Nicholas Perkins sat alongside students at Fayetteville State University on Sept. 17, surprising his audience with a candid admission rarely heard from a multimillion-dollar CEO. "Every day, I face doubt," he confessed. "But you have to get up, dust yourself off, and find a better way."

Perkins, a Fayetteville native and FSU graduate, returned to the Rudolph Jones Student Center for a panel conversation that connected his local beginnings to his rise as head of Perkins Management Services and the Fuddruckers franchise. 

“My upbringing and time at Fayetteville State University were foundational and transformational,” said Perkins. “Those experiences gave me the confidence and resilience to take risks and build something bigger than myself.” 

His message comes at a time when entrepreneurship fuels much of North Carolina’s growth.

Across the state, small businesses account for more than 99% of all firms and employ nearly half of the workforce. For the students in the room, some of whom had already launched ventures into technology, wellness and other industries, those numbers reflected both opportunity and urgency.

Perkins reminded them that resilience matters just as much as market conditions. His own path began with very little. He worked in the university cafeteria before launching his first business with just $2,000 and a credit card. 

“As the dream gets bigger, sometimes you take steps forward and get knocked three back,” said Perkins. “But being an entrepreneur means pushing through, having the vision to scale, and finding ways to create lasting impact."

That emphasis on resilience and vision set the stage for questions from four student moderators. They pressed him on balancing academics, growing companies, building credibility, and staying resilient. The moderators included Aria Freeman, a junior double-major in accounting and banking and finance; Justin Pruitt, a senior majoring in business administration; Meshai Ives Maissonet, a junior majoring in business; and Jabril Crudup, who graduated in May 2025.

As the conversation unfolded, the moderators’ questions reflected the themes shaping North Carolina’s business climate: how to turn optimism into lasting growth and how to prepare for what comes next. A September 2025 survey from the PNC Financial Services Group found that most small and mid-sized business owners are satisfied with their companies, even as they continue to monitor costs. That outlook was reinforced nationally in the latest Small Business Optimism Index from the National Federation of Independent Business, which climbed to 100.8 in August, its highest level in two years.

In response, Perkins told the students that optimism is valuable, but vision is what separates entrepreneurs from those who remain stuck in day-to-day survival. 

“You can’t just think about where you are today,” he said. “I had to ask myself what I wanted the next twenty years to look like. That meant sharpening my skills and developing a bold strategic plan so I’m ready to lead the kind of organization that I want in the future.”

That focus on long-term vision was exactly what the faculty wanted most for the business students. An understanding that perseverance and forward thinking are essential for success.

“The goal was to connect classroom lessons with real-world demands,” said Abdoul Wane, Ph.D., professor of economics and chair of the Department of Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Fire & Emergency Safety Administration. “Mr. Perkins’ story shows students how persistence and vision are essential tools for competing in today’s economy.”

That lesson came to life in the discussion itself, where Perkins watched as students took the lead and shared their ideas. He said their determination reminded him of the drive that carried him from campus to the boardroom.

For the moderators, the moment felt just as personal. Freeman said the conversation demonstrated what building on classroom lessons can look like in the real world.

"Mr. Perkins’ story showed me that the path from where we are now to building something bigger is real,” said Freeman. “Initially, I met him at a pitch competition, where I told him about my vision and what student entrepreneurs are creating at FSU. He told me to follow up with him, and I did. That experience taught me how powerful it can be to share your goals and stay ready, because the next opportunity can come from any conversation.”

After the panel,  future leaders discovered they were not just witnesses to inspiration. They were ready to shape what came next.