Fostering Student Entrepreneurship
Staff
21 December 2012 – Today’s students serve as the foundation of our economic future, but they face tough challenges. Rising college tuition and poor job prospects are making it difficult for students to achieve self-sufficiency and economic stability. According to a 2011 Current Population Survey conducted by Northeastern University, 1.5 million college graduates in the U.S. under the age of 25—or 53.6 percent nationwide—are jobless or underemployed in lower-wage jobs, the highest rate observed in the past 11 years. It’s clear we need to do a better job of providing our students with the tools, guidance and encouragement they need to chart a successful course for the future.
But where do we start? In my experience, one of the best ways we can help today’s youth thrive in a new job market is by continually mentoring them regarding entrepreneurship. I’ve been an entrepreneur for over 15 years, and I currently serve as global chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a world-wide community of nearly 9,000 leading entrepreneurs that is shaping the global business landscape as we know it. For 25 years, we’ve been helping business owners learn and grow on a personal and professional level, giving them the tools and resources they need to achieve entrepreneurial excellence. That support extends to those students who’ve expressed interest in pursuing their own entrepreneurial journey.
Similar to the Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative (CEO), EO believes the advice and guidance an experienced entrepreneur can bring through mentorship is invaluable to emerging entrepreneurs. At EO, we understand the far-reaching power mentorship wields, which is why we’re supporting today’s student entrepreneurs through the EO Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) program.
Read entire article at [clintonfoundation.org].
