Audrey K. Chisholm, Esq. – a COSSPP alumna (B.S. International Affairs ‘04) – was recently awarded The Inc. 5000 award, for the third consecutive year.
The Inc. 5000 award is a prestigious and exclusive ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. To be considered a company must earn at least two million dollars in annual revenue. “My company was recently recognized for the third year in a row as the winner of the Inc. 5000 award which honors the fastest growing private companies in the U.S.,” said Chisholm. “Bill Gates, Mark Cuban and Daymond John were all also recipients of this award.”
Before attending the FAMU College of Law, Chisholm began her legal career as a receptionist. Now, she owns a multi-million-dollar law firm. Chisholm Law Firm helps companies and individuals start and grow nonprofits that impact the world and has helped over 8,155 clients nationwide with a 100% success rate.
She chose Florida State University after visiting a college tour. She was impressed by the look of the campus, culture, and community.
When asked what her most impactful experience at FSU was, Chisholm said, “Being elected Senior Class President in 2003 was the most impactful experience for me at FSU for a number of reasons. I was able to use my leadership skills to implement programs that would benefit graduating seniors on campus. I was able to meet other leaders at other universities. I was able to gain confidence in my ability to be a leader on campus, which helped me know that I would be able to succeed as a leader after graduating in my community. Lastly, I was able to speak on the same stage as the vice president of the United States as the commencement speaker at our graduation. That is an experience I will never forget and will cherish forever.”
Chisholm was very active during her time on FSU’s campus, serving as Homecoming Queen for the 2003-2004 academic year, she was involved in the Student Alumni Association, and was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), an honor society that recognizes and celebrates excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service.
She was also a member of Phi Alpha Delta, a co-ed social service organization that strives to provide an opportunity for pre-law students to learn skills valuable for admission to law school and prepare them for their future careers. Chisholm said, “Phi Alpha Delta allowed me to gain information about the law school admissions process which helped me toward becoming an attorney.”
When asked what advice she would give to current FSU students interested in law, Chisholm said, “Interning at a law firm before becoming an attorney is critical because it gives you a chance to experience the workplace to make sure it is what you really want to do. I worked at two different law firms before going to law school. I was able to learn about different areas of law, learn the business of running a law firm and gain confidence in knowing that becoming an attorney was the right decision for me.”
Audrey Chisholm currently resides in Orlando, FL, with her husband and four children. She is an attorney, bestselling author, philanthropist and businesswoman. She was one of the founders of Revolution Leadership, a nonprofit that has awarded 41 college scholarships to high school students and has served almost 2,000 students nationwide. She is the bestselling author of three legal books and six children’s books. Her most recently published book, Start A 501c3 Nonprofit That Doesn’t Ruin Your Life, was published in 2018.
To learn more about FSU’s International Affairs Program, click here. To learn more about Chisholm Law Firm, click here.