Guest column: Creating environment of entrepreneurialism at any age
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Guest column: Creating environment of entrepreneurialism at any age

By Beth Gitlin

During Women's History Month, we recognize the individual successes of female leaders throughout history, as well as the overall improvement of work and personal environments for women over time.

At the Florida Institute of Technology's Women's Business Center, we hosted a luncheon to honor a handful of incredible, local female leaders who we feel have truly gone above and beyond in their own organizations and in their contributions to the Space Coast.

During the time I've been with the Women's Business Center, I've noticed there really is a unique opportunity for corporations, schools and associations to foster a culture of entrepreneurship for women. Why would a corporation, for example, have interest in fostering entrepreneurial thinking, when on the surface, it sounds like that type of environment may only cause valuable workers to pursue their own ventures and leave the corporation high and dry?

One reason is that individuals who feel empowered create groups that feel empowered. A fantastic example of this is corporations that engage in profit sharing. Such programs increase employee accountability and provide increased motivation for employees to own the success of the whole business.

Some examples of thriving businesses that promote the profit- sharing model are Google, Publix Supermarkets and The Container Store (all, not surprisingly, also on Fortune magazine's "2013 Top 100 Best Companies to Work For"). Promoting ownership and a culture of free thinking, where creative ideas are welcome and implemented, can help a company thrive.

Locally, Craig Technologies and Sorensen Moving and Storage are great examples of this.

For youth, there are many entrepreneurial growth-oriented organizations, such as Junior Achievement, that excite local students and inspire them to take on entrepreneurial skills. Each year, the Women's Business Center at Florida Tech partners with Junior Achievement on two programs for middle and high school students.

The Summer Entrepreneurial Camp, which takes place at FIT in June, engages middle and high school students in an entrepreneurial program that fosters creativity and innovation and gives them an opportunity to meet with local business owners.

The Business Plan Competition, a joint venture between Junior Achievement and the Women's Business Center, enables Brevard County high school students to develop the essential components of a business plan that can help them earn scholarships to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

Even before high school, there is opportunity to grow entrepreneurial thinkers.

There has been significant focus on STEM curriculum in our school system — a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math integration to encourage the next-generation of high-tech workers in our community. As local business leaders, we feel it is critical for the school system to consider a similar educational component to entrepreneurial thinking at a young age — offering curriculum tied to creative and innovative thinking and promoting individual growth, as well as group cooperation skills. As an example, a local nonprofit organization called Code Craft Lab (www.codecraftlab.org) works with children ages 8 to 14 after school to teach them these types of skills through computer programming education.

As we bring Women's History Month to a close, I'd like to suggest that each of us continue to consider our areas of influence and determine how we can contribute to an increased culture of entrepreneurialism — not only for young women, but for all — in our homes, workplaces and our students' classrooms. It will only benefit our community in the long run.

To learn more about the Junior Achievement/FIT High School Business Plan Competition, visit http://jaspacecoast.org/events/events-entrepreneurial/. To inquire about FIT Women's Business Center courses and mentorship programs, visit www.wbc.fit.edu.

Gitlin is the director of the Women's Business Center at Florida Tech in Melbourne. The Women's Business Center accelerates growth for female entrepreneurs by providing customized coaching, business education, mentorship and networking programs.

Article Resource: Florida Today

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