Encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset St Margaret’s has partnered with start-up group the Academy for Enterprising Girls, a program dedicated to solving real-world problems and developing girls’ enterprising skills, including problem solving, creativity and resilience One lunchtime a week, students participating in the academy work through online modules learning about entrepreneurship, design, coding and starting their own business and hear from young female entrepreneurs and some of Australia’s most successful businesswomen via videos. Head of Faculty eLearning, Research, Technology and Design Kerry Daud said the academy appeals to girls’ innate aptitude for problem solving. ‘Girls are fantastic problem solvers and find a real joy if that solution can make a difference in the lives of others. The academy helps the girls to understand that they are change makers and can make a tangible difference to their community. This sense of purpose and the potential to work towards a more socially just future really motivates the girls.
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‘The program is so well structured that it provides the girls with the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the design thinking process, to build empathy for others, and to think deeply and creatively about problems, solutions, and innovation. The girls have access to female industry mentors, feedback and experts who are academic leaders in the fields of science, technology, innovation, and the creative industries,’ Ms Daud said. It is intended the academy will open students’ eyes to the career opportunities possible in STEAM, from app design, coding and data analysis to design features, user experience and functionality, while also inspiring them to see how they can make a difference in the world.
