SMU Social Impact Catalyst’s Post

It's not just about the science behind technology 🗣️ Here's to the business side of tech.... The new ALX Professional Foundations Program Start your professional development journey here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dPj7tGy6 alx_africa #DoTechWithALX #DoHardThings #ALXNigeria

There is projected to be 3.7 million high school graduates by 2025. Of that, about 1.3 million are interested in STEM; 800,000 are interested in business; and 420,000 interested in entrepreneurship. It is clear that: 1️⃣ These three areas are extremely popular 2️⃣ Because they are so popular, many students are pursuing this which means the future college and career markets are only getting more competitive Want to understand what careers are available in these fields? What is happening in the industry? Want to stand out and start building networks both with peers AND professionals in these fields? Considering joining WIN this September. Free info session to learn more August 20 and 21. Register here: https://lnkd.in/e5YQqyY3 #highschool #students #parents #college #careers #readiness #STEM #finance #entrepreneurship #pathways #access #networks #development

If you have teens at home preparing to navigate their educational future, you should take time to attend this informational session about What Is Next, a cohort based program for students to learn about various career opportunities in #STEM #Business and #Entrepreneurship. College continues to get more expensive and more competitive. Understanding the types of careers available and what it takes to get there can help young people and parents make more deliberate decisions as they take their next educational step.

Your Intuition or Your Mentor/Counselor: Who Should You Trust More? I have a story to share. Several years back, I was selected for a prestigious program, chosen from thousands of applicants in Africa, to pitch my innovative business idea of using #data to drive #financialinclusion for #women in Africa. The program was hosted by Co-creation HUB (CcHUB) in Lagos, and out of the 10 start-ups selected, only the top 3 would win a grant award and an international trip. Excitedly, I consulted my mentor, who had trained me on how to pitch effectively. I explained the context of the competition, and from his vast experience having won several local and international awards himself, he gave me some candid advice. He suggested that I skip the demo video I had prepared, reasoning that it might waste valuable time. The organizers had mentioned the demo video was optional, and with only five minutes to present, he urged me to go straight to the point. After several rounds of pitch training with him, I still felt a strong nudge in my spirit to use the demo video. I wasn’t sure why this feeling was so persistent, but I ignored it and decided to trust my mentor's instruction because of his expertise. After all, he had judged many pitch competitions and knew what worked. On the day of the pitch, everything started smoothly until I moved to the third slide. Suddenly, the screen froze, leaving me standing there, embarrassed. For almost a full minute, I couldn’t speak, waiting for the screen to respond. Finally, I had no choice but to continue without it, and the presentation ended disastrously. I felt terrible. The technical glitch was due to my PowerPoint slides. Despite the embarrassment, I knew my innovation was strong, and the brief time I spent on stage had been promising if only I had finished. After the pitch, one of the judges approached me and said, “Young man, you had a great product. Do you have a demo video?” I nodded. He continued, “You should have used it. I can assure you that the video would have done justice to your idea because I could relate to your product, and you wouldn’t have wasted time on stage. Anyway, keep building and I wish you all the best” He left. At that moment, I wanted the ground to swallow me up. After all the late nights spent rehearsing my slides, just ignoring my intuition had ruined my chances. Now, let me be clear: my mentor meant well. He sacrificed time from his busy schedule to help me prepare, and his advice came from a place of experience. But in the end, I trusted him more than my intuition. Here’s the lesson: always seek mentorship, but remember to trust your gut when it speaks loudly, even in the face of expert advice. It was a painful experience, but it taught me a valuable lesson. Friends, get a mentor but how strong is your intuition? #Truelifestory #Intuition #Decisionmaking #StartupJourney #Entrepreneurship #TrustYourGut #PersonalGrowth #BusinessMentor #LifeLessons.

🎓 I had a fantastic time presenting a workshop and information series at University College Birmingham over the past few weeks. Working alongside UCB's exceptional Enterprise Consultant Rohan Surya and my brilliant colleague Helen Fortune, we covered core business essentials to help students kickstart their entrepreneurial journey. 🚀 Our topics included: • 🔍 Sales, marketing, and branding fundamentals • 📊 Go-to-market strategy and targeting • ⚙️ Low-barrier business models (perfect for students!) • 💡 The ‘Fail Fast’ methodology for quickly finding product-market fit • 🌍 Running a business remotely (yes, you can build a business from anywhere!) • 🤖 Leveraging AI and workflows for efficiency • 🌐 The power of social media & ‘building in public’ to grow your network Starting a business while studying isn’t just a way to earn some extra cash - it's an invaluable opportunity to apply course knowledge in real-world scenarios, reinforcing your learning and showcasing your skills. By demonstrating your entrepreneurial abilities, you also build a standout portfolio that can impress potential employers and enhance your career prospects. ⚡

Today's Power Breakfast, hosted by Andrew Frazier Jr., MBA, CFA, provided a valuable combination of information sharing and networking opportunities. Andrew gave an insightful overview of what it takes to scale a business from the startup phase to a CEO-led organization. Gene Bohensky moderated a helpful panel discussion on goal setting. The conversation covered topics ranging from breaking big goals down into manageable tasks to developing the proper mindset for achieving your objectives. Attending Small Business Pro University events has always been time well spent for me as I always take away new knowledge and relationships. #networking #njbusiness

Why you should participate in QUBIT? - Meet people from different colleges and industry experts to build long term connections. - Several competitions like marketing marathon, mock stock, JAM etc. will give you hands on experience. - This business fest will help you to showcase new ideas, trends, and strategies in the industry. - Gain confidence in handling challenges by competing, presenting, and interacting with peers or judges. - Develop self-awareness by identifying your strengths and areas for improvement through real-world challenges. - Cultivate excellence by thriving in a competitive and collaborative environment. How are you enhancing your skills in college? Let us know in the comments below!⬇️

I'm grateful to have attended the networking event hosted by Nema Problema last night. The organisation does incredible work connecting newcomers with local professionals in Stockholm through their Mentor-Adept program. From the bottom of my heart, there is a place I always want to be and feel like I belong. Some key takeaways I'd like to share: 💛 As an Adept (mentee), take ownership of your goals in this program. It's okay to focus on making connections, new opportunities often flow from there. 🧡The Mentor-Adept relationship is one of mutual benefit and equal responsibility. Mentors gain fresh perspectives too! A fun example: we all learned about LinkedIn's QR code scanning feature, which made connecting so easy 😜💪. ❤️Adepts can gain valuable cultural insights about Sweden. Adapting to a new country takes time, but being open to learning is the first step. 🩷Transparency is key. If the mentor-mentee match doesn't feel right, it's okay to communicate that. The organization is there to help ensure both parties are comfortable. 💜Remember, everyone involved is working towards building a better society in Sweden. Kindness and understanding go a long way. Thank you to Cecilia, Beenish, Allan, Josefine, Vera, Annie, Irina, and Lisa for the great conversations. To Simon - my mentor, thank you for joining me, it’s always great to catch up and talk about different things. Can’t believe it has been 6 months we have known each other! Let’s get more than 6 months. #NemaProblema #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment #NewInSweden

In a world where attention spans are shorter than an elevator ride, your pitch needs to hit the mark—fast. Whether you're speaking to investors, clients, or even potential partners, a strong elevator pitch is your chance to make a lasting impression in 30 seconds or less. Why does it matter? Because clarity and brevity aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential. A well-crafted elevator pitch not only communicates who you are and what you do but also sparks curiosity, opens doors, and starts meaningful conversations. So, next time the opportunity arises, will your pitch be ready to take you to the next level? #ElevatorPitch #CommunicationSkills #FirstImpressions #PoCommunications #MarketingTips

Start 2025 with a Plan to Elevate Your Business! The HACIA Executive Fellows Program is your opportunity to kickstart the new year with strategies to grow and scale your business. Designed for minority business owners in the construction and professional services industries, this 11-week virtual program equips you with the tools to achieve success. 🎯 Individualized Coaching: Work one-on-one with Subject Matter Experts in Finance, Development, Operations, and Legal to address your unique business challenges. 🤝 Cohort-Based Learning: Connect with a network of like-minded entrepreneurs to share ideas and insights. 📅 Program Details: Start Date: February 13, 2025 Duration: 11 weeks, virtual with two in-person events Cost: Completely free, grant-funded Eligibility Requirements: ✔ Industry: Construction or related professional services ✔ Time in Business: At least 3 years ✔ Revenue: $100,000+ in the previous year Get ready to tackle 2025 with confidence and take your business to the next level. Apply now and become a HACIA Executive Fellow! 🔗 Learn more and apply today: https://lnkd.in/g8-CmM3G