Teaching Entrepreneurship: The Trailblazers

Feb, 2007
Press Release

Tom Krimmel, Richard Caruso, and Tim Draper discuss the importance of teaching kids to think BIG.

The BizWorld Foundation, National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Uncommon Individual Foundation, & Young Entrepreneurs at Haas (YEAH) celebrated the first annual National Entrepreneurship Week Tuesday, February 27th, with Teaching Entrepreneurship: The Trailblazers, an event held to engage community members in the week’s festivities.  The event took place on at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas Business School where panelists Tom Krimmel, Chief Development Officer, National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship; Richard Caruso, Founder, Uncommon Individual & current E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year; and Tim Draper, BizWorld Founder and Managing Director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, shared their thoughts on the importance of teaching business to youth, as well as fostering the entrepreneur in all of us.

“This microphone, this table, this water bottle; it’s all business.  By providing students with basic business knowledge and a platform to take a leap, society inevitably benefits.  You can all make an impact and make big things happen,” said Tim Draper.

Richard Caruso, Founder, Uncommon Individual, also discussed an often overlooked component that inspires youth to become leaders in the business world: mentoring.  “Mentoring is all about the dreams and passions of the protégé.  Entrepreneurs of all ages begin successful businesses by understanding their core strengths, having a strong passion [for the product], the proper resources, and community.”

Following the panelists, BizWorld, NFTE, & YEAH students participated in their own panel, discussing their business dreams and how these programs have made an impact on their lives. When asked what kind of business she plans to open, Lisa Windesheim-Zigas, a 5th grade BizWorld student at Fairmount Elementary responded, “I want to have my own fashion design business and make clothes for girls my age. There’s not much out there now and I think we need more stuff”.
 
It seems that at the core of all this knowledge, these students understand what all successful business owners share: heart. “Being able to interact with people—making friends and making connections is one of the best things you can do when owning a business”, said Edwin Rodriguez, and 18-year old on the panel.  He would know--he’s already had a successful business of his own, and will go on to create another one.