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Entrepreneurship and Global Marketplace Leadership As we prepare our students for the world that they will enter, we must realize that the skill set needed to succeed in the 21st century workforce – one that values opportunity, creativity, and agility – is quite different from the skill set needed during the last century. As the nation’s economy will increasingly rely on entrepreneurs to stimulate economic growth, our School should strive to prepare our students with the necessary skills to thrive. Even though not all students who receive entrepreneurial education will pursue a career path as an entrepreneur, they can all benefit from a greater understanding of the concepts and processes of economics and entrepreneurship. Beyond their skills in art, engineering, computer science, or other fields, students will also master a number of other concepts in the entrepreneurship program:

• Entrepreneurial processes – concept development, resourcing, actualization • Traits of an Entrepreneur – leadership, personal assessment, personal

management • Fundamentals of Communication – ethics, group dynamics/management, conflict

management • Economics and Financial Literacy – economic systems, cost-profit relationships,

accounting, money management • Career Development and Job Seeking Skills

The primary driver for the curriculum is a capstone project in which students develop their own business. This project will require the individual students to

• survey the market to assess need and a product’s potential viability (gap analysis, demographic analysis)

• develop a business plan that outlines business goals, product, market, advertising, management/organizational structure, capital needs (facility, production resources), and financial requirements

• create a prototype/simulation of product or service • present an “elevator pitch” for potential investors

From the various business ideas presented by individuals in the capstone project, one or a few will be selected by a panel of potential investors. Students would then apply for roles in the selected business and as a group develop and deliver the product to its target market.

Our entrepreneurship program will provide an incredible opportunity to offer students a multi-disciplinary approach to creative problem solving. Students will apply skills from various subjects and fields, such as art, engineering, computer programming, economics and finance, as well as English, public speaking, and research. The project-based learning methodology will make the entrepreneurial experience engaging for our students and will be a great opportunity to engage our alumni and local business leaders.

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Units: Semester 1

I. Entrepreneurship – what it takes to build and run your own business a. Entrepreneurial processes – concept development, resourcing,

actualization b. Traits of an Entrepreneur – leadership, personal assessment (skills that

meet market needs), personal management c. Fundamentals of Communication – ethics, group dynamics/management,

conflict management d. Economics and Financial Literacy – economic systems, cost-profit

relationships, accounting, money management, fund raising II. Your Business

a. survey the market to assess need and a product’s potential viability (gap analysis, demographic analysis)

b. conduct research on competitive products/services c. develop a business plan that outlines business goals, product, market,

advertising, management/organizational structure, capital needs (facility, production resources), and financial requirements

d. create a prototype/simulation of product or service e. present an “elevator pitch” for potential investors

Semester 2 (Independent Study)

III. Concept to Market a. “Winning” projects become companies – get some funding b. Classmates apply to work for companies

i. Role descriptions/personnel needs ii. Interviewing applicants iii. Marketing self – Linked In, resume, cover letter – response to job

posting, work samples iv. Follow up etiquette

c. Production scheduling i. Timeline for production ii. Production sequencing iii. Organizational planning – meetings, progress updates

d. Marketing product/service – advertising and promotions

Mistakes are a part of the road to success — little failures lead to great successes.

- Author Unknown