo! Productions, can be seen in projects for Adobe.
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon's JuVee Productions executive produced Maya Penn's animated short 'Asali: Power of The Pollinators'.
Maya Penn and her designs appeared in the January 2023 issue of Vogue alongside Billie Eilish and other climate activists.
Maya Penn serves on the board of THE REVIVAL, a community-led sustainable fashion nonprofit tackling secondhand clothing pollution in Ghana.
Maya Penn was born on February 10, 2000, in Atlanta, Georgia. From a young age, she demonstrated a keen interest in both environmental science and art. This dual passion led her, at the age of 8 in 2008, to found Maya’s Ideas, an eco-friendly fashion company. The brand focuses on creating sustainable accessories and clothing from organic, recycled, and vintage materials. Initially selling to friends and family, Penn expanded her business globally through online platforms like Etsy and her own e-commerce site, which she developed herself. Her early entrepreneurial success gained significant attention, leading to her first appearance in a Forbes article at age 11 in 2011.
Building on her commitment to social and environmental causes, Penn established her nonprofit organization, Maya’s Ideas 4 The Planet, in 2011. Through this nonprofit, she donates a portion of Maya’s Ideas’ profits to various charities and environmental organizations, currently supporting environmental justice, mental health related to climate anxiety, and diversity in STEM and creative careers. Her work extends to animation, where she developed an animated series called ‘The Pollinators,’ highlighting the importance of pollinators. She also formed her own production company, Upenndo! Productions, through which she has created animated projects for brands like LUNA Bars, Adobe, and GoDaddy.
Throughout her career, Maya Penn has been recognized for her contributions as an entrepreneur and activist. She is a three-time TED speaker, with her third TED Talk at TEDWomen 2013 gaining widespread attention. In 2016, she was named to Oprah’s SuperSoul 100 list, acknowledging her as a visionary and influential leader. Penn also authored the book ‘You Got This!’ with Simon & Schuster, aiming to inspire young people in social entrepreneurship and sustainability. Her directorial debut, the animated short ‘Asali: Power of The Pollinators,’ was executive produced by Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, further cementing her influence in both environmental advocacy and creative media. She continues to consult businesses on sustainability and biomimetic design, advocating for environmental justice.
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