Young Filipino entrepreneurs don’t fail from lack of ideas—they fail from lack of support, guidance, and early wins, so the best ones get tired, play small, or quit. In this article, Jef Menguin shares practical ways to nurture young Filipino entrepreneurs through mentoring, real-world reps, and communities that build confidence and competence. Use the shift, then share it with leaders, parents, and mentors so we stop cheering from the sidelines and start building founders who last.
I was a high school teacher for ten years. For the last 15 years, I’ve been encouraging teachers to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset.
But let’s be real—not everyone gets on board with this idea.
Still, I believe we can’t teach what we don’t have. If we want to develop young Filipino entrepreneurs, we need to start with ourselves.
So, let’s dive in.
1. Start with Curiosity
Every subject you teach can spark entrepreneurial thinking. Whether it’s Math, Science, or History, encourage students to ask “why” and “how.” Why does this business model work? How does this invention change lives?
These questions ignite curiosity and lay the foundation for entrepreneurship.
During a lesson, pause and ask your students to think about the business side of things. In Math, explore how profit margins work. In Science, discuss the commercial potential of a discovery.
2. Make It Real
Entrepreneurship isn’t something you learn from a book; it’s something you do.
Let your students get their hands dirty by starting small businesses—even if it’s just selling homemade crafts at a school fair.
The goal is to let them experience the highs and lows of running a business. This is key to becoming successful young entrepreneurs.
Incorporate mini-business projects into your lessons. In Social Studies, for example, students could create a business plan for a product that addresses a local community need. Encourage them to think about everything from production to marketing.
3. Teach Resilience Through Failure
Entrepreneurship is tough, and not every idea will work out. But that’s okay.
Create a classroom environment where students can fail safely. Help them learn from those failures. This builds resilience—a crucial trait for any entrepreneur.
Share stories of famous entrepreneurs who failed before they succeeded. Better yet, share your own stories.
I’ve had my share of failures, and each one taught me something valuable.
Students could write reflective essays on what they learned from a failed attempt at something, whether in business or life.
4. Introduce Real-Life Role Models
Entrepreneurship shouldn’t feel like a far-off dream.
Introduce your students to local entrepreneurs who’ve walked the walk. These role models can offer valuable insights and show students that they, too, can succeed as young Filipino entrepreneurs.
Organize guest speaker sessions or virtual meetups with local business owners. In a Home Economics class, invite a successful food business owner to talk about how they started and scaled their business.
5. Encourage Collaboration
Business is a team sport. Teach your students the value of collaboration by letting them work in teams on their entrepreneurial projects.
Teach them to manage different roles and appreciate diverse skills they’ll need as young entrepreneurs.
Group projects can be more than just a requirement—they can be a business simulation. In a Technology class, students could collaborate to design and market a tech product, with each member taking on a different role, from design to sales.
6. Keep It Fun and Engaging
Entrepreneurship should be exciting, not just another assignment to check off. Keep the energy high by making learning fun. Creativity and enthusiasm are the roots of every great business idea.
Turn a simple project into a classroom competition, like a mini “Shark Tank.”
Let students pitch their ideas to a panel of “investors”—maybe even the principal or other teachers. It’s a great way to bring some real-world excitement into the classroom.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to teach students how to start a business. It’s about helping them develop an entrepreneurial mindset—one that’s curious, resilient, and collaborative.
These skills will serve them well, no matter what path they choose. And who knows? The next big thing might just come from your class.
Let’s build the future, one young entrepreneur at a time.
If you want Filipino values to show up as real behavior at work…
Let’s turn it into a culture shift experience.
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