Meet Abigail Goddard

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Abigail Goddard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Abigail, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

Being the “only one” in the room used to feel intimidating. As a high school junior, female, and half-Asian, I’m building a startup in a world dominated by adults who live completely different lives. I used to walk into meetings and feel like I had to prove my worth. Over time, I’ve realized that being different isn’t a disadvantage—it’s actually what sets me apart.

Initially, I thought credibility meant mimicking a polished, stereotypical business persona. I hired people who seemed older, more confident, and more “professional.” But I quickly realized that consistency and real work outweigh appearances. Now, I prioritize action and accountability over first impressions.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to trust feedback over assumptions. As a 16-year-old, I don’t party or drink, unlike my customers, but a deeply personal experience fuels my mission: one of my close family members was spiked and assaulted. This tragedy showed me the urgent need for accessible safety solutions. Instead of assuming what my customers need, I started listening. Real feedback and user validation have become my guide, showing me what works, what doesn’t, and how to improve. Shifting from building based on my assumption to focusing on user experience transformed Spikey into a tool and mission to empower safety for college students and beyond.

I’ve had to grow into leadership while still figuring things out myself. But I’ve learned that you don’t need to look like everyone else in the room to belong there. You just have to know what you’re building, why it matters, and who you’re building it for.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m the 16-year-old founder of Spikey, which provides discreet, refillable keychains equipped with clinical-grade test strips that detect common date rape drugs in seconds. Spikeys are fast, unrecognizable as drug tests, and designed to make safety feel empowering, not like a burden. With Spikey, you carry portable protection and peace of mind wherever you go.

But beyond selling innovative keychains, I’m dedicated to normalizing the conversations about drink spiking and consent, especially among college students who face the highest risk.

We recently launched custom keychains for Greek life events and organizations, and they’ve been a huge hit. You can add your name, organization logo, colors, or theme—perfect for sorority fundraisers, birthday gifts, or campus safety events. Want to bring Spikeys to your campus, nonprofit, or bar? Send us a DM at @spikeyfirst on Instagram!

Whether you’re ordering for yourself or your entire community, our mission is clear: to make safety accessible, stylish, and something you choose to carry. Safety isn’t a privilege—it’s a right.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Many people think networking is about having the right contacts or the perfect pitch, but it’s really about showing up consistently, even after being ignored, without being overly pushy. I’ve learned that boldness and resilience are everything when it comes to building connections. It took 17 emails back and forth before I closed my first $7,000 order with a national sorority. That’s 16 no’s or dead silence before one yes. And there were hundreds of other DMs, cold emails, and business cards that didn’t lead anywhere. But every time I sent a DM, email, or pitch, I learned how to communicate better, position Spikey more clearly, and handle rejection. I read somewhere once that every day after the initial pitch/meeting/introduction to a client, the interest depreciates by 50%. Now, after a phone call or Zoom meeting, I always follow up on the same day with a recap and recommended next steps and then follow up within 2 days to ensure they received the message and if they had questions, comments, or concerns. I build genuine relationships, even when there’s no immediate benefit for me or Spikey, and I’ve found that many people promote Spikey because they connect with its story and believe in me. This word-of-mouth promotion has been more valuable than the SEO I paid for. Don’t let setbacks or silence discourage you—success is often just a few more emails or calls away.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Time. That’s the biggest challenge right now, not in the cliché “life is short” kind of way, but in the very real, minute-by-minute chaos of trying to be a solo entrepreneur, high school junior, daughter, friend, “perfect” college applicant, and teen all at once.

As Spikey’s founder, I handle everything: replying to emails, updating the website (which I designed), managing press, pitching to universities and investors, checking test strip batch quality, and more. There’s no one to pass the baton to. While I love what I do, I’ve learned that passion doesn’t come with a project manager, an extra “Abbie” helper, or six more hours in the day.

Time management isn’t the only hurdle. Choosing the right people to work with has been one of the hardest things on this journey. Early on, I thought more hands meant faster progress, but I’ve learned that the wrong hands can slow you down more than working alone. This is especially true with peers I see daily at school or on LinkedIn. Holding friends accountable without hurting relationships has been one of the most emotionally draining lessons I’ve had to learn.

Leadership at my age is strange. I’m old enough to build something real but young enough that people often underestimate me or assume I’m easy to manipulate. I’ve had to develop thicker skin, protect my time, speak up when something feels off, and say no, even when it’s uncomfortable.

What’s helped is building systems, setting clearer boundaries, and learning to trust my gut. I’m realizing that I don’t have to do everything myself, but I do have to be intentional about who I let in. Every big order, pitch competition win, or message from someone who feels safer because of Spikey reminds me why I started.

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