Embedding Entrepreneurship Skills in Schools - Austin Brooks (Bonus Episode) | E83

PBL Simplified for Administrators by Magnify Learning

Episode • Jun 29, 2022 • 45m

This bonus episode is all about how entrepreneurship fits in the classroom. I’m excited to have Austin Brooks the Executive Director at Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship which heads up the CEO creating entrepreneurial opportunities program. Ten years ago, Austin was the “kid who sparked the CEO movement” when he interviewed business leader Jack Schultz. Now he’s pairing community learning with Project Based Learning to create connectors and entrepreneurs beginning at the High School level.

I love being an entrepreneur, and I love coaching entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship connects the natural problem solving pieces and brings in problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, strategy, empathy, and many more valuable skills. Austin and I dive into what CEO is all about and how it has helped jump-start the career and competence of learners. Austin shares some incredible stories, including how one student's project made $500,000 in the first year.

Episode Highlights:

[08:37] Austin shares how he began entrepreneurship at a young age by mowing lawns.

[11:16] CEO is a capstone program for juniors and seniors to develop entrepreneurial skills.

[13:58] Students in the CEO program get to go behind the scenes at local businesses and see how they work.

[14:59] Community learning is paired with Project Based Learning, so that the students can learn to be connectors. The community partner aspect is really leveraged.

[17:37] Adam Walters was in the CEO program. He overcame a lack of soft skills to talk to developers and create a Roblox Ghost Simulator. He ended up making half a million dollars.

[21:33] We should not underestimate our expectations of our student learners. Interacting with community partners and mentors removes the ceiling of just being in the classroom.

[28:22] Austin is the “kid who sparked the CEO movement”. All he needed was permission to connect and then he set up a meeting with business owner, Jack Schultz. This was the beginning of the CEO program, making students great communicators and connectors.

[31:59] It's also a goal to help students become accountable and take ownership of their decisions whether they succeed or fail.

[32:33] Students who go through the proven framework also become lifelong learners.

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