For Neve Schilling, business is more than just numbers—it’s about solving problems, thinking creatively, and finding opportunities where others don’t.

A senior at Byron High School, Neve has fully embraced the world of entrepreneurship, diving into real-world business challenges through her coursework and hands-on projects. She’s heading to the University of Iowa next year to study business marketing, a decision influenced by her experiences in Byron’s entrepreneurship program and the guidance of her teacher, Mr. Wessel.

“I took the class because I love Mr. Wessel, and I wanted to go into business,” she said. “I’m really glad I did. Entrepreneurship has been such a great experience.”

She’s not just studying business—she’s actively building one.

As part of the entrepreneurship class, each student is responsible for developing a product and launching a business, taking an idea from concept to reality.

Neve’s business, Clean Cosmetics, is tackling a problem that many people face: makeup and travel bags that get dirty over time.

“It’s a bag that comes with removable, washable interiors,” she explained. “Instead of throwing away the whole bag when it gets messy, you just swap out the lining.”

It’s a simple but brilliant solution—one that creates an ongoing need for replacement liners, making it a subscription-style business model.

“I guess it’s kind of like the razor blade business model,” she laughed. “You buy the main product once, but you keep coming back for the refills.”

Building Clean Cosmetics has been an eye-opening experience, helping Neve understand branding, pricing, and market research.

Her mentor, Jen Baker, a local banker, has been instrumental in helping her refine her business strategy. Through Byron’s entrepreneurship program, students pitch their business ideas to judges and mentors, learning how to present their vision and make it viable in the real world.

“We do pitch days, where mentors come in, watch our presentations, and give us feedback,” Neve said. “It’s been really helpful to get advice from people who work in business every day.”

Beyond formal presentations, she and her classmates have leveraged social media—using Instagram and Facebook to promote their products and gauge interest from potential customers.

Neve’s interest in business didn’t emerge overnight. For the first three years of high school, she was on a completely different path—nursing.

She took medical-focused courses, including the school’s CNA program, gaining firsthand experience in patient care.

“It’s a great program,” she said. “But after I finished the CNA certification, I realized nursing wasn’t really my thing.”

Instead, she found herself drawn to psychology and sociology, eventually shifting her focus toward business and marketing. Conversations with her uncle and older sister, both of whom work in marketing, helped solidify her decision.

“I love what they do on a day-to-day basis,” she said. “Business is so creative—you’re always solving problems and looking at things from different angles.”

Outside of academics, Neve has been an active athlete, competing in golf, competitive cheerleading, and track.

She first joined the cheer team as a freshman, quickly falling in love with the intensity and precision of the sport.

“We went to state my freshman year, which was an awesome experience,” she said. “And I also did football cheer my freshman and junior years, which was a lot of fun.”

By her junior year, she found herself in a leadership role—the oldest member of the cheer team, with no seniors above her.

“I had to step up,” she said. “It was a big learning experience, but I had a great coach, Maddie Hegberg, who really helped guide me.”

Her senior year, the team just missed qualifying for state by 0.3 points, a tough loss but one that showed how much they had grown.

“I was really proud of everyone who stuck with it,” she said. “We made huge improvements from sophomore to senior year.”

As graduation approaches, Neve is excited to head to Iowa City, a town that immediately felt like home when she visited.

“I looked at James Madison University in Virginia because I was considering high jumping there, but after visiting Iowa, I knew it was the right place for me,” she said.

In 10 years, she imagines herself running her own business, following in the footsteps of her oldest sister, Lexi, who owns a marketing firm in Chicago.

“My sister built her own business, and I think that’s something I’d love to do, too,” Neve said.

She credits her parents and family for shaping her mindset and work ethic.

“My dad has always worked hard, and I think we’re a lot alike,” she said. “He went to law school and built his career through determination, and that’s something I really admire.”

She also recognizes how much Byron has given her—a strong foundation, great teachers, and a supportive community.

“Our class is really close,” she said. “Most of us have been here since kindergarten, and it’s like we’re siblings. I think when we come back for our 10-year reunion, it’ll be all about remembering the people we grew up with.”

Looking back, Neve appreciates both the successes and the challenges that have shaped her. She believes that some of the most valuable lessons come not just from what you love, but from what you realize isn’t for you—like her decision to shift from nursing to business.

“I think sometimes, the best learning experiences come when you try something and realize it’s not your thing,” she said. “It helps you figure out where you’re really meant to be.”

And for Neve, that place is in business, marketing, and entrepreneurship—creating something new, solving problems, and turning ideas into reality.