Building a Social Platform for Deserving Dogs

Ahmed El Shourbagy ‘10 MBA and his wife, the humans behind the wildly popular @DogsofInstagram and Lucy & Co, are self-proclaimed purveyors of cuteness. Together, they’ve grown their business into a social powerhouse with millions of loyal dog followers.

But cute photos and stylish dog accessories are only part of Ahmed’s story. He’s also helping humans (and pups) in need. As co-founder and CEO of Lucy & Co, he’s proud of the company culture they’ve built - a team of people that really values community.

During the pandemic, the Lucy & Co team pivoted quickly to produce masks that matched the dog bandanas that their customers loved. They raised $11,000 to donate to Eastside Neighborhood Services, a non-profit that directly serves the community he and his wife lives and works in.

Although he considers himself an entrepreneur at heart, Ahmed never expected he’d be running a business so early in his career. He was working at Target Corporation in a financial analyst role he enjoyed. But even so, he wanted to build something from scratch - a decision that launched his pup-themed ventures. Dogs of Instagram and Lucy & Co was the result of his unwavering vision, passion for dogs, and entrepreneurial spirit.

You can’t always choose the exact field you want to go into, but there are things you can do to invite opportunity.

At Opus College, a solid foundation of business and leadership gave Ahmed the confidence to venture into entrepreneurship at a high level. Courses in marketing, accounting, finance, and organizational development provided the building blocks for his ventures. Fellow visionaries he met at Opus College continue to inspire and educate him.

As a digital trailblazer and thriving business owner, Ahmed is deeply aware of his responsibility to create good in the world. With a solid vision and positive attitude, he’s hopeful about creating paw-sitive change.