The Entrepreneur Leadership High School Camp is facilitated by a group of accomplished business leaders who share their expertise with the participants through a series of workshops and seminars on various topics, including marketing strategies, financial planning, supply chain and networking. This multifaceted approach to learning allows students to develop an understanding of what it means to have an entrepreneurial mindset and set them up for success in their future endeavors.
“The most important thing we focus on is teaching content that has immediate applicability while also setting the stage for students to develop innovative and creative mindsets,” Szymusiak said.
“When students can learn and master the skills of the entrepreneurial mindset, they can be set up for success sooner,” Desiree Melfi Bozzo, director of student success and advising for the Burgess Institute, said. “They learn creative thinking and problem solving their way through anything that comes their way.”
Rewarding alumni involvement: Chapman Family Foundation
Throughout the three-day program, participants take part in workshops, seminars and discussions with seasoned entrepreneurs. Last year, leaders such as Lauren Aitch-Guerrant, Tamira Chapman and Joshua Southern, as well as Broad alumni, including Todd Duckett, Ben Rathbun and Tyrell Slappey, spoke to the participants.
“Alumni involvement in the camp is imperative because we want students to understand where an MSU degree and education can take them,” Taylor said.
Furthermore, students dedicate themselves to designing a business plan, refining it with their teammates and ending the camp with a presentation of their ideas to a panel of judges. The camp’s schedule is packed with exhilarating experiences — and the participants leave equipped with the skills, relationships and knowledge they acquire during the camp. They do all these things while living on campus, seeing firsthand what it’s like to live, learn and grow at MSU.
Chapman (B.A. Supply Chain Management ’01), president and CEO of Storehouse In A Box, LLC, in particular was impressed with the camp’s value after serving as a keynote speaker and case competition judge. After sharing her entrepreneurial journey with students and observing the camp’s impact, she felt the camp aligned with her family’s philanthropic goals, which are centered around entrepreneurship and promoting diversity and inclusion. Since then, the Chapman Family Foundation has committed to the Presenting Sponsor role over the next three years, ensuring the camp’s continued success and impact on young entrepreneurs.
“Being a Spartan family, we’re proud to back the entrepreneurship camp through the Chapman Family Foundation,” Chapman said. “MSU opened doors for us, and now we want to do the same for young people in metro Detroit. Our mission is to empower youth, providing them with the tools and opportunities to shape their future and contribute positively to their communities. This camp embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship and is crucial for future generations. Our passion for philanthropy is driven by a belief in actionable change, and through initiatives like these, we are able to foster a culture of growth, learning and giving back.”
The Entrepreneur Leadership High School Camp brings young entrepreneurs to the Broad College of Business for an immersive entrepreneurship experience.
The camp is facilitated by a group of accomplished business leaders who share their expertise with the participants through a series of workshops and seminars on various topics, including marketing strategies, financial planning, supply chain and networking.
Throughout the three-day program, participants take part in workshops, seminars and discussions while living on campus, seeing firsthand what it’s like to live, learn and grow at MSU.
The camp gives students a head start in relationship-building at MSU and learning about Broad and business.
