Real-World Education to Fuel Your Competitive Edge as an Entrepreneur

Reasons to Start a Business While in College: Real-World Education

Real-World Education

You can only learn so much in the classroom. The startup world is a great bridge between material taught and applied concepts. “There is no better way to accelerate your growth than to build a company,” says student entrepreneur Jordan Gonen, a freshman at Washington University in St. Louis. “It is 100X harder than anything that happens in a classroom, but also 100X more valuable than any textbook lesson.”

Your success will depend on working with others to transform your ideas into reality. From product distribution to engineering, many skill sets may be needed to launch your business. Working with others who specialize in these areas can help you achieve more than trying everything on your own.

Research from analyst David Coleman reveals that teams that use effective collaboration can improve productivity by 20 to 25 percent over their competitors. Focusing on aligned goals and having an open mind is key to developing this mindset.

Drawing from what you’ve learned in past collaborative experiences — such as in family or school — will help you get everyone to contribute their best effort.

Even if you aren’t yet in a position to hire employees, a collaborative mindset will make it easier to evaluate which potential business partners will fuel brand growth.

By drawing from previous experiences, you can better understand which leadership styles do and don’t work. This will help you create a positive company culture and foster stronger relationships with your business partners.

Karim Engelmark Cassimjee, Chief Executive Officer, Enginzyme

As a student at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Karim Engelmark early found a passion for enzymes. They provide a key to sustainable chemistry but are difficult to use in industrial manufacturing as the processes usually become far too expensive. Large-scale production is then not an option. He realized that he wanted to strive for revolutionizing the chemical engineering sector and develop environment-friendly chemical engineering for mass production. EnginZyme was founded in 2014. They enable the production of the chemicals and products that modern society relies on on (for example, paints, coatings, plastics, and even fuel), in a truly sustainable way.

The learnings he has made during this journey are many. First and foremost, having a good team is crucial. To be inspired and to learn from each other is what it is all about. Moving ahead in difficult times requires great teamwork.

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is another area that is crucial to the success of entrepreneurs. Emotional intelligence is your ability to understand your emotions, as well as the emotions of those around you. This self-awareness and empathy are often developed in the family or during interactions with friends and co-workers.

Make it happen: from entrepreneurial learning to startup on the market

Entrepreneurs with strong EQ are better equipped to provide strong leadership when they launch their businesses. According to digital marketing expert Marisa Sanfilippo, individuals with high emotional intelligence are more effective leaders, more productive, and better at working with others. This impacts vital areas such as conflict management, inspirational leadership, teamwork, and organizational awareness.

According to data from Initiative One Leadership Institute, higher emotional intelligence has several tangible benefits for startups, including higher retention rates and greater profit growth. Developing a positive attitude to manage stress and conflict in other areas will have a direct impact on your ability to successfully lead others in a business setting.

Using the lessons learned and knowledge gained from your own life will better position you for success. In the entrepreneurial world, experience matters — use it.

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