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. ‘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.

‘We are equipping our students with the skills they will need to succeed in their future careers. Entrepreneurs apply knowledge creatively and resourcefully, and these are among the employable skills that will make our students agile and capable of thriving across industries, job roles and careers, not just locally but in a global economy as well.’

Ms Curtis, Principal.

‘Through the academy process, it is my goal that the students will feel empowered to embrace challenges as opportunities and know that there is a huge world of opportunities that they can pursue,’ Ms Daud said.

Among last year’s group of participants were several exciting enterprises in the early stages of ideation. Ideas in the pipeline included the environmental impact of fast fashion and how technology can help people reuse and upcycle in the circular economy; an app that would bring together a range of support networks for the homeless and challenge misconceptions around homeless people; and an app that would enable people to select restaurants and food outlets based on their ethical and sustainability ratings. Year 8 student Jessica Krook participated in the academy last year and said she valued the entrepreneurial and business skills she had developed through the program. ‘I have developed skills for ideating (brainstorming ideas), finding a gap in the market, creating and marketing a successful product, and using other people’s feedback to improve my own ideas.

‘Developing these skills has been so beneficial since I am considering a degree and career in business and economics when I finish school as well as creating my own start-up business,’ Jessica said.

SHARK TANK

In Year 9, students studying entrepreneurial studies collaborate on an enterprising project before pitching and presenting their ideas to a panel of experts in a Shark Tank style approach. In 2021, students concieved a number of enterprising ideas from a time management solution, healthy food truck, Gift Guide app and a packaging service solution that changes colour to let people know if a product is out of date. Now in its fourth year, the Shark Tank project allows students to demonstrate their entrepreneurial thinking through a breadth of skills including problem solving, communication skills, critical thinking skills, confidence, money management skills, teamwork and leadership, customer service and marketing skills, as well as learning to pivot and change direction quickly when they encounter problems. While it is hoped that some students might receive funding for their innovative business ideas, more broadly, entrepreneurial studies foster a way of thinking in our students, empowering them to use the tools of critical and creative thinking to ideate solutions that will solve the world’s most complex and challenging problems. It is critical students develop these skills to both survive and thrive in the future workforce.