Entrepreneurship and Innovation Class – Creative thinking

During Week 5 the Year 10s in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation class completed an activity, inspired by workshops run by the Ian Potter Foundation a spin-off from Questacon in Canberra, designed to promote and develop creative thinking and cooperation.

The boys were given various craft materials including paper, card, straws, and small wooden sticks, and asked to make real or imaginary items in 5-minute sessions. The boys were grouped at different tables but were working independently. To add another level of difficulty each table only had one pair of scissors and one roll of masking tape, so the boys had to cooperate with each other to share these important items or find a way around it. Each item created was labelled with a sticky note and placed on a common table so the other students could see what their peers had created.

The first two rounds had little guidance and the boys were given ‘free choice’ to make whatever they could think of with the provided materials. For the second-round further materials were added including paddle pops sticks and the all-important masking tape. Then categories were introduced such as:

Create a tool - to be used at work, in the shed or in the kitchen.
Something to help you get ready in the morning.
Something to assist someone who is elderly, forgetful and lacking mobility.
Something that will help with organisation.
Environmental Sustainability: This needs to be something that can help save water or power.
Anything related to ‘technology’.
Create something that will aid sleep.

As concentration levels waned, to wind the activity up, the final four categories were combined so the boys could choose one or more.

It was an interesting exercise to observe. Some students were able to quickly think of items to make with the materials provided, while others genuinely struggled. Some found the free choice to be easier while others preferred the direction provided by the categories. There was time to quickly debrief at the end and the students were asked to consider how hard or easy they found the activity.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Guest Speaker

The Stage 1 Entrepreneurship and Innovation class were fortunate enough to have entrepreneur Sam Hassan speak to them about his experience starting up and running his company Link 4.

Link 4 is a seamless invoice delivery system which receives invoices straight into a business’s accounting software from suppliers, plus sends invoices directly to a business’s customers.

Sam, an Egyptian- Australian, has only been in Australia for 5 years. Originally an engineer, he worked in engineering for several years before venturing into various businesses while living in Egypt. He migrated to Australia and decided to continue pursuing an entrepreneurial path. He looked for a problem in the market that he could solve and in turn build into a business opportunity. In the case of Link 4 he recognised that small businesses each month could have several dozen or even 100’s of delivery invoices that they need to input manually into their Accounting software like MYOB which is tedious and time-consuming. His business solution Link 4 does this automatically saving time and money.

Sam explained that to start-up this business he needed to learn more about Accounting, beyond his previous experience of keeping the financials for his former businesses. In order to design the Link 4 software package and ‘speak the appropriate lingo’ he had to return to study, so he could knowledgably communicate with small business proprietors and their Accountants. He stressed to the boys the need to be life-long learners and that studying will be part of their lives into the future if they want to get ahead and have a competitive edge.

Sam explained that the key to successful innovation is to firstly find a problem, creatively think of solutions, develop the best solution, and then market the product or service. He emphasised to the boys the need to challenge yourself to experience more from life. With that experience behind you then you can find your real passion, plus you will be exposed to numerous opportunities and ideas that you can take advantage of.

Sam explained that he is continually innovating and developing Link 4. He listens to his customers and takes on board their needs. This is how he stays ahead of competitors. There are others copying his ideas and trying to compete but as Link 4 was the first in the market they are ahead of these potential competitors as they continually add features and capabilities to Link 4.

Link 4 has reached the finals and been the recipient of several Australian and International business awards since 2016 including South Start Accelerate in 2016, KPMG Fintech Landscape 2017, Startup Catalyst Mission London Technology week 2018, South Australian Startup iAwards 2018, and recipients of the ‘Emerging and Energised’ category at the 2018 South Australian Telstra Business Awards. This is only some of the awards the company has been recognised in. Sam explained to the class that entering awards is a great way to market your business and to network.

Sam’s business offers 3-month internships to University Graduates, however, he explained to the class that to be considered he looks at the whole person. He does not just want graduates with high grades, he wants interesting people who have some work and life experience. That work experience could be voluntary or casual/part-time employment. Furthermore, he wants graduates who have travelled, been part of sporting or community clubs, who essential have an understanding and experience of life outside the university classroom.

We are very grateful that Sam took the time out of his busy schedule to come and share his wisdom with the class. For more information about Link 4 visit their website https://link4.co/au/

Ms Kathleen Johnson

CURRICULUM LEADER: HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

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