Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Partnership program offers ambitious Upper School students an invaluable creative problem-solving framework

By Madison Perkins, Marketing & Communications Associate

Learning to identify a problem and develop a solution extends beyond the classroom. It is a real-world skill that empowers individuals to innovate, create, and make meaningful changes in their own lives and the lives of others. Whether addressing local issues or tackling global challenges, mastering problem-solving processes is invaluable for personal growth and can significantly impact our community.

Now in its fourth year, the Social Innovators Program is a Brimmer partnership with the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice and Schoolyard Ventures for students in grades 10, 11, and 12. It allows students to hone their entrepreneurial skills by learning how to identify a problem in an area they are passionate about and executing a way to solve it, all while earning a Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship. The program was first brought to the attention of Director of Enrollment Management Brian Beale.

“In October 2021, I was approached by the CEO of a school software startup with whom we had worked, indicating that he was on the Nominating Committee for the Social Innovators Program. When asked for schools to consider nominating, Brimmer came to mind,” says Beale. After connecting with the Executive Director and sharing information about our own STEAM Diploma Program, Brimmer signed on to become a global member school. “To me, this story is one of connection, innovation, and collaboration,” says Beale. “While those in the community may be aware of the amazing things happening within our classroom walls every day, it is always nice when others recognize and appreciate the work that our educators are doing to make Brimmer a leader in the field.”

The program is completely virtual and runs for three months. Students learn from interviews and case studies and then develop their projects in an area that sparks their curiosity. Schoolyard Ventures has successfully supported students in transforming their innovative ideas into thriving ventures across a diverse range of industries. The program equips participants with the tools and mentorship needed to realize their vision, fostering a community of young innovators prepared to shape the future.

“I was excited when I first heard about the Social Innovators Program,” Chloe Scolnick ’25 shared. “I’ve always been interested in problem-solving and entrepreneurship in general, mostly small things like selling used clothes or addressing and working to solve common issues present in my life. I wasn’t sure what to expect when going into the program, but I was eager to go to class each week to learn more about the innovation process.” Scolnick’s project, DailyPlan, is a web app for teens who struggle with time management. Designed to create a stress-free solution that helps busy teenagers effectively organize their schedules, DailyPlan features a timer function that enables teens to allocate specific timeframes for completing their responsibilities.

“I tested my product with a good friend who has a rigorous sports and school schedule, and much to my satisfaction, my solution proved to be beneficial and effective in keeping her on task.” Not only has Scolnick expressed her appreciation for all the steps involved in the entrepreneurial process, but she was able to help a friend along the way. “There is no better feeling than knowing you are able to help someone, especially someone under so much stress, to make their life a little easier,” she says.

In a powerful testament to the impact of the Social Innovators Program, Ben Dykeman ’25 found that the program’s structure transformed his approach towards problem-solving. “It influenced my entrepreneurial mindset by breaking things down into small chunks to make them achievable and showing that a student can balance entrepreneurship and school and still successfully create a product,” he says. “It changed my mindset to ‘anything is possible,’ and I look at problem solving in different ways now.” Dykeman’s personal interest in photography inspired him to develop his project, the Battery Strap, to extend camera battery life and provide a more comfortable strap solution. It achieves this by connecting the camera to a large battery pack worn on the back and utilizing a backpack strap system for ease of use. Through his research and interviews with professional photographers, Dykeman identified a common issue of short battery life paired with neck strap discomfort. He has developed a physical prototype of his solution and aims to get a patent on his design.

The Social Innovators Program taught me that every opportunity is what you make of it.

The Social Innovators Program cultivates critical thinkers through immersive virtual learning and mentorship. By daring to ask “What could be possible?” students like Scolnick, Dykeman, and their Brimmer peers before them are able to transform challenges into opportunities and serve as a shining example of the potential that lies within each of us when we dare to think differently and challenge the status quo. ■