Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Entrepreneurship 12 Sparks Innovation

6 October 2024William L, Ellis ‘26

Every year, thousands of rowers, parents, and fans come together on campus for the annual Brentwood International Rowing Regatta. Schools and clubs, both international and nationwide, compete against one another, sharing the goal of walking away as champions in their respective divisions. This past year’s Regatta was no different.

April 26 to April 28, 2024 were a great memory for many: some walked away with hard-earned medals, while others spent their time enjoying the beautiful Brentwood oceanfront view. However, what particularly interested many individuals were the various food stands located on Campbell Commons, offering snacks and meals to individuals craving delicious delights, with some queues so long it looked like there was no end.

The Entrepreneurship 12 students ran these stands. This course, built for leaders, innovation, and teamwork, saw the Regatta as the course’s central event. These students, mostly in Grades 11 and 12, worked long, yet fulfilling, hours offering a variety of foods from french fries to jambalaya. Smiles, happiness, and laughter echoed throughout the student body, with the Entrepreneurship 12 students feeling like months of their hard work had been put to good use.

Ainose I, Ellis ‘25, reflected on the moment with nothing but positives on the course and end-of-year Regatta event: “It was truly a great way to end the year” he mentioned. “After months of preparing balance sheets, income statements, and ordering ingredients, it just felt like it was worth all the time. I’m happy I made the choice to take the course” he added. Olivier B, Privett ‘25, restated this idea when he discussed his opinion on the course: “Entrepreneurship 12 has allowed me to grow as a businessman, but more so as a person. Mr MacDonald has helped me and my peers grow our passion for business, going beyond his duties to teach us concepts other than Entrepreneurship such as accounting. I am extremely grateful for that” he said.

Entrepreneurship 12 is one of the many business courses offered at Brentwood. It allows students to dive into both the theoretical and practical aspects of entrepreneurship. Students are exposed to different concepts of the business world, applying their knowledge. Prior to the Regatta, students were given mini lessons and quizzes on topics including marketing, finance, human resources, accounting, and more, ensuring they were given the best chance for success when running their food stands – and in the business world. Students broaden their knowledge of business, but, more importantly, gain insight on how to act as people in the business world.

Through life lessons and personal anecdotes from teachers and guest speakers, students understand what it means to be a good individual in the business world and beyond, gaining a sense of what is essential for people to succeed in this career path. Students can also be seen working on group projects, presenting slideshows, and doing team-bonding exercises, allowing them to develop their communication and interpersonal skills. As well, the course emphasizes growth, where students can be seen giving feedback to one another, learning from mistakes, and carrying themselves with professionalism, just like they would be expected to in the business world.

It is Brentwood’s business guru, Mr MacDonald, who allows this to happen. A man of many talents, Mr MacDonald has involved himself in many ways at Brentwood, teaching courses like Financial Accounting 12, Introduction to Business 11, and Entrepreneurship 12, and coaching sports such as tennis and squash. After a 20-year career as a chartered professional accountant, 2022 saw Mr MacDonald shift careers as a member of Brentwood’s faculty. With a huge passion for business and for helping others, it is always a great pleasure and lots of fun to be in his class. He describes the course as one “providing students with a unique experiential learning opportunity to create start-up businesses, build valuable skill sets including harnessing their abilities to work and communicate as a team, problem solve, and innovate”. In addition, Mr MacDonald exemplifies what it means to be a teacher who has a good balance, understanding when it is time to focus and when it is time to make jokes, always ready to support and nurture his students even if it means going beyond school hours.

A huge thank you goes out to Mr MacDonald, my fellow Entrepreneurship 12 students this past year, and Brentwood for giving us the opportunity to grow as young entrepreneurs in and out of the classroom. The three days where we ran our food booths were long but rewarding, and I’m proud we stuck together and gave our best for our distinct food booths. Mr MacDonald has helped me realize that business is what I am passionate about, inspiring me in his classes to never stop learning and always do my best work possible. Faculty like Mr MacDonald and courses like Entrepreneurship 12 make Brentwood the school it is: a place where students become innovators, entrepreneurs, critical thinkers, team players, and, most importantly, good people.

William L, Ellis ‘26

Where Students Choose To Be