This week, Connelly, the founder of Non Disclosure Apparel, a bra company based in Charleston, South Carolina, returned to campus to share her experience with students.
Connelly is serving as Wofford’s entrepreneur in residence for the week as part of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Interim course. She’s giving lectures, working with students individually and in groups on their startup ideas, helping them prepare to pitch those ideas and more.
“Becky is a dynamic, passionate and seasoned entrepreneur,” says Sarah Butler, manager of Wofford’s Launch Program in the Career Center in the Mungo Exchange, who is teaching the course. “With her knowledge and experience, I knew our students would enjoy and benefit from having her here.”
McClure Mullen ’26, a finance and accounting major from Spartanburg, South Carolina, says he was impressed most by Connelly’s perseverance after hearing her story.
“I was inspired by how she kept going. She didn’t give up,” Mullen says. “We’re very happy to have her here.”
Connelly fondly remembers her time at Wofford, during which she earned a bachelor’s in government, built a strong support network and became the first woman in her family to graduate from this college.
“Wofford was the only school I applied to,” she says.
After Wofford, Connelly’s path led to management positions in commercial and residential construction.
Privately, she had started exploring the idea of creating a bra unlike anything on the market that would be comfortable, functional and accessible to any woman. In 2014, she decided to go all in.
“I was seeing a life coach at the time,” Connelly remembers. “When I told her about my crazy idea, she encouraged me to do it. So, I quit my job.”
She admits the first few years were tough.
“In the beginning I was making a lot of phone calls, trying to find a manufacturer who would work with me,” Connelly says. “Our family was still young. It was a challenge to find a balance.”
She says the past three years have been the most productive so far. Connelly continues to grow the business. She has launched a website, developed new products, hired a couple of employees and shipped to customers across the world.
“It’s very exciting,” Connelly says. “Success is when I receive a letter from a woman thanking me because she has been looking for a product like this all her life. Or maybe it’s a woman whose daughter is more confident and smiling. Those are the successes that validate my purpose.”
Connelly says she has obtained one patent and hopes to add another soon. One of her products is named “Elli,” a nod to the life coach who encouraged her to follow her dreams.
She observes that Spartanburg is “much cooler now” and marvels at how much campus has grown.
“Right now, I’m just constantly pushing the envelope,” she says. “I’m going to market next week, talking to vendors and buyers from all over the place. I’m hoping we’ll be out of inventory by the end of that week.”