Entrepreneurship
Developing the entrepreneurial thinkers of tomorrow
Being entrepreneurial isn’t just about starting companies. It is about having a vision and making it a reality — a way of thinking that can be learned and practiced by anyone.
At AWS, we develop both an entrepreneurial mindset and a practical skillset in every student. The mindset shapes how students think and approach the world; the skillset equips them with the tools to bring their ideas to life.
The 11 mindset traits we cultivate in every AWS student
Always ask “what if” and “why” and seek new and creative ways of learning and doing.
Recognize your potential for learning and achieving anything and the power to stretch your brain and sharpen your mind!
Dare to step out of your comfort zone(s) to accomplish great things.
Learn to work through failure to create solutions for the problems you are passionate about.
Actively observe, identify, and act on circumstances where you can innovate or solve a problem.
Proactively develop creative solutions to the problems around you.
See failure as a learning opportunity and a launchpad for your next success or discovery.
Be confident and hopeful in your ability to innovate and your potential for making an impact.
Develop quick and clever ways to overcome challenges (and don’t worry, you can always iterate!).
Make smart changes when challenges arise without losing heart or giving up.
Think about other people’s needs and feelings and keep these in mind when solving a problem.
The 10 practical tools successful entrepreneurs have in their toolbox
Being creative means being bold and imaginative and not limiting your thinking to what’s already been done.
It’s rare for someone to accomplish great things by themselves — seek out teams with diverse perspectives, skills, and talents!
The key to innovation is to let your mind spread its wings and fly. The more ideas the better — wild and silly ideas welcome!
Entrepreneurs look for and analyze different patterns and trends to see if an idea will be successful and if it’s the right time to get started.
It’s important to gather information about your potential users so you can turn your idea into something that they will want!
To develop effective solutions, entrepreneurs need to put the user first and seek out feedback in order to design with users in mind.
Entrepreneurs create prototypes — simple models to explain their idea, get feedback, and learn how their product can be improved.
Business models help answer questions like: What will it cost to make your product? What should you charge?
Rallying people around your idea is critical! Effective “pitches” to potential users and investors are clear, short and persuasive.
When you have opportunities to speak about your idea, you want to do so as effectively as possible (this takes practice!).
Yes, entrepreneurial education is integrated into the curriculum for all students K-12. It's not about starting businesses — it's about developing the mindset and skills for success in any field.
Our approach goes far beyond traditional business education. We develop transferable skills like creativity, resilience, and initiative alongside practical tools like prototyping, pitching, and business modelling.
Discover how AWS builds the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.