Blog " We want to build in young people the habit of never stopping investing in themselves.
Hello, Mrs. Stoycheva,
We are pleased that for the second consecutive year. Junior Achievement Bulgaria (JA) you stand behind our cause, which is to share the knowledge we've gained from our experience as entrepreneurs with our colleagues, who, like us, face the daily challenges of the business ecosystem in Bulgaria.
For 20 years, JA Bulgaria has been a leading organization with an established reputation for providing innovative and modern education from early childhood to university level. A priority for the organization is to build economic literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, and financial culture in the youth you have been working with for years.
What is the key to entrepreneurial thinking and financial literacy in young people? How is this built in them? What are the established models by which education should develop to ensure that our children are successful in terms of business development?
The key to developing entrepreneurial thinking. is to start from an early age with education on the topic, because this is a process of building perspective and a holistic worldview. The earlier you encounter new concepts, the easier it will be to open your mind to them. Entrepreneurial culture is based on new and different models of perception, which help us become more adaptable and flexible in an unpredictable economic and social environment.
That's why one of the successful models of education is learning by doing or through experience. This is exactly why our program A student company being recognized by the European Commission as "Best Practice in Entrepreneurship Education." It gives young people the chance to develop and manage their own company, create a real product, and interact with actual consumers. Such activities teach us responsibility and make us more grounded in reality.
Another tested model is Learning through enhancement JA Bulgaria shapes an entrepreneurial mindset from 1st grade to university, and even beyond, through a step-by-step learning model that we call 'from ABC to PhD and Beyond.' This is a play on words, as Beyond is the name of our pre-accelerator, which continues to support the development of entrepreneurial ideas for young people after school age.
We want to instill in young people the habit of never stopping investing in themselves. They will need this when they face the world of work, which will constantly require them to update their skills.
What are the skills without which entrepreneurial thinking, financial and economic literacy cannot be applied, no matter how much we educate ourselves? Are these skills innate in a person, or can they be acquired through training and experience? Can anyone be an entrepreneur?
All skills can be acquired with the mindset that you can, and with a desire for growth. To grow, you need to have an internal locus of control and view yourself as the author of your own fate. The key skills that education should focus on developing are: Adaptability, problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, and resilience.
Can we claim that the secondary and higher education in our country are sufficient to build a foundation for young people to start their development? Or is our education system at this stage not enough in terms of conveying knowledge, skills, modernization, and development, making additional training also a crucial part of the process?
It’s always good for a person to enrich themselves outside of formal education. This is their personal responsibility. But in order to remain relevant, the education system must project forward into the future., to anticipate the development of skills that will meet the demands of the job market in 5 years. If schools don't constantly update their methods, they will always be playing catch-up.
As an expert who has been working with different generations for many years, what is your observation regarding the young generations? Are the members of the generation now entering the workforce different from those who were in this role 10 or 15 years ago?
Yes! Fifteen years ago, "young people" were more narrowly specialized and focused on finding a job. The generation we're working with today, however, is characterized by greater mobility, seeking both opportunities for self-expression and a more meaningful cause. Today's youth don't just choose one job; they often switch roles and take risks. I would say they are more entrepreneurially oriented, but on the downside, they have a harder time maintaining focus and diving deep into a single task or area. I think there's a need to work towards helping these entrepreneurial adventurers become more sustainable in their choices.
For the second consecutive year, the global organization JA – JA Worldwide has been nominated for the Nobel Prize, which is undoubtedly a reason for pride. Can you tell us more about the initiatives and activities that led to these nominations?
Over the years, JA has worked on developing educational programs that foster entrepreneurial thinking and economic culture, helping young people discover opportunities and build a successful future not only for themselves but also for their community. This is precisely the key to peace. It is no coincidence that our motto is. "From enterprising people to a happy nation." We truly believe in this. Through education, we build an optimistic worldview and empower the future generation to create their own world, while also taking responsibility for it.
As a member of the Board of the European Forum for Women Innovators, you actively work to strengthen the role of female entrepreneurs in creating sustainable and inclusive innovation ecosystems. What are the key focuses for women entrepreneurs? Is the perspective of women the same as that of men regarding the entrepreneurial ecosystem? Do we react to challenges in the same way? Can we even speak of differences?
There are differences, and that’s not a bad thing. For me the superpower of women is resilience.On one hand, this is inner strength and optimism, and on the other – the ability to create long-term solutions with care for the world around us.
The concept of Sales Club Conference The concept is to help each other as entrepreneurs. Your key message is "From entrepreneurial people to a happy nation." What is the key advice you give to future entrepreneurs in this challenging environment?
Find a good team and solve the serious problems of everyday life., for your society and the world.
