Meet Karla Mora

We were lucky to catch up with Karla Mora recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Karla , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

I started building my confidence the moment I realized no one was going to do it for me. As a first-generation, low-income student raised by a single mom, I knew early on that if I wanted something, I had to find a way to make it happen. During my junior year of high school, I opened an Etsy shop to save up for my college application fees. I didn’t have much experience, just determination, and that was enough to get started.

Running that shop taught me how to advocate for myself, how to market something I believed in, and how to stay consistent even when things felt slow or uncertain. It was the first time I felt in control of my future. That one decision, choosing to bet on myself, ended up shaping everything that came after.

Over time, I went from selling online to building a full community of young women through Girls on Campus, an online platform I founded that now reaches over 60,000 students. I share opportunities, resources, and reminders that we are capable of so much more than we think. My confidence didn’t come overnight, but each small win, each risk I took, and each time I kept going despite fear, helped me become the person I am today.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the founder of Girls on Campus, a digital platform and community dedicated to helping high school and college women find paid opportunities, scholarships, and build meaningful connections. What started as a passion project has grown into a movement, with over 67,000 followers on Instagram and a combined audience of over 45,000 across our website, newsletter, and other social platforms.

What makes Girls on Campus so special is that it’s not just a place to scroll — it’s a place to take action. We spotlight ambitious girls, share real stories, and make access to life-changing resources easier. As someone who launched my first business in high school to fund my own college applications, I understand the importance of having support early on. I built this community to be the kind of space I wish I had back then.

We’ve partnered with organizations like Pineapple Women and Girls With Impact to offer free virtual bootcamps and workshops that help students build confidence, leadership, and real-world skills. We also host virtual events that create space for mentorship, career guidance, and community connection.

Most recently, we launched a $1,500 scholarship and received over 2,700 applications — which was such a clear reminder of how hungry students are for support and opportunity.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding our presence offline. We’re kicking off our first in-person event in San Francisco this spring, with additional experiences planned for Los Angeles and New York City later this year. We’re also growing our newsletter and continuing to collaborate with mission-driven brands that believe in uplifting Gen Z women.

At the core of it all, Girls on Campus is about reminding young women that they’re not alone and that their ambition is valid. When you have access to the right opportunities and community, everything changes and we’re here to be part of that change.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three qualities that made the biggest difference in my journey were self-initiative, storytelling, and personal branding.

The first time I created a website, I had no idea what I was doing. I just had an idea I was passionate about and wanted to share. I started small and showed it to a few friends, and their encouragement helped me keep going. That experience taught me that you do not need to have everything figured out to begin. Taking initiative, even when things feel uncertain, is what builds momentum.

Storytelling came next. In the beginning, I was only talking about what I was doing with the people closest to me. Eventually, I realized that no one knows what you are building unless you talk about it. You cannot expect recognition or support if you are not putting yourself out there. Once I started sharing my work on LinkedIn, people began reaching out wanting to support, collaborate, and help. That shift reminded me how powerful it is to speak up and share your story publicly.

Personal branding is what tied it all together. It is not about having a big following, it is about showing up intentionally and making it easy for people to understand what you do and why you care. When you do that, the right people and opportunities start to find you.

My biggest advice is to advocate for yourself. Be proud of your work. Talk about it, post it, share it. Your story matters, but it cannot inspire others if you keep it to yourself.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am currently seeking partnerships with student-led organizations, mission-driven brands, and companies that are passionate about supporting education, access, and equity. Girls on Campus serves a highly engaged community of high school and college students, many of whom are navigating their academic journeys with limited resources.

Access to technology, particularly laptops, remains one of the most essential yet overlooked barriers to student success. Whether it’s completing coursework, attending virtual classes, applying for internships, or launching creative projects, a reliable laptop is critical. Today, the financial burden of education extends far beyond tuition. Technology, supplies, and day-to-day expenses have become a significant hardship for nearly every college student, regardless of their social or economic background.

Recently, we launched a $1,500 scholarship, funded in part by a brand partnership and in part through our own small business resources. The response was overwhelming and served as a clear reminder of the demand for support within our community. If we were able to create that kind of impact with just one partnership and our own investment, imagine what could happen if more companies came together with a shared commitment to uplifting students.

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