Page 32 - BICF College Prep 101 Fall 2018

Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught?
Submitted by: Jamillah Lodge
Acting MSME Director Bermuda Economic Development Corporation
Learning doesn’t stop when you you graduate from high school It is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a continual process whether it be be be in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a formal classroom setting or or the the everyday lessons in in in in in in life Entrepreneurship education falls somewhere in in in in in in in between There are some some some who would say that you you you can’t teach someone to be be be an an an entrepreneur But I I I ask can can you?
you you you might be able to to turn your your career aspirations into working for yourself With startups popping up up all over the the place colleges have made
the the shift and offer students an an an opportunity
From my time working at at at at at the the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation
(BEDC) I have have noticed that that there
are are some consistent
characteristics that that successful entrepreneurs
entrepreneurs
have have Specifically most
entrepreneurs
entrepreneurs
are:
risk takers visionaries leaders adaptable competitive driven confident persuasive and and understanding Many of us can can recognize them
in in ourselves however when they are not present– can can can you you teach entrepreneurship? I I argue
that you can can to to develop an an an entrepreneurial mindset by establishing entrepreneurship programs which include incubators and and and accelerators In addition to to to to course offerings these types of of organizations are designed to to to to create and and and grow young businesses by providing them
with necessary support financial
In a a a a a a a a a a a a a thread on on CoFounders Lab the largest online hub for entrepreneurs
entrepreneurs
founder Patrick Larsen says “Entrepreneurship
is is taught So So is is art music sports soft skills Some
people are autodidacts-
they they they learn learn from doing
and and they they they learn learn early
so so it appears that that they they they were “born” with it it it it it but if you you took 3 yr old Steve Jobs and and and and put him on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a desert island- he he he he he wouldn’t have become become the the the the greatest pitch man of all time ” ” Like Larsen I agree that that you you you you you can learn learn what what it it it it takes to to become become an an an an an entrepreneur Some
entrepreneurs
are are are born others are are are are taught No matter which one you you you are are are are once you you you develop an an an entre- preneurial mindset you you you are are are are As you you you you consider your next step in in life and and and what what college you you you you want to to attend also think about how Navigating starting and and and operating a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a business can be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a confusing process process the the the the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation
offers free advice and and and guidance to help you through the the the process process For more information visit www bedc bm or or or or or or call 441-292-5570 and technical services Determining what college will be be be be the best fit for you you can sometimes be be be be a a a a a a a a a a a a daunting task but consider your ultimate goal goal If it it is is to be be be be an an an an entrepreneur then look for for colleges that can support this goal goal The Bermuda International College and University Fair Fair is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a great opportunity
for for you to start the the selection process Some
colleges participating in in in in the the Fair Fair that have entrepreneurial programmes include: University University University of of Tampa University University University of of Buckingham Durham College and Brock University University University to name a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few more poised to take over the the the the world by identifying opportunities and and and taking advantage of of them
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