Early Exposure to Entrepreneurship Creates Lasting Impact
Women’s Entrepreneurship Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women business leaders. For some young women, the journey often begins long before they enter the workforce.
Early exposure to entrepreneurship equips women with practical skills to build a business and can shape how they see themselves and their potential impact on the world.
This blog post highlights stories of young women empowered by entrepreneurship to build skills, navigate challenges, and become confident leaders. Through their experiences, we can see how learning and applying entrepreneurial tools and methodologies can help close the gender gap in leadership and business and create a pathway for young women to thrive.
Women Lean into Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship education is more than just learning business concepts; it’s about discovering capabilities and building confidence as problem-solvers and change-makers. This type of education is critical in building the skills needed for the future workforce.
Isabel Y., an INCubatoredu alumna, reflected, “You’re able to create something that you’re passionate about and build it from the ground up. In other classes, you would learn how to do something, but in this one, you actually do it.” Isabel’s experience speaks to the transformative power of entrepreneurship education, where students don’t just learn theory—they apply it to real-world scenarios.
Pranavi K., another INCubatoredu alumna, shared how entrepreneurship “taught me not to be afraid and just to throw yourself into something. In college, I tried to embrace that mentality, put myself out there, and explore my interests.”
Through these experiences, women practice the art of not fearing failure; they lean into exploration and see themselves as capable. They gain skills that will stay with them long after they leave the classroom. From identifying problems to solve and pitching business ideas to refining concepts based on feedback, these students gain practical experiences that set them apart.
Discovering Independence and Purpose Through Entrepreneurship
Many young women have found that entrepreneurship has helped them discover new interests and passions. Ishe E., another INCubatoredu alumna, shared, “INCubatoredu gave me that independence and that control that I desired to start something I was passionate about. And that was a lightbulb moment because I realized I was interested in social impact.”
The opportunity to create and lead in these programs helps young women build confidence. By fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, they gain skills to contribute to their communities and tackle big challenges—even in social entrepreneurship, where women drive meaningful change.
Another great example comes from an all-women INCubatoredu team called FYDER. The team tackled environmental issues by creating a startup that produces 3D printing filament from polypropylene waste, merging their passion with a solution for a critical problem. The FYDER team’s journey showcases how entrepreneurial education enables young women to identify meaningful problems and create innovative solutions.
Developing Skills and Courage for any Career Path
Entrepreneurship education fosters the development of skills and an entrepreneurial mindset that is valuable in any field. Anna B., INCubatoredu alumna, shares how her experience helped her see beyond traditional career paths: “This course gave me the opportunity to realize that my career didn’t have to be defined by my major. It opened up doors to freedom and an understanding that my impact is in my hands, and it’s up to me to do what I want with that.”
This mindset shift is significant for young women, many of whom may feel constrained by traditional career expectations. The skills developed in entrepreneurship programs—resilience, adaptability, creative problem-solving—are relevant across all industries, equipping students to take on any challenge that comes their way.
Emily K., another alumna, shares, “The program gave me confidence and communication skills that helped me tackle large projects and pivot when needed. These durable skills have continued to benefit my career.”
Pranavi K. offers, ‘So much of what you want to do is based on what you're interested in, and as long as you continue to follow that interest and passion, it'll lead you somewhere where you'll realize it can be a whole new world.”
Finding a Voice Through Entrepreneurship
For many young women, the process of pitching their business ideas is
where they experience the most personal growth. One student from Team Shlurp shared, “One way that this class pushed me out of my comfort zone is by teaching me how to pitch myself. It felt like bragging before, but being able to talk not only about myself confidently but also my brand, what I'm passionate about, is really powerful.”
The ability to articulate ideas and speak confidently about passions is a crucial skill for these young women and will serve them well in any context. By practicing their pitches and receiving feedback from mentors and peers, they learn to embrace their strengths and advocate for their ideas. Refining their communication skills is invaluable, helping them in everything from college interviews to professional presentations.
Jasmine S., another alumna, said, “The program improved my time management and public speaking skills, making me a more organized and confident professional.”
Poised to Thrive
Early entrepreneurship education is helping shape a generation of young women who are confident, resilient, and ready to lead. The skills they build—communication, critical thinking, leadership—are not just relevant for business but for any career they choose to pursue. Destiny F., shared, “INCubatoredu went beyond textbook learning. I developed career-readiness skills, connected with business leaders, and attended the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in NYC!”
This Women’s Entrepreneurship Month, let’s celebrate these future leaders and continue to create spaces where young women can thrive, explore their passions, and build their futures.
If you’d like to learn more about how these programs make a difference, visit our blog or explore INCubatoredu high school entrepreneurship program. Together, we can empower the next generation of women.
