Teachers on Call Featured in Forbes: 4 Ways Young Entrepreneurs Can Leverage Their Education

In the dynamic world of youth entrepreneurship, leveraging your education can be a key ingredient in the recipe to unlock success. Recently, Forbes published an enlightening article, "4 Ways Young Entrepreneurs Can Leverage Their Education," which offers invaluable strategies for aspiring business leaders. Teachers on Call's in-person and online tutoring service is thrilled to be featured in this piece, with our President and CEO, Joanne Sallay, sharing her insights on the role of education in her entrepreneurial journey. Read on for more insights in the blog below, including four programs and conferences for aspiring teen entrepreneurs to explore across Canada.

The Forbes article outlines four key strategies for young entrepreneurs to maximize their educational experiences: getting involved in entrepreneurial groups and extracurriculars, leveraging academic research, seeking out mentorship opportunities, and cultivating interdisciplinary skills. These approaches provide a robust foundation for young leaders to develop their business acumen and innovate in their respective fields. For more detailed insights and practical advice, read the full article on Forbes: 4 Ways Young Entrepreneurs Can Leverage Their Education.

Joanne Sallay emphasizes the importance of mentorship and getting involved in entrepreneurial groups and extracurriculars. “I was fortunate to be exposed to caring teachers who nurtured and cultivated my curiosity in business and taught me that learning never truly ends,” Sallay explains. “These early experiences were an integral part of my entrepreneurial journey to ultimately prepare me for my current role, which just happens to be leading an education company.” Her experiences highlight the value of finding mentors and participating in entrepreneurial activities during high school and post-secondary education. These early involvements can shape a student entrepreneur's path, providing essential guidance and support.

To delve deeper and expand on this quote, Joanne Sallay offers four actionable suggestions for student entrepreneurs, drawn from her personal experiences during high school and post-secondary education. Here are the programs and conferences she recommends for the Teachers on Call community of educators and families:

1. Junior Achievement (JA): JA offers programs that inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Through hands-on activities, students learn about financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, gaining practical skills that are essential for their future careers. Participating in JA helped Joanne develop a foundational understanding of business principles, which has been invaluable throughout her career. In high school, Joanne took a credit course in partnership with JA that allowed her to start her own business and be part of a team that sold a product to the student body. This experience gave her practical and early insights and exposure into business operations, teamwork, and the fundamentals of marketing and sales.
2. DECA: DECA is an international association of high school, post secondary students and teachers that provides programs for emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Dex is the collegiate division of DECA, focusing on similar areas and helping college and university students apply their academic knowledge to real-world business challenges. DECA offers school clubs and competitions, giving students real-world experience and the opportunity to develop their skills in a competitive environment. Participation in DECA and Dex helps students develop financial literacy by understanding business finance, budgeting, and economic principles. Joanne’s involvement in DECA provided her with practical experience learning from case studies, as well as enhancing presentation and public speaking skills.
3. SHAD: SHAD is a Canadian summer enrichment program that empowers high school students completing grades 10 and 11 to experience university life. The July program takes place at 23 partner universities across Canada including University of British Columbia (2329 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4), University of Calgary (2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4), Lakehead University (955 Oliver Rd, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1), Laurentian University (935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6), University of Waterloo (200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1) and Saint Mary’s University (923 Robie St, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3) - just to name a few SHAD campuses. The program includes lectures, workshops, projects, and activities in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). SHAD also emphasizes financial literacy by integrating it into its business and entrepreneurship modules, teaching students how to create financially viable business plans. Joanne's participation in SHAD, where she attended the University of New Brunswick (3 Bailey Dr, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3), helped her develop a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving, which has been crucial in her entrepreneurial ventures. You can read more about Joanne's SHAD Story here.
4. QLEAD Conference: The Queen's Leadership, Excellence, and Development (QLEAD) Conference is an annual event that brings together high school students from across Canada at Queen's University (Goodes Hall, 143 Union St, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6). It focuses on leadership development, providing grade 11 and 12 students with opportunities to engage with business leaders, participate in workshops, and develop skills essential for their future careers. Financial literacy is a component of the conference, offering sessions on managing finances, budgeting for projects, and understanding the financial aspects of leadership. Fun fact: Joanne is one of the co-founders of the QLEAD Conference in Kingston, Ontario. As a student entrepreneur, Joanne played a pivotal role in shaping the conference to provide real-world insights and leadership training, reflecting her commitment to fostering young talent.

By participating in these programs and conferences, young entrepreneurs can gain valuable skills, expand their networks, and find mentors who can guide them on their entrepreneurial journeys. Financial literacy, an essential skill for any entrepreneur, is a key focus of these programs, ensuring that students are well-equipped to manage their business finances effectively.

Leveraging education through involvement in entrepreneurial groups, academic research, mentorship, and interdisciplinary learning can set student entrepreneurs on a path to success. Programs like Junior Achievement, DECA, SHAD, and the QLEAD Conference provide excellent opportunities for students in Canada to develop their leadership, business, and financial skills. As Joanne Sallay's journey with Teachers on Call demonstrates, the combination of education and mentorship can be transformative, equipping young leaders with the tools they need to thrive. All of these experiences are opportunities for mentorship, early networking, and exposure to like-minded ambitious students, but most of all, they foster lasting friendships.

Joanne’s achievements reflect the continuous learning journey she advocates. She has been recognized as one of the 20 EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women North America and in the WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada. Joanne has benefited immensely from these vibrant educational communities and now contributes back through mentorship, guiding the next generation of leaders and innovators. 

Stay tuned to the Teachers on Call blog for more updates, stories, and tips on how education can drive entrepreneurial success and inspire the next generation of leaders.