Kristen Hadeed
» BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, '10
The siren song of a too-expensive pair of jeans inspired a side job that hatched an idea that launched a business. And just like that, Kristen Hadeed, unemployed UF student, became an entrepreneur and business owner.
Well, almost “just like that.”
Hadeed — never one to fear getting her hands dirty — first figured she’d clean houses and apartments as a side gig only long enough to earn cash for those jeans and a trip to Panama City for spring break. Then opportunity knocked. She couldn’t keep up with requests. To answer demand, Hadeed started Student Maid Cleaning with Class. Within months, her company had grown from just her to four employees to 60. That was 2009, and Hadeed was still a junior in the Warrington College of Business.
“My clients would tell their friends who would refer me to their friends, and before I knew it I needed help. I slowly hired other students to clean with me after school and on the weekends,” she says.
Nowadays, Student Maid Cleaning with Class is one of Gainesville’s go-to cleaning services, and one of the fastest-growing UF alumni-owned companies. And Hadeed, 29, has added author and lecturer to her list of accomplishments. Her debut book, "Permission to Screw Up: How I Learned to Lead by Doing (Almost) Everything Wrong," hit shelves this fall, and she frequently gives talks around the country on women and entreprenuership.