In a world where the future of our societies depends on the quality of education, visionary leadership is not just desirable, it’s essential. Visionary leaders in the education sector possess a unique combination of skills: a crystal-clear vision of the future, the ability to inspire and motivate others, and the capacity to chart a course of action to achieve that vision.
By staying ahead of the curve and identifying emerging trends and technologies, visionary educators can help shape the future of education. They have a deep understanding of the needs of learners and educators, and they use this knowledge to develop innovative solutions that address these needs. Through their leadership, they create a culture of continuous improvement and a lifelong love of learning in both students and educators.
Meet Laurie Stach, an experienced entrepreneurship educator who has founded an entrepreneurship education startup teaching entrepreneurial skills to high school students. Laurie has also built a maker space and created and taught a making course at MIT, worked in operations consulting at the Boston Consulting Group, received her MBA at HBS, worked as an engineer in product design at BMW’s design studio, and did Mechanical Engineering at MIT. She uses entrepreneurship to teach innovation and problem-solving skills to students that allow them to build real world skills, “prototype” their careers, and start making a real impact earlier in their lives.
Laurie’s mission through LaunchX is to give high school students the chance to explore their passions and unleash their potential for impact through real-world experiences. Within her entrepreneurship education startup, Laurie provides students with a unique opportunity to learn resourcefulness, adaptability, and innovation, which are essential for success in the real world.
At LaunchX, students are not just given answers to questions, they are taught to ask the right ones. Through the one month residential or online entrepreneurship summer program, students are guided through the process of starting a real company, which helps them to develop their entrepreneurial mindset and skills. The program also includes professional development training, mentorship, and access to resources that enable them to launch their companies with confidence.
Laurie’s vision is to empower the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and entrepreneurs, who can create a positive impact in the world. If you’re a high school student looking for an opportunity to explore your ambitions and bring your ideas to life, LaunchX is the perfect platform to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey. Visit launchx.com to learn more.
Contribution to Entrepreneurship Education
Laurie’s contribution to the field of entrepreneurship education is immeasurable. Through LaunchX, the impact is not limited to the program’s participants but has a ripple effect that extends to the wider entrepreneurial community. This positive impact is felt by LaunchX students, instructors, mentors, and speakers, who bring their entrepreneurial drive back to other aspects of their lives and inspire others to take action to make a positive impact on the world.
Although close to 2,000 students have participated in the LaunchX Summer Program, their impact goes beyond this number. For instance, Karly Hou, a LaunchX alumna, started a learning festival that served 15k students from all 50 states during the pandemic and directed the largest student-run woman in tech conference. Similarly, Michael Matias, another LaunchX graduate, authored an entrepreneurship book, organized international hackathons, hosted a podcast, and now works as a Senior Associate at J-Ventures, an investment firm. Michael credits LaunchX as one of the most significant experiences that paved the way for his entrepreneurial journey.
Laurie’s impact on entrepreneurship education extends beyond the LaunchX community. She has a highly-rated course on EdX titled Becoming an Entrepreneur, a workbook available on Amazon, and has delivered three TedX talks on entrepreneurship. These accomplishments have earned her and her company recognition, including being named among the Top 100 Influencers in EdTech and Top 10 Unstoppable Women Entrepreneurs of 2022.
One of Laurie’s TedX talks highlights the fact that starting a company has a greater impact on developing the necessary skills and mindset for future success compared to other activities. The talk is available to watch online, and it provides insightful perspectives on the importance of entrepreneurship in personal and professional growth.
Fostering Entrepreneurship Among Talented Youth
LaunchX has an exclusive community of talented young entrepreneurs from various parts of the world. Through the program, they have access to industry experts and collaborate with peer co-founders to develop innovative solutions to real business challenges.
The 2023 LaunchX Summer Program offers different options to suit the needs of aspiring entrepreneurs. There is an in-person entrepreneurship summer program, where participants will gather in a physical location to collaborate and learn from industry experts. There is also an online entrepreneurship summer program that offers flexibility to participate remotely from anywhere in the world. Additionally, a new Innovation Program is being introduced, which provides a unique opportunity for participants to work on emerging technologies and cutting-edge projects.
- The LaunchX campus program brings students from around the US and world to the campus of top universities that have the resources and culture on campus to support young entrepreneurs. Students live in the dorms and go to sessions in university classrooms, embracing the innovative culture and surroundings as they start real companies for four weeks on campus. Students receive top quality mentorship, check-ins, progress tracking of their startup team, and support for prototyping.
- The LaunchX online program provides the same quality program and community, including interactive classes, simulations, speakers, mentorship, and prototyping support. The online experience allows student calendars to be semi-customized with preferences of elective class sessions to get a more tailored experience.
- The LaunchX Innovation Program allows students to grow as problem solvers and business leaders as they are challenged to apply their learnings, leverage resources, and work together in teams to tackle challenges and innovate for an established company. Students will gain the ability to make quick decisions and bring value to sponsor organizations which include companies such as Google and Teach for America.
Although high school students can access entrepreneurship resources through various avenues such as clubs, online courses, weekend workshops, or other summer programs, none of these offerings compare to the integrated approach provided by LaunchX. The program offers experienced staff, top speakers, and thought leadership of course materials that come together seamlessly to provide students with a comprehensive learning experience.
LaunchX’s operations and brand serve as the backbone of the program, providing the infrastructure needed to deliver a top-notch experience to students. The key differentiator of LaunchX is that students create actual businesses with the support of the program’s thought leadership and a top community of aspiring young entrepreneurs from around the world. LaunchX emphasizes action-oriented learning, and students are encouraged to create real traction with their businesses, making the experience even more valuable.
Empowering Student Entrepreneurs to Create Real Businesses
LaunchX’s program model is centered on forming teams and creating real businesses. Through the guidance of experienced staff, top speakers, and thought leadership course materials, LaunchX students are led through the entrepreneurial process. Additionally, students receive valuable feedback from a group of successful mentors and industry experts, making the experience even more enriching.
Many startups created through the LaunchX program have gone on to achieve significant success, and alumni have received prestigious accolades such as the 30 Under 30, Thiel Fellowships, and multi-million-dollar investments in their businesses. Moreover, LaunchX continues to produce new startups each year, further cementing the program’s reputation as an incubator for the next generation of successful entrepreneurs.
Embracing Adaptability in the Face of Challenges
Since its founding in 2012, LaunchX has grown significantly, with the first program location having only 30 students in attendance. However, over time, the program has expanded to multiple locations, running many sessions per summer and even creating an online course on EdX.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, LaunchX quickly adapted and moved its program online. Despite the challenges, the program saw an increase in applications during this time, which speaks to the value of the program’s innovative approach.
As LaunchX approaches the 2023 summer program, the brand has been well-established, and the program is confident in its ability to offer high-quality experiences across a variety of formats. This year, LaunchX will be offering both a campus and online experience for students, as well as a new innovation program with even more support to ensure students can take full advantage of the program’s resources and expertise.
Accelerating Growth through Community and Innovation Programs
LaunchX is currently in the growth stage and is expected to experience exponential growth in the coming years. The foundation of the program’s growth is the LaunchX community, which brings together top students to create real products and solve meaningful business challenges. To support future growth, LaunchX has launched a new alumni platform that allows former students to collaborate and leverage connections made during their time in the program. With the reintroduction of the in-person program, LaunchX plans to expand to more campus locations and further develop the Innovation Program.
Take the Leap and Prioritize Validation
Laurie’s ultimate wisdom for budding entrepreneurs is to take the leap and start, without waiting for the stars to align perfectly with the ideal idea, timing, resources, and support. Rather than obsessing over an elusive “perfect” idea, begin with a problem you’re passionate about solving or a customer you’re determined to help, and let the journey unfold through market research, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
Resourcefulness is key, so seek out support, build a team, and remain resilient and focused as you prioritize the most critical tasks to test your offering and measure progress. Above all, don’t forget the power of validation: before investing significant time and money, ensure that your idea resonates with potential customers through market research, outreach to your target audience, and testing with a minimum viable product. The ultimate test of success lies in execution, so start early, stay laser-focused on validating your idea, and persevere through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship with these tried-and-true tips in your back pocket.
Sharing the Power of Goal Setting for Achieving Success
According to Laurie, goal setting is the ultimate motivational tool for achieving success. The process begins by identifying the most critical priorities for each period and quantifying them, followed by tracking them relentlessly. By doing so, progress towards the goal can be gamified, which provides a powerful source of motivation. It also helps to avoid distractions and time-sinks that can derail progress. She shares goal setting is the key to unlocking motivation and staying on track towards achieving your most important objectives.
