Developing Your Edupreneurial Mindset
The worlds of education and entrepreneurship have changed in exciting ways, creating a dynamic edupreneurial ecosystem. Innovations facilitated by emerging technologies have transformed and revolutionized teaching and learning experiences. At its heart, being an edupreneur means having the right mindset to see opportunities where others might only see challenges. It's about having that sixth sense for spotting future trends in education while staying flexible enough to adapt when things don't go as planned. This transformative power is in your hands as an educator.
A few months ago, I worked with a superintendent interested in offering his expertise as a side hustle. We spent the better part of 2 weeks reflecting on his career experiences, temperament, talents, etc. The result was a strategic plan based on his years of experience as a teacher, a counselor, and a special education director. This plan included specific steps to leverage his teaching experience in developing a new curriculum, his counseling skills in student support programs, and his special education director experience in creating inclusive learning environments. Below is an outline of the 5-step process we used to develop his EduVenture Roadmap.
Mindset
The essence of edupreneurial thinking starts with a genuine excitement for education, determining our capacity, finding our connections, creating our roadmap, and operationalizing it. My path into edupreneurship started with a simple spark - a commitment to education that wouldn't let go. This personal journey, unique to each of us, is what makes edupreneurship so inspiring and powerful.
Starting Valgar LLC this past year felt like putting together pieces of a puzzle I'd been collecting for years. Valgar LLC combines book publishing, consulting, and executive coaching to help educators turn their innovative ideas into reality. All those hours spent in classrooms, planning curriculum, and working with other educators finally came together in this venture. Looking back, it's incredible how my time in education and business helped me see opportunities hiding in plain sight.
But here's the thing about being an edupreneur: while those moments keep you going, you need more than just passion to make it work. Through Valgar LLC, I've learned that success comes from blending that educator's heart with a practical business mind. It's about taking those educator insights and turning them into solutions that work, helping other educators tackle fundamental challenges in ways that make sense.
The path isn't always smooth. Every edupreneur faces roadblocks and setbacks. It could be redesigning a teaching method that doesn't quite connect with students or a digital classroom observation tool to assess student engagement. What matters is how you respond to these challenges. The best approach? Stay open to feedback, be ready to adjust your strategy, and keep focusing on solving real educational problems. Want to develop your edupreneurial mindset? Consider the following:
Take time to think about what truly matters in education. What problems keep you up at night? Which challenges do you see in your classroom or school that need fresh solutions?
Write down your "why." What drives you to make education better? Have a clear personal mission that helps you keep you focused when things get tough.
Build your resilience toolkit. When things don't work out (and sometimes they won't), have a plan for bouncing back. This resilience is not just a trait but a tool that will keep you going in the face of challenges. Have a trusted network of colleagues who can offer honest feedback or a systematic way to test and refine your ideas. With this toolkit, you can face any obstacle with confidence. Stay flexible in your thinking. The education landscape keeps changing, and the most successful edupreneurs evolve.
I have worked with educators who transformed their classrooms, schools, and even entire districts by developing the right mindset. It's not about having all the answers - it's about being willing to ask the right questions and work toward meaningful solutions.
Building an edupreneurial mindset is an ongoing journey. It combines the heart of a teacher with the vision of an innovator. Developing these key traits and learning from each experience can create lasting positive change in education. And isn't that what teaching is all about?
Reflection Questions:
What keeps you awake at night when you think about today's educational challenges?
Remember when your teaching plans went sideways - how did you bounce back?
Which part of your educator experience makes you think "there has to be a better way"?
What does the perfect learning experience look like when you imagine it?
What unique skills or experiences do you bring to the table that could help solve educational problems?
Tasks:
Write a one-page story about why you care about improving education.
Talk to three students about their most significant learning struggles and take notes.
Map out one small change you could make in your classroom or teaching approach next week
Find and connect with another educator who's trying something new in their practice
Create a simple weekly plan to test one of your educational ideas
The Pulse
The Trump administration's new directives are rapidly shifting the education business landscape. For edupreneurs and education companies, these changes bring both challenges and opportunities. You'll need to adapt quickly from grant freezes affecting district budgets to canceled research contracts and new policies on imported goods.
Smart business owners watch district funding patterns and adjust their strategies as schools struggle with federal fund access and program changes. Want practical tips to keep your education business thriving in this uncertain climate? Click here for insights and strategies from industry leaders who are successfully navigating these changes.
Resources
Program Development Intern Opportunity: Generation Remix is creating a new generation of healthier and safer children in the digital world. If you are interested in this opportunity, click this link for more information.
###
Need to jazz up your brand or messaging? Canva makes creating stunning worksheets, social posts, and course presentations simple. I've used it to design everything from certificates to proposals and graphs. With drag-and-drop tools and ready-made templates, you'll spend less time creating and more time developing your venture.