Lowey

Bundy-Sichol

Award-Winning Author

Children’s Writer & Educator

Travels from: Chicago, IL

“If you’d like your kids to begin understanding entrepreneurship then the books from Lowey Bundy Sichol’s ‘From an Idea to…’ series are a wonderful way to start.” — The LEGO Car Blog

LOWEY BUNDY SICHOL is an award-winning author with an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. She is a pioneer in teaching entrepreneurship and business to kids, working hard to inspire the next generation to think big and believe in their ideas. Her book series “From an Idea to…” has earned literary accolades such as Best STEM Book by NSTA, Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, Best Children’s Book Council book, International Literacy Association Book, and Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List. Lowey’s background and expertise focuses on entrepreneurship, marketing, and brand management. She has taught students from kindergarten to business school and is a seasoned speaker at schools, conferences, and events.

In addition to Lowey’s nonfiction books and inspiring author visits, she creates innovative programs for educators that help their students practice entrepreneurship and develop the skills necessary for success. Her website features free innovative curriculums, ideas, and activities, including Let Me Fail, which teaches kids how to flip the script on failure. Lowey also partners with corporations and sponsors to bring free author visits and entrepreneurship books to students and teachers at Title 1 schools. To date, her community outreach efforts have impacted tens of thousands of children in Texas, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

Lowey received an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a BA from Hamilton College where she played softball and rugby. She lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband Adam, three children, and two big dogs. Lowey has been featured on The History Channel’s The Toys that Built America, NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and many podcasts.

Her titles include From an Idea to Disney, From an Idea to Nike, From an Idea to Google, From an Idea to LEGO (HarperCollins, 2019); From an Idea to Barbie, From an Idea to Harley-Davidson (She Writes Press, 2027); Idea Makers: 15 Fearless Female Entrepreneurs (Chicago Review Press, 2022); Cookie Queen: How One Girl Started Tate’s Bake Shop (Random House, 2023).

Lowey's Featured Titles

From an Idea to Harley-Davidson: Riding the Road of Innovation

She Writes Press |

January 19, 2027

Children’s

For fans of the Who Was and I Survived series, an illustrated, behind-the-scenes look into the history, business, and brand of the world’s most famous motorcycle that teaches readers all about the company’s incredible 100+ year journey.

Today, Harley-Davidson is the most famous motorcycle company in the world with millions of riders, motorcycle groups for all ages, and festivals to celebrate its unique culture. But a long time ago, this iconic, loud, and cool motorcycle was just an idea dreamed up by two curious friends. Find out more about Harley-Davidson’s origins, the many challenges its founders encountered along the way, and the innovation it took them to race to the top. This illustrated, nonfiction book is filled with everything STEM teachers want in a story and is the sixth title in the award-winning From an Idea to . . . series—the world’s best-selling business and entrepreneurship biographies!

In From an Idea to Harley-Davidson, you will:

Find out who the real Harley and Davidsons are. (Hint: there is more than one Davidson involved!)
Discover what it took to compete against the automobile.
Learn how Harley-Davidson came back from almost going out of business!

Creative Nonfiction, History & Biography, Illustration & Graphic Storytelling, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers, Nonfiction

From an Idea to Barbie: The Doll That Could Be Anything

She Writes Press |

January 19, 2027

Children’s

For fans of Who Was and I Survived series, an illustrated, behind-the-scenes look into the history, business, and beauty of the world’s most famous doll—and the fearless female entrepreneur behind it all.

Today, Barbie is the most popular doll in the world, with Dreamhouses, cars, yachts, clothes, movies, and hundreds of careers. But a long time ago, Barbie was just an idea dreamed up by a confident and creative businesswoman named Ruth Handler. Find out more about Barbie’s origins, the many challenges founder Ruth overcame along the way, and how Barbie persevered to become the most popular doll in the world. This illustrated nonfiction book is the fifth title in the award-winning From an Idea to . . . series—the world’s best-selling business and entrepreneurship biographies!

In From an Idea to Barbie, you will:

Find out how Barbie and Ken got their names.
Discover the importance of Barbie’s wardrobe.
Explore the ways Barbie expanded its brand from a single doll to a world of media, merchandise, and more!

Creative Nonfiction, History & Biography, Illustration & Graphic Storytelling, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers, Nonfiction

From an Idea to Lego: The Building Bricks Behind the World’s Largest Toy Company

Clarion Books |

July 9, 2019

Children’s

For fans of the successful Who Was series, From an Idea to Lego is a behind-the-bricks look into the world’s famous toy company, with humorous black & white illustrations throughout.

Today, LEGO is one of the biggest toy companies in the world, but a long time ago, a Danish carpenter, Ole Kirk Christiansen, started with just an idea. Find out more about LEGO’s origins, those famous bricks, and their other inventive toys and movie ventures in this illustrated nonfiction book!

Find out the origin the name “LEGO.” (Hint: it combines two Danish words)
See how LEGO grew from a carpentry shop to a multi-platform toy company.
Discover how LEGO bricks are made and how they came up with their design.

Academics & Education, Creative Nonfiction, History & Biography, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers, Nonfiction

From an Idea to Disney: How Imagination Built a World of Magic

Clarion Books |

February 12, 2019

Children’s

From an Idea to Disney is a behind-the-movie-screen look into the history, business, and brand of the world’s largest entertainment empire. With humorous black & white illustrations throughout, learn about the company behind the world’s favorite mouse, Mickey!

“I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.” —Walt Disney

Today, the Walt Disney Company is the biggest entertainment company in the world with theme parks, TV shows, movie studios, merchandise, the most recognizable cartoon character in the world, Mickey Mouse. But a long time ago, brothers Walt and Roy Disney started out with just an idea. Find out more about Disney’s history, the business, and the brand in this illustrated nonfiction book!

Find out what Walt first intended to name his famous mouse. (Hint: It wasn’t Mickey!)
Discover behind-the-scenes magic of how Walt Disney World is run.
Explore the ways the Disney expanded its brand from a little mouse into media, merchandise, and more!

Creative Nonfiction, History & Biography, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers, Nonfiction

Think Like an Entrepreneur! (Signature School Assembly)

Best for Grades 3–5

How did Disney, Nike, Google, Barbie, Harley-Davidson, and LEGO begin? Each started with just an idea. This interactive signature assembly by award-winning author and MBA Lowey Bundy-Sichol, students discover the surprising true stories behind some of the world’s most famous brands. They learn what entrepreneurship is, why it matters, and how an idea can grow into something that changes the world.

Once students understand the basics of entrepreneurship, Lowey shares her favorite Shark Tank clip and leads a lively discussion as kids analyze the entrepreneur’s product and decide whether they’d invest. For an additional cost, Lowey can arrange to have this special Shark Tank product gifted to all teachers (or even all teachers and students!).

Lowey wraps up her assembly with a behind-the-scenes look at how she writes a nonfiction book, a sneak peek at her upcoming books, and a Q&A for students and teachers. Students leave excited, inspired, and believing in their own big ideas.

One School One Book: From an Idea to LEGO & From an Idea to Disney

Best for All Grades

Your whole school just read about LEGO or Disney. Now meet the author! Designed as the perfect kickoff or grand finale to your One School One Book program, this interactive assembly with award-winning author and MBA Lowey Bundy-Sichol brings the book to life.

Lowey takes students on a deep dive into the past, present, and future of LEGO and Disney. She challenges them to recall what they’ve read, think critically, and discover how one small idea grew into a world-famous brand. Along the way, students learn what entrepreneurship is, why it matters, and how their own ideas could change the world.

From an Idea to Innovation: How Educators Can Empower Students to Think Like Entrepreneurs

Best for educators, librarians, and maker space

What if your library or maker space became the most entrepreneurial space in your school, a launchpad for student innovation? In an era when AI can generate content in seconds, students need something more powerful: the ability to think like entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial thinking teaches students to spot problems, imagine creative solutions, test their ideas with courage, and build resilience through failure.

In this session, award-winning author and MBA Lowey Bundy-Sichol shares stories and proven frameworks that help educators build an entrepreneurial mindset in students. Designed for grades 3–5 and easily adapted for older or younger students, her approach uses cross-curricular projects that guide kids to:

-Research the real stories behind great innovators and entrepreneurs
-Brainstorm original ideas that solve real problems
-Design and build prototypes
-Create a brand, including a name, logo, and pitch
-Showcase their inventions at an entrepreneurship fair or “Shark Tank” pitch event

Educators leave with ready-to-use lesson ideas, activity sheets, and a step-by-step plan for linking STEM and entrepreneurship, so their students can go From an Idea to… anywhere.

Cookies, Cookies, and Cookie Queen!

Best for Grades K-2

What does it take to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie and turn it into a business? Award-winning author and MBA Lowey Bundy-Sichol reads her picture book Cookie Queen: How One Girl Started Tate’s Bake Shop, the inspiring true story of Kathleen King. At just 11 years old, Kathleen set out to create and sell the perfect chocolate chip cookie.

Hidden inside this delicious story are real business lessons that even the youngest students can understand: creating a product, choosing a price, marketing and packaging, plus getting cookies into customers’ hands. Lowey concludes with a peek into how a picture book is made and a Q&A for students and teachers.

Idea Makers: Fearless Female Entrepreneurs

Best for Grades 6-12 | all-girls schools, after-school entrepreneurship programs, Girl Scout troops, and Women’s History Month celebrations

What does it take to turn a bold idea into a business? Award-winning author and MBA Lowey Bundy-Sichol introduces students to the inspiring true stories of women who dreamed big, broke barriers, and built businesses that changed the world. The stories come from her book Idea Makers: 15 Fearless Female Entrepreneurs.

Students discover how these women spotted opportunities, took risks, overcame obstacles, and never gave up on their ideas. Attendees leave with the confidence that they can do the same. Lowey concludes with a behind-the-scenes look at how she writes nonfiction and a Q&A for students and teachers.

Think Like an Entrepreneur!

Best for authors and educators

Entrepreneurship isn’t just for startups and founders. It’s a mindset anyone can use. Award-winning author and MBA Lowey Bundy-Sichol shares how to spot opportunities, build a personal brand, understand your true audience, and create win-win partnerships, using examples and stories from some of history’s greatest entrepreneurs. It’s like a mini MBA for authors and educators!

You’ll walk away thinking bigger about your ideas, your work, and yourself.

“Your presentation was amazing! The kids have been talking about everything they learned and how much they enjoyed the experience. So grateful for this wonderful memory for our students.” — Library and Explorations Teacher

“Thank you for visiting our school! We so enjoyed having you present your ideas and work. You did an amazing job engaging with the students! The kids were a buzz all afternoon talking about the visit.” — School Librarian

“Thank you for the amazing visit today! It was so engaging and informative. The teachers and kids were raving about you afterwards, and all of your books are currently checked out from the library. I need to order more copies because I had some disappointed customers later in the day.” — School Library Media Specialist

“We truly enjoyed having you for our author visit. The feedback from staff and students have been SO positive. You had everyone’s attention and inspired this young generation.” — Library Media Center Director

“THANK YOU so much for coming and inspiring our students! The kids were so excited and loved your presentation.” — Teacher Librarian

“Thank you so much for visiting our school today! I’ve heard great comments from teachers and students about you.” — Library Media Specialist

Lowey’s Link for Educators

Lowey’s Events Link

Honors, Awards & Recognition

Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Best STEM Book by National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
Best STEM Book by University of Nebraska Kearney
Best Children’s Book Awarded by Bank Street College of Education, Children’s Book Committee
Best Children’s Book Council book
Battle of the Books, State of Wisconsin
International Literacy Association Book
Texas Bluebonnet Award master list
Great Texas Mosquito List
Horned Toad Award