Perseverance and Resilience Puts New SDSU Grad on the Path to Entrepreneurship

No one would have envisioned the 24-year-old Caitlin Radigan becoming a role model and an inspiration to foster care youth. Least of all, Radigan herself. 

The homelessness, substance abuse and juvenile incarceration that once defined her has only made her stronger, resilient and determined to overcome her early challenges. Today, Radigan is a mother, a business owner, a foster youth advocate and a 2024 graduate of the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University. 

Facing Homelessness, Addiction
Radigan had a tough start in life with an absent father and a mother who struggled with mental health issues and addiction. At 15, she entered the foster care system and was incarcerated soon afterward. 

In spite of her challenges, Radigan was able to earn her GED and continued her education by taking community college courses while she was still in juvenile hall. Once she was released from custody, however, she suffered some setbacks.  “Once I became an adult and aged out of the system, I didn’t have the skills or resources to succeed independently,” said Radigan. “Unfortunately, this is true with many foster youth, so there were gaps in my college attendance due to drug relapse and homelessness.”

At her lowest point, Radigan’s life took a drastic turn.

“I became pregnant while squatting in an abandoned house, addicted to meth and heroin,” said Radigan, who was 24-years-old at the time. “Discovering my pregnancy gave me the strength to detox, get sober, and distance myself from unsafe environments so that I could provide a better life for my daughter. I knew higher education was a crucial step in achieving that goal.” 

Redemption
After earning additional credits at a local community college, Radigan enrolled at SDSU as a general business major in the fall of 2020. “From the moment I set foot on the SDSU campus, I knew I wanted to be an Aztec and this is where my transformation would begin,” she said. 

But life as a single parent, her job as a caregiver and schoolwork made time and resource management difficult. Driven by a need to complete her studies while caring for her daughter, Radigan formulated an idea for Parent Share, which would serve as a community co-working space for young parents who share childcare duties as they complete their work or studies in a single office space. 

“I wanted to re-imagine childcare as a family enrichment space for working or student parents,” said Radigan. “I envisioned Parent Share as a space with on-site infant care and pre-kindergarten classrooms dedicated to creating a supportive environment for professional mothers and fathers.” 

With co-founder, Kym Whitlock, Radigan incorporated the business in early 2023. She then created the business plan and located a space in San Diego, but she needed additional capital to make Parent Care a reality. 

Prize Money Helps to Fund Her Business Venture
Those critical resources were realized after Whitlock, Radigan, her sister, Barbara Carter (also a Fowler business student) and two other SDSU students formed a team and submitted their business plan to the Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture Challenge through SDSU’s ZIP Launchpad. After the judges saw their pitch, the team was awarded the top prize of $10,000. Radigan used the prize money for rent on the first San Diego location of Parent Share.

“The highlight of my college experience was winning the prestigious Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture Challenge,” said Radigan. “Receiving that $10,000 in seed funding was a defining moment and it validated all my hard work and commitment.” 

“A Testament to Resilience”
While her journey to college graduation was not an easy path, Radigan’s business degree has amplified her empowerment and pursuit of even greater success. 

“Graduating from college is a significant milestone, but for some, it's more than a degree—it's a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of dreams,” said Radigan, who is also a foster youth services volunteer and co-author of a book for Just in Time. “As a newly graduated business student from the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University, I stand on the cusp of a promising future, ready to make my mark in the business world. My journey here was far from ordinary. As a former foster youth, first-generation student, and working mom, the path was strewn with obstacles that only fueled my resolve to succeed.”