Our Story
it started
at Prairie View
Every national movement starts somewhere.
For NASEI, that first chapter became LIFT, Leaders Innovating For Tomorrow, at Prairie View A&M University, where students began shaping the organization through real leadership, programming, and campus impact.
Built by students,
guided by leaders.
L.i.f.t. | prairie view a&M univeristy
Students should be at the center.
______
Too often, students are invited to participate after the decisions have already been made.
We chose a different approach.
NASEI was built with the belief that students should lead, create, organize, and shape their own organization. Through chapter leadership and real-world programming, students gain meaningful experience long before graduation.
meet the founders
two leaders
one shared visions.
________
NASEI didn’t begin with a blueprint. It began with conversations about what students were missing. Brandy Walker and Teddi Payton brought different professional experiences to the table, but kept arriving at the same conclusion: students needed greater access to the rooms, decisions, relationships, and experiences that shape careers and businesses. In 2023, they decided to build it.
Brandy Walker
Executive Director
Professor Brandy Walker is an entrepreneur, educator, and business strategist with a passion for preparing the next generation of leaders. Her career spans corporate operations, entrepreneurship, higher education, and nonprofit leadership, giving her a unique perspective on what it takes to build organizations that thrive.
Beginning her career with McDonald's Corporation in operations and store turnaround initiatives, Brandy developed a deep understanding of systems, performance, and organizational excellence. Today, she is a partner at Taxability in Houston, Texas, co-founder of The Business Vaults, and has launched and advised ventures across multiple industries.
Recognized for her expertise in marketing, advertising, and business strategy, she believes lasting success is built through strong systems, scalable processes, and practical execution. As Executive Director of NASEI, Brandy is committed to ensuring students graduate with the real-world experience, leadership skills, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to succeed in any career.
Teddi Payton
President
Teddi Payton is a finance, real estate, and business development professional dedicated to expanding economic opportunity through education and community impact. As a co-owner of TRP Realty LLC and co-founder of The Business Vaults, she has spent years helping individuals and families build wealth through financial literacy, homeownership, and strategic planning.
Her work includes developing educational programs focused on debt elimination, homeownership, community development, and "Bankinese," the art of speaking the bank's language. Teddi combines financial expertise with a passion for teaching, empowering others to make informed decisions that create long-term stability and generational wealth.
As President of NASEI, she helps shape programs that prepare students with practical financial knowledge, leadership development, and the confidence to make meaningful decisions in business and life.
The story started at Prairie View
WHERE IT GOES NEXT IS UP TO YOU.
NASEI connects students to the access, practical knowledge, and leadership experiences that classrooms and traditional student organizations cannot always provide. Members don't just participate. They lead initiatives, build partnerships, solve real problems, and create measurable impact across campuses and communities.
national association of student entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs
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