Social Impact &
Entrepreneurship Study Tour

Our first day in Sydney kicked off with a morning arrival. We met Romina and traveled to Oaks to drop off our bags between 9:45 am and 10:30 am. After fueling up with lunch from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, we embarked on an afternoon adventure to the Sydney Wildlife Zoo. Karen, ever the planner, had secured tickets for the group 24 hours in advance, allowing us to explore the wonders of the zoo from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Back at Oaks between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm, we checked into our rooms and freshened up.

To conclude our arrival day, we took a walk and attended a mass at St. Mary's Cathedral from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. It was a whirlwind of introductions, travel, and exploration, setting the stage for an exciting social impact and entrepreneurship study tour in Sydney.

After touching down in Sydney, we met Romina and made our way to Oaks to drop off our luggage. We then enjoyed a delicious Aussie-themed breakfast to fuel up for the day's activities. Paula then kicked things off with an introduction to the program, followed by a session on becoming an Emotionally Intelligent Leader.

The afternoon focused on social impact and entrepreneurship. Louise Broeng led a session exploring the United Nations Development Goals, specifically how to transform challenges into business opportunities. After this thought-provoking session, we walked back to the hotel with staff and adult leaders, wrapping up a jam-packed arrival day that set the stage for the exciting study tour ahead.

Following the inspirational session on finding your life purpose and turning it into an impact business led by Tom Wilson, we enjoyed a well-deserved lunch break. The afternoon focused on the practicalities of social impact, with Tom Wilson returning to guide us through the world of Business & Revenue Models for Social Enterprises.  This informative session equipped us with the tools to turn passion into action.  We then walked back to the hotel with staff and adult leaders, wrapping up a productive day that left some free time for exploration and shopping – the perfect way to unwind before diving deeper into the study tour.

On day three, Romina reconnected with the group at Oaks before we embarked on a scenic 45-minute walk to the iconic Sydney Opera House. We captured some memorable photos at this architectural marvel before heading to a session at Salesforce led by Luigerr Ramos.  After lunch and a walk back to the campus, the afternoon delved into the digital world. Louise Broeng equipped us with valuable tools through a session on Digital Marketing Tech Tools & Growth Hacking for Fast Impact.  We then transitioned to social impact strategy with Anne-Marie, who led us through Design Thinking for Positive Impact and the crucial skill of crafting a Business Plan for Social Impact. This intensive session wrapped up around 5:30 pm, leaving us with a solid foundation for the days to come.

Day four honed our entrepreneurial skills. The morning session with Paula Mills focused on the art of the pitch, equipping us with the tools to confidently present our business ideas.  Afterward, we went on a 30-minute walk to Kyiv Social, a social enterprise restaurant located in the Broadway/Chippendale area. Here, we enjoyed a delicious lunch while supporting a worthy cause.  Refueled and inspired, we took another 30-minute walk before diving into the world of professional networking. Sean Whitford's session on Linkedin & Networking Ninja equipped us with the strategies to build strong connections in the business world.  We then walked back to the hotel with staff and adult leaders, concluding a day that empowered us to turn ideas into action.

Day five was dedicated to refining our business ideas and honing our pitching skills. The morning and early afternoon sessions provided personalized mentoring from Louise, Paula, and Romina. They offered invaluable guidance, helping us fine-tune our concepts and perfect our pitches. After a lunch break to regroup, we fueled up with tea and finalized our presentations during a dedicated prep session. The culmination of the day arrived with a highly anticipated pitch event. We presented our business ideas to a panel of inspiring social entrepreneurship leaders, including Prashan, Thibault Roumagoux, and Sandra D'Souza. Their feedback and insights were a valuable capstone to a day of focused development. We then walked back to the hotel with staff and adult leaders, feeling empowered and ready to take the next steps in our entrepreneurial journeys.