Burnaby South Secondary student aspires to become a Laureate
Being a CEO is not easy. Being a CEO of a start-up is even harder. You have to take a new concept and build it into a long-lasting business, while guiding your team through all the obstacles new businesses encounter. CEOs are common, good CEOs are rare. Business Education Teacher at Burnaby South Secondary, Sharon Wong, has found one of those exceptional leaders in JA Company Program student Gabriela Caceres.
Sharon first brought the JA Company Program to Burnaby South Secondary in 2013. “When I heard of the JA Company Program I thought it would be a great fit for my students. I really liked that the program allowed the kids to go through the whole process of designing, organizing and operating a real company,” says Wong. “The kids have to be willing to participate. Ultimately the success or failure of the business depends on how much work they put in.”
Educators often report that JA programs are transformational. The programs provide insight into the opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurship, build confidence and inspire youth to consider a career in business. Over the last five years, Wong and the team of JA volunteer business advisors, have repeatedly been impressed by the talent of the student company leaders and the growth and development they experience. So it was no surprise that the 2016/2017 program produced yet another incredibly strong student leader. “From her first pitch to final presentation Gabriela demonstrated a rare, and effective leadership style. Her style is easy to listen to, articulate, positive and informed,” says Wong. “She has led her team with a calm and determined confidence that has stood out to me, and all of the mentors who have worked with her.”
Up until October 2016 Gabriela planned to go to medical school. In Grade 10 and 11 she took advanced honours courses to prepare for a career she called ‘safe’. At the start of Grade 12 she made a conscious choice to explore other opportunitiesto make sure that medicine was the career path she wanted to pursue. In September 2016 she heard about Mrs. Wong’s JA Company Program. She had never considered going into business before, but was intrigued by the fact that the program allowed students to organize and operate an actual business enterprise. “The reason why I never thought of going into business is because I grew up in El Salvador, a country where business was a profession that you go into if you have connections and are wealthy,” says Gabriella. After signing up to be a JA Company Program student, Gabriella quickly realized she had a talent for innovation and thrived in each step of setting up the business. After in-depth research she came up with a new business concept, pitched it to her team and interviewed for the position of CEO. She got the job. Not only has Gabriella taken a new concept and built it into a successful business, she demonstrated a leadership style that fostered collaboration and motivated her team. “As a CEO it is hard because it is likely your team is not as passionate about the product as you are. You have to work very hard to instil that spark in people and get them to focus on a common goal,” says Gabriella.
Gabriella shares her top three tips for aspiring Laureates:
1. Present Evidence
I gathered as much evidence as possible to show my team that the business was viable, that the market wasn’t saturated and how much money we could make. For those who were still unconvinced I brought them to see customers interacting with and buying the product. It really helped each of my employees to see firsthand that there was a need for our product in the marketplace.
2. Open Dialogue
I encouraged all members of the team to share their opinions and made a special effort to answer everyone’s questions. I especially wanted those who had criticism about the product and business to share their thoughts. You can learn a lot from those who see the product through a different lens.
3. Everyone Produces
I felt it was very important for everyone to be involved in production. Not only did this make them feel more connected to the business and product, it ensured that they could respond properly to questions and made them appreciate what others on the team were working on.
Gabriella’s experience as CEO of her JA Company Program allowed her to explore a career choice that she didn’t believe was an option for her. Not only did it give her a chance to try her hand at running her own business, it proved to her that her talents and passion aligned with being an entrepreneur. This fall Gabriella won’t be furthering her education in medicine, but rather will be joining the best and brightest at the Beedie School of Business at SFU. A choice that both Wong and Gabriella are confident is an ideal fit.