Woodlawn Campus Students Learn About Business, Dive into the Shark Tank
In May, a group of UChicago Charter School Woodlawn Campus 9th and 10th graders received a crash course in business before testing their acumen by participating in a mock version of the television show Shark Tank. Three volunteers from Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), Marlo Hines, Brandon Davis, and Marcus Rollins, shared their business career experiences and the multiple business-related avenues students might consider as they prepare for college. The event was a bonus for students who participated in the 6to16 program (UEI’s college readiness curriculum) who completed 100% of their homework.
MLT is an organization that aims to increase the number of people of color in business leadership positions. Through organized activities and other offerings, MLT cultivates potential by breaking down the “key ingredients” of success through an unparalleled curriculum. This curriculum not only prepares participants for the next level in their business careers, but also introduces them to the “pipeline” to senior leadership. Participants in MLT often go on to the best business schools in the country, including Wharton (University of Pennsylvania), Harvard Business School, and the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
The MLT cohort shared pertinent information about several fields, such as consulting, human resources, and marketing and sales; the students soaked up the lesson. Many were so impressed that they began rethinking career choices. Danielle Howard, a 10th grader, had been thinking about a career in medicine or law. However, after the MLT presentation, she is now contemplating shifting her focus to marketing and consulting.
The climax of the MLT presentation was the students’ participation in a game based on the television show Shark Tank. The show focuses on unknown inventors and entrepreneurs who are seeking funding from one of Shark Tank’s panel of investors for their new invention or product. The three MLT members served as “investors” while the Woodlawn Campus students, broken into three groups, presented their plan to expand a shoe business. Each group pitched the name and special features of their shoe, shared how they planned to promote it, and determined their core demographic. Although the competition was close, the ‘Techno Kicks’ group won because their plan included serious consideration for future endeavors. It also didn’t hurt that the group performed their own jingle.
Who knew swimming with sharks could be so enjoyable and educational?