“Our dreams must coexist with our reality. The goal is to merge the two.”
I’ve said that for years — and it’s the foundation of everything I build.
The truth is, most small business owners are overwhelmed. They’re juggling a thousand tasks, chasing a hundred ideas, and watching the world race ahead with new technologies they know they need but don’t have time to master.
That’s where I come in.
I’m Tonya Morris — founder of Great Idea Girl — and my goal is to make technology accessible for small business owners — even if you’re “not techie.”
Lifelong Creative. I’ve been drawing and creating things since I was a small child. I started selling what I make in my late teens – sewing clothing, making hats, etc. I created a brand called Hattitudz and started selling hats when I was in college. I don’t ever remember a time when I wasn’t working on one business or three.
Tech Introduction. My first experience with tech was a summer program before starting middle school where I learned BASIC programming language. My non-technie mother somehow found out about this summer program and thought it was a good idea to put me in it. That one thing influenced my interest in tech and changed the trajectory of my career.
Computers 101. My Dad purchased a Commodore 64 for me in middle school. It was a lot of fun while it lasted – meaning when you turned the computer off you lost everything you created. These earliest computers hooked up to your TV and did not have memory. I continued my tech education in high school where I was one of only 2 girls in approved for the newly created computer science program because I’d attended the summer camp.
Figuring out College. My college plan was to move to NYC and attend the Fashion Institute of Technology to major in fashion design. My mother was not on baord with this plan at all. She didn’t see any income opportunities for me in that industry at that time. I started college as a pre-med major and went on to change majors 4 times covering journalism, home economics (sewing), finally landing on Management Systems.
Joining Corporate America. I graduated in a down market and struggled to find an IT job. I was blessed to find a permanent position at a company that I’d worked part-time in during college. Over my 20+ years there, I’ve been able to work in almost every area of the business – IT, Customer Experience, Sales/Solutions, Marketing, and I’m not back in IT. Fun Fact – my last 5 jobs were not based on my education, but on things I became interested in and learned on my own. Working for a Fortune 50 company has allowed me to learn how big companies do business, handle strategic planning, go-to-market with new products & services, manage learning & development, engage and support customers, incentivize innovation, and manage global operations. Leveraging my corporate experience to benefit small business clients is a hallmark of Great Idea Girl.
Entrepreneurship as a Lifestyle. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve launched multiple businesses including popup shops that have sold over $200K. I’ve created brands in the beauty & personal care, fashion, home decor, and digital space where GreatIdeaGirl.com lives. From building WordPress websites, Shopify stores, creating branding and social media content, developing policies & procedures, managing payments, retail store operations, and everything else small businesses have to do – I’ve done it ALL!
