Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Tharpe
Hi Stephanie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a Florida native, born and raised in Rockledge, FL. My father was an engineer at NASA and is now a Quality Sector Lead at L3Harris in Melbourne. My mother, an Army veteran, is currently pursuing her second Master’s degree in engineering while working at Northrop Grumman. My grandmother was also a civil rights activist.
I believe my upper-middle-class upbringing provided a strong foundation for who I am and what I do. My parents always encouraged me to be an independent thinker, to use critical thinking, and to believe that anything is possible while staying grounded in reality.
Following in the footsteps of my parents and grandparents, I became a third-generation HBCU student, attending Florida A&M University, like my sister and grandfather.
While studying at FAMU, I founded Millennial Maverick Mag, an online platform uniting HBCU students. This led to my creation of an online book club marketplace, originally called “MiBook,” and eventually to a nomination for Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2018. Although I didn’t make the list, the recognition opened many doors. One such opportunity was being selected as one of 72 participants from a pool of 40,000 applicants to join Antler Global’s inaugural startup accelerator program in NYC. It was there that I restructured MiBook and conceived and launched OffPage, a literary tech company.
After the launch of OffPage, former Forbes VP Rashaad Lambert reached out to me to curate a book club for For(bes) The Culture (now Forbes BLK). This opportunity led to an incredible five years contributing to their platform.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It certainly hasn’t been a smooth journey. The catalyst for creating Millennial Maverick Mag was a difficult breakup with a college boyfriend, during which I experienced emotional and psychological abuse. I turned to reading and writing as a form of therapy, which eventually led to my current endeavors.
While at Antler Global, despite working extremely hard and believing in the potential success of OffPage, I was not selected for funding. This deeply affected me, as it was one of the first times in my life that I felt I had truly failed, despite giving my all.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about OffPage?
OffPage began as an online book club marketplace and has since grown into a successful platform that helps people experience literature beyond reading, bringing it to life through real-world experiences. Our unique approach makes literature more interactive and engaging. We curate corporate book clubs and enhance the reading experience by creating playlists for each book, conducting author interviews, crafting alcoholic and zero-proof beverages inspired by each book, and hosting live events that bring all these elements together.
What sets us apart is our perspective on reading—not as a routine activity but as an immersive experience. We want readers to be fully absorbed in what they’re reading, diving deeper into the emotions and insights the author intended.
I’m most proud of our ability to curate at a high level with companies like Forbes and to impact multiple industries with our services.
I want readers to know that reading is more than a solitary activity. It’s more than book clubs; it’s an experience that can take you on global adventures.
What makes you happy?
This is a question I often contemplate and am continuously searching to answer. I’d say the love of my family brings me happiness, along with a good White Russian cocktail after a long day and traveling through Europe—especially Amsterdam and Berlin. I try to visit Europe regularly, with a particular fondness for those two cities. I try to visit Amsterdam at least once a month and I hope to eventually own a second home there or Rotterdam.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephtharpe
Image Credits
Stephanie Tharpe
