Stanford / Entrepreneurship

Founding of Teach for America: Entrepreneurs Envision What Others Say is Impossible

By Kim Smith | New Schools Venture Fund: Investing in Entrepreneurship in Education Lecture 2 of 13

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Lecture Description

Smith talks about how a series of experiences prepare an entrepreneur to found a new venture. Entrepreneurship is about solving a problem in a better way and finding a way to make it happen, despite everyone telling you it cannot be done, she says. People did not believe Teach for America would work, but Smith and founder Wendy Kopp realized people weren't becoming teachers because they weren't being recruited and the process to get certified was too bureaucratic. They created a model in Teach for America that solved these problems, and were successful, she adds.

Course Index

  1. Hybrids: Entrepreneurs Must Lead People from Radically Different Sectors
  2. Founding of Teach for America: Entrepreneurs Envision What Others Say is Impossible
  3. A Theory of Change = Business Model + Strategy
  4. Focus
  5. Hybrid Leaders
  6. Education: Shift From Culture of Compliance to Culture of Performance
  7. Venture Philanthropy
  8. New School Venture Fund History and Operations
  9. New School Portfolio
  10. Strategic Investment Analysis Via a Hybrid Partner Group
  11. Leadership, Communication, and Facilitation Skills
  12. Taking Risks
  13. Achieving Profits Through Customer Focus
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