How I Made Over $725,000 Designing Luxury Bags While Earning An MBA | On The Side

Wilglory Tanjong, 25, is a full-time MBA student at The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. She is also the founder and CEO of Anima Iris, a luxury purse brand with pieces handcrafted by artisans in Dakar, Senegal.

After living on food stamps as a teen and later coping with the loss of her mother, Wilglory promised herself she would become financially independent and live life to the fullest. Not only has her company brought in over $725,000 in sales in less than two years, but her bags have been worn by Beyoncé and spotted on Issa Rae’s show, “Insecure.” Here’s how Wilglory is turning her passion project into a million-dollar business.

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How I Made Over $725,000 Designing Luxury Bags While Earning An MBA | On The Side

[tati_wm]

My favorite part of this is that her artisans are well paid and work in reasonable working conditions. It's easier to support a brand when their workforce is treated fairly. 🙌🏼

[marriejames]

Kudos to the mother for leaving her children an inheritance. And kudos to this young lady for pushing through adversity and building a brand.

[gzfashions]

Acquiring that $50k and also getting production in Africa is huge. Those two things are pivotal to this companies success. Now it’s about Sustaining steady growth and continuity and creativity.

[jip]

I just went to her site after watching this and bought one of her bags. It's wonderful that I can now support Black owned luxury designers. Wilglory, thank you for sharing your story and eye for good design with the world!!

[viniciusalves]

I have already seen dozens of inspirational entrepreneurial stories, but Wilglory is the only character that made me want to follow her exact steps. What an icon!

[daniielleyful]

“It was giving billion dollar business idea”💡 yes girl ! 😭💕

[ESPDaniella]

I love how her employees make twice than the average!! More companies should follow her lead.

[henrikraymond]

Nice content, Every family has that one person who will break the family financial struggle I hope you become the one ☺.

[charitynjokivlogs]

Her story sounds simple but it's not to build a company...it takes alot! Proud of her! Very strong lady

[gingrbean]

A Cameroonian from Maryland in love with fashion?!?! YES MA’AM! We love to see it. Keep going love!! 😭😭😭🇨🇲🇨🇲🇨🇲

[opinionated]

I love that she doesn’t take advantage of her workers and pays them well, we love seeing a successful black woman doing right by her community

[cheryl-lynnmehring]

Big Take Aways:
1. Education-get that MBA
2. Bet On Yourself make your own path
3. Go for it YOLO 😘💘👍
4. Doesn't matter where you came from (being poor forced her to work hard).

[ingridb.]

Truly a model for all of us! I also studied an MBA in Luxury Management and opened a consulting agency while studying and it was HARD. I can't imagine doing a capital heavy business model while studying. Such tremendous work to achieve and she is doing it remarkably well.

[rara]

I admire her for not giving up on her education to focus full-time on her brand that’s really good! I think that everybody if they are interested, should continue on with their college education, especially if they can afford it because you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow the company seems like it’s on its way to be successful but you never know so that’s good for her!

[jessilim]

I just love how honest she is that she is struggling balancing both studies and her business. Love that hustle 💪 go girl

[mstrulygolden]

What a wonderful story and love that she is investing in Africa. So proud of you! Love this for you. Your mom would be so proud!!!! I will definitely purchase a bag soon. ❤️

[davidasingleton]

Man when they said her mom died I started bawling crying. I’m really proud of her for pressing on. I couldn’t imagine. My mom is my rock and everything. ❤️

[achilletenkiang]

That's my cousin! So proud of you, Wilglory!!!!

[styleniko]

I love her taste in fashion! She mixes so many colors and textures in her clothes and I can see how she incorporated that into her bags! Bags are so adorable!

[lululemonbar]

Made in Africa! What a meaningful niche! So glad she’s giving back and creating jobs tied to her roots! She deserves all the success! I can’t believe she’s working on an MBA at the same time! I feel so lazy!!