Is it ever too early to become an entrepreneur? For wife and mother Teresa Baker, it is not. An entrepreneur in her own right, the passion for self-driven employment has been passed down to Baker’s three children. Now, she is looking to instill it in children everywhere.
Children are not new to business ownership. In 2018, a study released by Ernst & Young determined 13 percent of entrepreneurs started their businesses before the age of 13. Children are making strides and building empires big enough to rival some of the most iconic names.
The Junior CEO Business Fair and Conference helps lay the foundation for building a business and makes it relatable for children. In its first ever debut, the conference was a two-day event for children ages eight to 17 on their path to entrepreneurship. The conference featured both youth and adult speakers to motivate, mentor and nurture their business minds.
“The mission of the conference is to enable economic development in inner cities through children’s entrepreneurship,” says Baker. “The conference vision is to be a leading business hub for children entrepreneurs.”
Complete with a real-life experience in competitive marketing, The Junior CEO Business Fair and Conference gave kids the opportunity to take part in workshops on financing, banking and business ethics and practices. Though the conference was built for children, parents also attended workshops with their child for added support.
“Children and parents will participate in workshops that are centered around the importance of trademarking a business; how to get products in stores; and how to build a business from the ground up by implementing cost-saving methods,” says Baker. “We want families to leave our conference, empowered.”
No stranger to launching brands, Baker is also the founder of Brown Boy Brown Girl, a family-owned multimedia publishing company. Expanding into several stores, the books created under the publishing company encourage children to read while also seeing versions of themselves depicted in its pages.
“I started our business Brown Boy Brown Girl in 2015. Next month our products, multicultural children’s notebooks, will be in 75 stores across the country,” says Baker. “We will share our journey with the
expectation of teaching families how to do the same.”
BBBG also helps authors become self-published with guided assistance for everything needed to release a children’s book.
Being a successful business owner comes with its own set of stressors for adults. Children who enter business may need additional support and guidance from parents. However, Baker as a momtreprenuer is letting other parents know to not add to the stress of building for their children. Instead of work, parents are encouraged to make entrepreneurship lighthearted and exploratory.
“While it is our hope that families work with their children on business ideas, parents should keep it light and not stress over a potential business venture,” Baker says. “Parents can look at it as a fun and educational experience.”
Originally looking to expand on the success of BBBG, Baker thought of the idea for the conference for youth. Now, with their inaugural conference in the rear view, the founder is focused on the help she can provide to families.
This will be our inaugural year and I am looking forward to making an impact,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if we have 20 families in attendance or 100. What’s important is that the information they receive is something they can use moving forward in their journey.”
Although the inaugural event is over, the effects of the program are sure to linger with the young entrepreneurs as they embark on a journey to explore the business sector. Young entrepreneurs also have the opportunity to build tenacity, perseverance, self-confidence and resilience while learning the ropes. These life skills extend beyond the realm of business and helps them shape and tackle adulthood.
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