May 2, 2012

ThirstyTalent.com is a professional writing services company that provides professional resumes, personal summaries, sales letters and marketing-oriented content.


Founder(s): Ralph Hoffarber, Kwame Essieh

Company: ThirstyTalent

Location: Portland, Oregon

1. We came up with the concept of Thirsty Talent when:

My business partner, Kwame Essieh, and I came to the end of our college careers. We noticed that our friends applying for jobs were struggling with writing their resumes. Also, our fellow entrepreneurial friends were ill-equipped when it came to writing marketing, sales, web and social media copy for their startup companies.

We recognized this problem and created a social venture to offer them a solution. Thus, ThirstyTalent — a professional online writing service, was born. For every writing package purchased, our partnership with GlobalWater.org enables us to give at least one gallon of clean water to a child in Africa.

Having both come from parents who emigrated from third world countries, and being witnesses to the injustices in those countries, this led us to want to build a socially conscious business.

We both majored in Entrepreneurship and had the desire to create something that would not only be profitable, but would also make a positive difference in the world.

2. Ambition:

My life’s ambition revolves around my mother. Without her love, support and encouragement, I would not have done half of what I’ve accomplished so far in my career.

3. One day I hope to:

See ThirstyTalent continue to grow and contribute to the end of poverty in underdeveloped nations. I look forward to creating more social enterprises that make positive contributions to society.

4. Current obsession:

My BlackBerry Torch.

5. Favorite business tool:

Evernote — a suite of software and services designed for notetaking and archiving.

6. Favorite book(s):

Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism by Muhammad Yunus, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, and Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

7. Best place to unwind:

Manila, Philippines

8. Would love to have dinner with:

Social entrepreneurs Blake Mycoskie of TOMS shoes and Kiva.org founder Matt Flannery. Their business models serve as inspirations to me.

9. You can never have too many:

Books.

10. Essential business tip:

Create products and services that provide value. Use your entrepreneurial insight and talents to help others because it’s the most gratifying feeling in the world.

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