Having a blog to look back at is really interesting. It makes it very easy to see my progress on this journey. I think the most formative experience was actually doing the interviews. I really learned a lot and gained extremely valuable insight. I am very passionate about shark conservation, science and education, but actually hearing the needs from educators was invaluable. I will utilize all of the data and information I collected to create products and experiences educators and teachers want. There are things I think are interesting but might not be what teachers actually want. The interviews helped me really understand how we can create a unique experience and meet the needs of our customer segments. It will also help us stand apart from similar facilities.
This whole process has been really incredible and has given me the motivation to do it NOW. I was thinking 5-10 years from now, but the time is now. We’ve built a large audience and community, so I think we have a solid following and customer list. It’s really given me the drive to do this and make it a reality. I am really proud of the process. I have learned a lot and definitely did not expect to get this much hands on experience. I expected to learn some terms and key aspects, but we really learned how to apply these concepts now. I think this really sticks out and will continue to help me grow my business. I am really proud of working through these assignments and aiming to get the most out of them. I really tried to connect with people and do as much research as possible.
I definitely see myself as an entrepreneur. I had started a nonprofit before this class, but had not really thought of myself and my work as entrepreneurial. In doing the assignments and learning more of the aspects of entrepreneurship, I am really seeing myself in this role. It’s a lot of fun because it’s a role that is constantly evolving. There is always more to learn.
My recommendation for future students is to select a business you are passionate about. This is how you get the most out of this class. Don’t waste time on something you don’t care about. If you select something you are really interested in you can learn a lot from this course. You will walk away with extensive knowledge and the ability to open your own business/produce your own product. You will also work towards your goal instead of just adding course work. The exercises are applicable in real time and in real life, so it’s an incredible opportunity. I definitely suggest focusing on the interviews as well, as these were extremely valuable.
