Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of articles on the pillars of iLEAD’s educational philosophy and approach.
“If you work hard enough and assert yourself, and use your mind and imagination, you can shape the world to your desires.” — Malcolm Gladwell
This week, we’re exploring the third pillar of the iLEAD acronym: the letter E, which stands for Entrepreneurial Development.
At SCVi, we encourage learners to work in teams, take risks, and learn from failure — all of which nurture the ability to innovate and ignite the entrepreneurial spirit.
Through focusing on entrepreneurial development, learners build a number of skills, including the following:
- Self-confidence
- Durability and resilience
- Problem-solving
- Creativity and innovative thinking
- Goal-setting
- Initiative
- A strong work ethic
There are countless examples of iLEAD learners who have embraced that entrepreneurial spirit. Here are a few that have stood out:
SCVi Innovation Studios Learners Find Streaming Success
When Victor Fatoohi and Ethan Guthrie, 10th grade learners at SCVi’s Innovation Studios, found themselves in need of internships during the 2017-18 school year, they came up with a solution: They started a business instead.
Guthrie was originally working on developing a streaming music website, but as the two started to work together, they asked themselves what would be a better option for a workable website that wouldn’t require costly music licensing. What they discovered was a legal provision for nonprofit organizations to freely rebroadcast certain television content.
Onaii, the site designed, launched, and managed by the duo, provided a legal online streaming platform for content such as The Weather Channel, C-SPAN, and others. Guthrie explained that to legally rebroadcast content as a nonprofit, Onaii Corp. needed to be incorporated as a business, which meant the pair had to develop a business plan. Developing Onaii drew on multiple skill sets, particularly designing, building, coding, scaling, and hosting websites.
iLEAD Exploration Learner Explores the Sweeter Side of Business
Hoops by Nana didn’t exactly start as a business, but as a way for Exploration learner Milena de Vera to provide a treat option for her sister, who suffers from celiac disease. However, developing and baking gluten-free donuts quickly developed into an entrepreneurial opportunity, growing it into a licensed, expanding business.
To continue learning and growing, Milena enrolled in a cooking class to develop her baking chops. Her consumer math course equipped her to keep accurate financial records for her business. She tests and retests multiple recipes to come up with her line of products. Last fall, Milena was asked by Williams-Sonoma to participate in a pop-up bake sale for the “No Kid Hungry” charity this fall, and she has also supported iLEAD events with her products. Her post-iLEAD plans include attending community college while she expands her business.
This is just one story that illustrates how iLEAD learners are empowered by a focus on entrepreneurial development that builds skills that influence every area of their education and creates potential career paths. At SCVi, we are constantly inspired by how we see learners put an entrepreneurial focus into action.
Next week, join us as we dive into the next pillar of the iLEAD acronym: Arts.