Upper Schoolers Demonstrate Entrepreneurial Spirit
Since the introduction of the new Entrepreneurship class for freshmen this year, a spirit of innovation has been flourishing at the Upper School. As students identify and set up both for-profit and social enterprises, they are developing a range of skills that will benefit them in all areas of life, not just in business.
The semester-long class is taught by Brian Webster, a longtime serial entrepreneur who also serves as a housepop in the Upper School Boys’ Dorm. While he doesn’t expect all the student-initiated businesses to continue beyond the class, Webster is confident that students are developing proficiencies they’ll find useful in any future endeavor. “Writing and developing other communication skills are essential parts of the course,” he says. “Plus, students are provided with plenty of presentation opportunities, before audiences and a camera. They learn the importance of planning before executing an idea, and they have to practice teamwork and team management.”
To support their businesses, many of the students are making creative use of web and social media technologies to help share their products and ideas with a wider community than just Principia. This spring, the Entrepreneurship class businesses are showcased on www.BiznizZone.com, a website created by one of the freshmen in the class whose business is designing websites. It describes the various products and services being offered by the class—including handcrafted items, apparel, community services, and a community-focused social enterprise and includes links to the sites of the individual businesses.
Last month, at a Principia Parents Association-sponsored craft fair, several teams had an opportunity to market their wares directly to customers. Some of the businesses—including Sweetatious, which creates hand-painted flower pots, and Amanzi, which produces neoprene water-bottle sleeves—sold out and took orders for later. Most of the businesses are group efforts, with each student playing a specific role—design, production, marketing. In cases where they can’t keep up with orders, students are having to learn production skills, too—such as sewing or painting. Many of the enterprises share part of their profits with charities—both local and international.
In mid-May, the freshmen students will participate in a Shark Tank-style presentation, where local entrepreneurs will judge each enterprise and give constructive feedback—and both the audiences and the “sharks” will vote on the top three businesses. (At last fall’s Shark Tank, one of the judges offered a student a job because of his strong marketing skills; another judge offered to carry a business's t-shirts in his chain stores!)
Another business is being developed by two seniors doing an independent study and senior project in entrepreneurship under Webster’s supervision. The PrinBiz Open Market, spearheaded by James Masten and Gastuvas Balukake, aims to start an open-air market tradition in West County for students from all area schools as well as for established businesses and home-based entrepreneurs in the community. It is designed to be a business that addresses the biggest need for entrepreneurs—a way to reach a broad, public customer base. The date of the first market day will be announced later.
“When you hold young people to very high standards, it’s amazing what they can achieve!” remarks Webster, who is delighted with the energy and creativity the students display. “When you expect a lot, they will stand up and deliver a lot.”