SHS alum inspires students to "bet on yourself" in entrepreneurial talk
Posted on 04/24/2026
(SPS) -- Sapulpa High School alumna and Gameday Couture founder and CEO Shawnna Feddersen returned to her hometown to deliver an energetic and candid message about risk, resilience and entrepreneurship, encouraging students to step outside their comfort zones and pursue opportunity.
“What if it’s real life choices? What if it’s your career?” Feddersen asked early in her presentation, using a simple game to illustrate a powerful point. “Most of us say we’re willing to take risks, but the truth is most of us end up taking the safe option.”
Feddersen shared her journey from a self-described “unique kid” who learned to hustle at a young age to building a nationally recognized brand. After attending Oklahoma State University, she faced a pivotal decision: follow a traditional career path or strike out on her own. “I chose to bet on myself, and it was the best decision that I ever made,” she said.
That decision eventually led to the creation of Gameday Couture, a company born from a gap she noticed in the market for women’s fan apparel.
“There weren’t that many options for women,” she said. “It was a huge gap in the market, and nobody wanted to cover it.”
Despite early skepticism and setbacks, including a costly trade show derailed by severe weather, Feddersen persisted. A chance opportunity to audition for "Shark Tank" led to an investment from Mark Cuban, helping accelerate the company’s growth. Today, Gameday Couture partners with hundreds of teams and retailers nationwide.
Still, Feddersen emphasized that success didn’t come easily—or alone. She introduced key members of her team, highlighting the often unseen challenges behind building a business.
“It’s fast, chaotic, and things are always changing or breaking,” said Senior Vice President of Sales J.J. Ward. “You’re constantly solving problems on the fly.”
Vice President of E-commerce Sharla Curtis echoed that sentiment, describing how she built the company’s online presence from scratch.
“No roadmap, no experience—just figuring it out as we went,” she said, adding that today’s students should take advantage of emerging tools such as artificial intelligence.
Creative Director Kyra Egger emphasized that ideas alone aren’t enough.
“You have to understand the end goal and build systems to get there,” she said. “Otherwise, you’re just reinventing the wheel.”
Throughout the presentation, Feddersen returned to a central theme: the importance of perseverance and confidence. “It’s not a lack of opportunity,” she said. “It’s a lack of taking risk.”
In closing, she challenged students to embrace uncertainty and trust their abilities.
“You have more in you than you think you do,” Feddersen said. “If you bet on yourself and take the risky option, it’s most likely going to pay off.”
Her message was clear: success isn’t about choosing the easy path—it’s about having the courage to pursue the uncertain one.
Register for the next speaker, Kirby Crowe, founder and managing director of PmG, by clicking here.