True and her mother Carlesa

True Eden Sneed, fifth grade student at Signal Hill Elementary School, has taken life by the reins at just 10 years old. An entrepreneur and co-author, this young student has set her sights on what she wants and works hard to make it a reality. Sneed is the chief executive officer (CEO) of True Eden, LLC. From the company’s website, True Eden Beauty is “a kid-owned business operated by a family of five kid-entrepreneurs and philanthropists.”

On being CEO of her own company, True shared, “I like being my own boss and enjoy packaging, labeling, and shipping all of the orders.”

Her mother, Carlesa “LeLe” Jones Sneed added, “True Eden Beauty is a company she asked to start for her ninth birthday. She sells organic skin and hair care products that she's been making with me since she was 3. True is the CEO and runs the business with the other kids in her family; her brother Noah, a junior at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School is the chief operating officer, her brother Justice, an eighth grader at Benton Middle School, is the chief financial officer, and her two cousins, Halo and Honor, are the chief of social engagement and chief labeler. Together, they are becoming ‘world-class leaders and world-class givers through entrepreneurship.’”

True’s new book, “Be True to You!” co-authored with her mother, was born of a love letter her mother wrote to encourage her to be true to herself and pursue her dreams. Sneed shared, “[True] started writing a letter back to me, and when I read it, I cried. It read, ‘You're wonderfully, perfectly, wickedly smart. Are you still determined to follow your heart? If you don't believe you're amazing, I do. I'll be a great me if you'll be a great you. I'll hear what you say, but I'll do what you do. So always, always be true to you.’ True wrote an entire message encouraging me to remember to do the things I wanted her to do in life. As I read our ‘poem’ to my friends and family, I was struck by their reactions. Everyone cried. They all saw themselves and their kids in our words.”

The book was published through her business, True Eden Beauty. Seeing her idea for a book come to life True reflected, “It makes me feel confident and proud that together me and my mom created such a beautiful story.” 

When asked what her message is for fellow classmates who have an idea for a story or a business, True answered, “Shoot your shot! Go after what you want!”

Visit the website or follow the business on Facebook and Instagram @trueedenbeauty to find out more about True Eden Beauty products or the book, “Be True to You!”