Olandria Carthen: Mom’s Sacrifice Fuels Her Hustle

Olandria Carthen is on a mission to build an empire, and her journey is deeply rooted in the sacrifices and resilience of her mother. This Decatur, AL native, who proudly holds the distinction of being the first in her family to graduate high school and college, credits her mother’s unwavering work ethic as the driving force behind her own success.

Inspired by a Mother’s Strength

Carthen’s mother, Felicia, faced immense challenges, becoming a mother at just 15 and later putting her own education on hold to raise her children. Working jobs like McDonald’s, Felicia managed to provide for her family on a single income. ‘I always admired her work ethic as we were growing up,’ Carthen shared with AFROTECH™. ‘Imagine three kids, a single parent, one paycheck … We never went without.’

This powerful example of resourcefulness deeply influenced Carthen. When faced with her own financial hurdles in pursuing higher education, she learned to ‘get creative,’ just like her mother. Carthen took initiative, sending out letters, working for her former landlord, and cleaning out houses for extra cash to cover her educational expenses. ‘Seeing how my mom got creative when it came to stretching that dollar, it made me get creative when I found myself in those tough moments,’ she explained.

From Nine-to-Five to Entrepreneurship

After earning her bachelor’s degree in logistics, materials, and supply chain management from Tuskegee University in 2022, Carthen began her career as an associate sales specialist at Otis Elevator. However, inspired by the Black entrepreneurs she met while networking in Houston, Texas—often being the only one working a traditional nine-to-five—she felt a strong pull towards entrepreneurship.

This motivation led her to leave Otis Elevator in July 2025, the same month Season 7 of ‘Love Island USA’ concluded, to fully dedicate herself to her growing brand and platform, which now boasts over 4 million social media followers. ‘First entrepreneur in the family,’ she proudly stated. ‘This is a first because we’re all nine-to-five people, regular town folk … but I guess [I’m] the first person to actually step out and bet on myself and my family and show my family, ‘Hey, this could be you too, and I’m willing to help you get there.’

Building a Brand and Future Ventures

Carthen is strategically building her brand, supported by a team including a business manager, lawyer, and representation from the United Talent Agency. She intentionally focused on building ‘Olandria the brand’ first, aiming for visibility on billboards, commercials, and potentially other reality TV or film projects. She also teased the upcoming launch of her own body care line, emphasizing her commitment to never being ‘ashy’ and always ‘shining.’

Navigating this path as the first entrepreneur in her family means forging her own way. While she credits her parents as strong influences, Carthen has defined her own role models by reflecting on her core values and aspirations. Education remains a central theme, driving her actions and partnerships, including amplifying HBCUs with Microsoft and participating in McDonald’s ‘First Job Confessional’ program.

• Olandria Carthen is the first in her family to graduate high school and college.
• She credits her mother’s resilience and work ethic for inspiring her own drive.
• Carthen transitioned from a corporate job to entrepreneurship to build her brand.
• She aims to inspire her family and community by betting on herself.
• Future ventures include a body care line and continued media presence.
• Education and community impact are central to her mission.

Carthen’s journey, fueled by familial inspiration and a commitment to education, exemplifies the power of creativity, hard work, and believing in oneself. Her story is a testament to how early sacrifices can pave the way for future success and inspire generations to come.