One word.
That is what rising ninth-graders in the new Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School were asked to use to describe how they felt at the end of third day of the Envision Lead Grow program.
Energized.
Encouraged.
Knowledgeable.
Accomplished.
Composed.
Organized.
Impacted.
Empowered.
The 20 female students also expressed feeling excited, grateful and reassured about the passion roadmaps they began that day. The graphic organizers were another step in their preparation for the program’s culminating activity.
Each student will pitch her business idea to Envision Lead Grow’s founder Angela Reddix, who is also CEO of ARDX, a Norfolk-based management consulting firm. In addition to having the opportunity to engage with and get feedback from local entrepreneurs, one student will win $500 for her presentation.
“You want to show you know what you’re talking about and it’s a vision worth buying,” Anyssa Reddix, Angela’s daughter, told students. “The more you practice, the more comfortable you will feel.”
She encouraged them to take their “growth guides” home to review overnight with the promise of more time to work tomorrow.
Riana Conner wants to combine her passion for child care and athletics to open a facility similar to a YMCA.
Leora Friedman wants to be a motivational speaker for children.
Samantha Brophy and D’Nya Davis are each interested in developing skincare products that include more natural and organic materials.
Samantha Renaud wants to develop a clothing line that “inspires girls and guys just to be themselves.” She notes that asking the right questions and listening to potential customers will be key to her success.
“What do you need? What do you want? What’s going to help you?” Renaud plans to ask others. “If you listen, you find out their stories and you find out what people are in need and desire of. That leads to them buying your product and that also leads to partnerships and fundraising. It can lead to so many things just by listening to one customer.”
Savannah Wheeler’s vision for the future is a business plan that has two main goals.
“When I grow up I want to start my own publishing company and with the income from that, I want to help families that don’t have a lot of money send their kids to college,” Wheeler said. “Because a lot of people are smart and have a lot of potential, they just don’t have the finances to help them get there.”
In fulfilling her dream, Wheeler hopes to help others reach their full potential.
“I love reading and writing, so I thought I could help people get their books published and help them achieve their dreams. Then, with that income, I can help other people go to college to achieve their dreams.”
Hearing Renaud, Wheeler and other participants discuss their ideas excites Entrepreneurship and Business Academy Coordinator Meghan Timlin for what’s to come with the academy’s first class of students this year.
“It has been amazing to watch the growth in these 20 young ladies in just the first three days of this camp,” said Timlin. “It has given them a formula to take their idea and put it into action and that has been tremendous to see over the past three days.”
“This is the type of work that they will be doing daily in the academy,” Timlin added, “learning about themselves, working to refine goals and visions for the future and pitching those ideas to others to see if others will ‘buy-in’ to what they are trying to accomplish. It is a great first step for these students.”