Entrepreneurs
Suggested timeframe: 1-2 Hours
Goal
Help students understand the concept of entrepreneurship and its relation to business.
Preparation
Hand out the interview template from the Entrepreneurs student worksheet. Ask students to find a local entrepreneur and interview them for class.
Activities
Activity 1. Understanding the concepts
Begin by asking students to write down their definitions for the concepts ‘Entrepreneur’, ‘Enterprise’ and ‘Innovation’. After they have shared their ideas in a group, distribute the Entrepreneurs topic handout to discuss and clarify the concepts.
Activity 2. Entrepreneurial activity
Ask students to list successful entrepreneurs they know – from well-known examples to local business people or family friends – and ask them why they think these examples are successful and what characteristics they share. Using the Activity 2 list from the Entrepreneurs student worksheet, ask students to identify their own entrepreneurial skills.
Activity 3 (Optional). Interview results
Ask students to share the answers from their interviews with the rest of the class and discuss any similar themes that arise.
Conclusion - Clarifying understanding
Ask the class if their definition of an Entrepreneur has changed and, if so, how. Ask students if any of them think they would make successful entrepreneurs and, if so, why. To end on a light note, they can try the quiz in the Entrepreneurs student worksheet to find out.
Resources on Business.govt
- Expert entrepreneurs (for biographies, articles and videos on Kiwi entrepreneurs Geoff Ross and Rod Drury)
- Is your business idea viable (for examples of the basic questions entrepreneurs ask themselves when considering a business idea)
