The next generation of entrepreneurs aren’t just waiting to learn how to cultivate their passion.
At Lillian Osborne High School in south Edmonton, 20 students each chipped in $10 to start an aromatherapy roller company called Aura.
The people involved hold senior executive positions, with Year 12 students May Sharma and Shawn Chongi serving as CEO and vice president of sales, respectively.
“It’s the whole process that students learn about, from production to marketing to financial statements and taxes,” Sharma told CTV News Edmonton in a recent interview.
What was most striking to the sponsoring teachers was the fact that they would not receive school credit for the personal time they put in. Junior Achievement programs to help young people explore and develop their entrepreneurial spirit.
Junior Achievement helped the Lillian Osborne team obtain the necessary certifications and open a bank account, and provided guidance on product development and timelines.
Aura sells two scents online that are made from organic essential oils. Around Edmonton, jasmine sandalwood and peppermint eucalyptus are used, the former of which is believed to help comfort and calm the wearer, while the latter relieves stress and pain.
“Mental health, self-care is something that everyone should advocate for or at least be informed about, so we try to educate people on social media through Instagram,” Choeni said.
Student leaders are very conscious about moving away from gender-based marketing, making it one of their three core principles alongside environmental sustainability and mental health.
“Our market research showed that (aromatherapy) has a very feminine connotation and is perceived as more for women than for men,” Sharma said.
“There’s no right name for aromatherapy. It’s for mental health and to help people feel better about themselves through the scents and compounds they contain.”
In addition to their $9,000 revenue goal, the students behind Aura hope to donate 10 percent of their profits back to the community.
“I always thought the CEO’s job was just about management or leadership or just delegating work and making sure everything runs smoothly,” said Sharma, who plans to study business at the University of Alberta in the fall, reflecting on her understanding of entrepreneurship before joining the program.
“But honestly, being CEO means embodying the vision I have for this company, which is to help others while helping the community. And working with my team and being inspired by the same vision, making sure we’re all on the same page and bringing that to the product.”
“I applaud their ambition, it’s a great goal,” science teacher Hinson Chan said.
“It’s also important to find extracurricular activities that they’re passionate about, that allow them to express themselves and be part of a group.”
This marks the third year that Lillian Osborn High School students have participated in the Junior Achievement program.
With files from CTV News Edmonton reporter Nareman Issa
