This week we talk to Julie Medeiros of Miss M Online Classes, an online school that teaches children aged eight and above the basics of being an entrepreneur such as advertising, marketing, developing critical thinking. A business professional with a long career in marketing, Julie rediscovered her love for teaching when the pandemic found herself having to home-school her kids. She also believes that teaching kids early on about entrepreneurship will help bridge school knowledge to real life and motivate them to pursue learning beyond the classroom.
ISB: How did the idea behind setting up an online school come to life?
JM: After graduating from a teaching university about 20 years ago, I was invited to join a pharmaceutical company where I successfully started a new career as a marketer. I completed a Masters in marketing and dedicated almost two decades to a corporate business career. The pandemic presented an opportunity to home-school my own kids during remote learning. And this is when I re-discovered my passion for teaching as well as the gaps in school education in equipping kids with skills they need in today’s world. I decided to fill these gaps by combining my teaching degree and business experience through business courses for kids that connect school subjects to real life. And this is how Miss M Online Classes was born.
ISB: Why is it important to teach children at such a young age the concepts of entrepreneurship?
JM: Entrepreneurship is regarded as a skill of the future along with critical thinking and problem-solving. According to the World Economic Forum, 65 per cent of today’s primary school kids will work in jobs that are not yet created. This prompts the need for innovative enterprising and the ability to commercialise new ideas that will benefit the future world. Early entrepreneurial education builds earning confidence in children through learning how to discover and monetize their natural talents. Knowing how the business world works, kids learn to think out of the box and make money by pursuing their passions which is probably one of the most valuable skills a person can acquire in life.
ISB: How do you teach entrepreneurship to children in a way that they can easily comprehend?
JM: I like to “cook” the knowledge in the same way as we cook food so kids consume it with appetite. Business education that is kid-friendly, relevant to their personal interests and illustrated with everyday examples encourages children to continue learning beyond the course and see how academic school subjects can benefit in providing the knowledge kids need to succeed in business. Another thing is that besides my university degree and business career, I have run my own business for many years and can explain theory through firsthand entrepreneurial experience. And this is what engages kids – to see someone who has been there and run a business, to get a big picture of the business world.
ISB: What has been the reception to Miss M Online Classes, especially from the students and their parents?
JM: One core element for me is parents’ and kids’ trust in providing comprehensive, professional marketing and business education that is beyond running a lemonade stand. One testimonial we received said, “Julie sees what the kids of today think and feel towards school and learning. It’s time the Education Department follow suit.” It is an honour and a sign that parents and kids want proper kids’ education to teach them business foundations with the goal of growing financial independence and confidence.
ISB: What is your vision for Miss M Online Classes in the next couple of years?
JM: I’d really like to make our business courses available to disadvantaged kids and their families who for different reasons are unable to provide access to quality education beyond the classroom. My plans go further to inspire children through real stories of real entrepreneurs to always stay true to themselves, work hard and pursue their dreams, not money.
ISB: For those who are looking to become entrepreneurs themselves, what is the most important lesson that you can share?
JM: Never, ever start a business to make money. Start it to make an impact and change life of others or the world for the better. Entrepreneurship is often a bumpy road and you need to love what you do in order to go through its highs and lows. Have a big “Why” behind your goals, draw on your strengths and go after your goals to live a fulfilled life.
