SPOTLIGHT: Celebrating the Power of Education and Innovation at NFTE⁵

Empowering Futures and Sparking Innovation in Fort Lauderdale!

NFTE⁵, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship's Entrepreneurial Education Summit, provided 150 attendees with a unique opportunity to learn from experienced educators and refresh their skills.

With 20 informative sessions to choose from, new NFTE teachers were able to mingle with veteran educators and gain valuable insights that will serve them well in the classroom. In their commitment to professional excellence in entrepreneurial education, many attendees took the opportunity to earn certification badges, such as Certiport ESB, Certiport Intuit D4D, and the NFTE University certifications.

An impressive lineup of speakers, including renowned author and entrepreneur Kwame Alexander, Ashley Hemmy from American Student Assistance (ASA), Teymour Ashkan from Intuit, and Caroline Cooke from Foróige, brought a wealth of experience and insight to the table. Sessions led by EY, MasterCard, and Hasbro made the summit a true hub of knowledge.

The highlight of the event was the Teacher Pitch Competition, which drew talented educators. Congratulations to Alicia Thompson, an educator from New Haven, Connecticut, who took home the top prize. The pitch competition was made even more successful thanks to the support and guidance provided by Citi coaches.

Thank you to Intuit and ASA for making this summit possible and for their ongoing commitment to entrepreneurial education!

President's Perspective

For 36 years, NFTE has been at the forefront of empowering the next generation of diverse entrepreneurs to be changemakers in their own communities and beyond. In fact, we were front and center at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China, where the key takeaway was that entrepreneurship is the driving force of the global economy.

I was honored to moderate a thoughtful panel discussion, “Making Sense of Jobs Amid Disruption,” which invited world leaders to weigh in on the profound transformations unfolding in labor markets driven by automation, industry conversion, and the imperative of the green transition.

The panelists included Matts Johansen, CEO of Aker Biomarine; Younes Sekkouri, Morocco's Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills; Sekai Irene Nzenza, Zimbabwe's Minister of Industry and Commerce; J essica Zhang Xiaoyun, Senior Vice-President of ADP; and Emilija Stojmenova Duh, Slovenia's Minister of Digital Transformation. They provided unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities arising from these labor market transformations and offered valuable insights into how their respective sectors and countries are adapting to the changing landscape.

The session was a true testament to the significance of addressing the complexities surrounding the future of work. As NFTE continues to empower young entrepreneurs, we are dedicated to preparing them for the ever-evolving future. Our mission aligns closely with the urgent need to foster adaptability, resilience, and innovation among the workforce of tomorrow.

Building a Future of Young Entrepreneurs: NFTE's Impact in Japan

NFTE is proud to partner with 30 organizations across 26 countries to activate the entrepreneurial mindset in young people worldwide. From July 3-9, Charlotte Navarro, NFTE's Global Programs Success Manager, visited Japan as part of Career Link 's training for their first year of partnership with NFTE.

The partnership began in 2021 with Hiroshima Prefecture. During her visit, Charlotte trained Career Link's staff on how to better support the teachers delivering NFTE's curriculum.

Charlotte spent two days visiting classrooms and working with students on the NFTE curriculum. The impact was clear, as 90 high school students developed innovative business solutions to real-world problems. Additionally, Charlotte listened to the pitches of students who will travel to New York City for NFTE's first in person World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge!

On the last day of her visit, she had a productive meeting with the Board of Education for Hiroshima, which funds the NFTE program. They discussed a plan for expansion of NFTE in Japan and ways to use the community to support that growth.

Join us in empowering young entrepreneurs worldwide by becoming an NFTE Global partner. Email globalprograms@nfte.com to learn how!

Corporate Partnership Spotlight

Congratulations to the 11 NFTE students who recently received the EY EOY Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Scholarship! Each winner received $2,000 to help pay for their postsecondary education. Winners were honored at EY Entrepreneur of the Year galas held across the country. Thank you to EY for this exciting opportunity for our students!

The NFTE Fellowship Program: A Summer of Growth and Opportunity

The NFTE Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program is a six-week summer program that gives young people the opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills and gain hands-on experience in the business world.

This year's program kicked off with an exciting trip to New York City in late June, where NFTE fellows visited a number of innovative companies and learned from experienced professionals.

Fellows attended workshops on sustainability, entrepreneurship, and professional skills at SAP and Mercy College. Moreover, James Celentano, Managing Director at EnterGain, spoke about the importance of resilience in the face of challenges and provided a deeper understanding of entrepreneurship.

Throughout the summer, each NFTE region will welcome a dedicated NFTE fellow, giving them an opportunity to contribute to summer BizCamp programs, coordinate volunteers, manage office administration, delve into social media marketing, and so much more.

NFTE in the News

Financial Times: Can China’s charm offensive with business ease US tensions?
New York Weekly: 17-Year-Old Gabrielle Wong on Vector-Borne Diseases.
Adam Mendler: You’re Never Too Old to Become an Entrepreneur: Interview with Maxine Clark, Founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop.
The Baltimore Banner: Maryland Ranks No. 2 in Nation for Successful Minority Entrepreneurs, Study Says.
Axios Chicago: Black-owned Chicago Brewery Wins National Award.

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