In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark chats with Don Wettrick, CEO of the StartEdUp Foundation, to explore the future of entrepreneurship education. Don Wettrick talks about how the foundation is transforming high school students into proactive problem-solvers and innovators through initiatives like the Innovate Within pitch competition. This program empowers young minds by encouraging them to tackle real-world problems, leveraging tools like AI to enhance opportunity recognition, design thinking, and impactful execution. Wettrick gets into the importance of embedding entrepreneurship as a universal skill set that can be applied across various careers, enabling students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset that extends beyond just starting businesses.

Outline

• (00:00) Introduction to Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI
• (03:15) Entrepreneurship as a Universal Skill
• (06:30) Challenges in Teaching Entrepreneurship
• (07:57) Teacher Accelerator and Fellowship Program
• (12:54) Success Stories and Impact
• (18:57) The Role of AI in Modern Entrepreneurship
• (21:55) Vision for Innovation Hubs in Schools
• (24:10) Advice for Young Entrepreneurs and Educators
• (25:57) Encouraging Problem-Solving at Home
• (28:04) Closing Thoughts and Final Tips

Links

• Watch the full video here
• Read the full blog
• Pure Genius: Building a Culture of Innovation and Taking 20% Time to the Next Level
• Don Wettrick's LinkedIn
• StartEdUp Foundation
• Don Wettrick's Blog
• Don Wettrick's X