Derry college celebrates 10th Global Entrepreneurship Week

St. Mary’s College launched their 10th Global Entrepreneurship Week last week and had no less than Sarah Friar, CEO and Co-Founder of American technology company Nextdoor on hand to open proceedings with a talk to students from the college and neighbouring Foyle Learning Community Schools.

The former Strabane native described Monday as ‘An amazing start to the day getting to talk to these teenagers at St. Mary’s about building businesses and kicking off Global Entrepreneurship Week 2022.’

Global Entrepreneurship Week was created in 2008 by the Global Entrepreneurship Network and is designed to encourage potential entrepreneurs, especially young people, to start their own businesses. The network seeks to highlight the positive impact that entrepreneurs can have, particularly in terms of innovation and sustainable development.

Every year entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, researchers and some 25,000 organisations are involved to educate about entrepreneurship and improve entrepreneurial opportunities. 

During her address on Monday to students, Ms. Friar explained four tenets that she lives by with number four being the hardest by far and quoted the best advice from Jack Dorsey co-founder and former CEO of Twitter.

Ms. Friar added: “Starting with a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote that always sings to me - ‘What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.”

She continued: “So what lies inside of me – I hope to give you a little insight today. I’m going to speak to four tenets I try to live by - 1. Get a daily adrenaline rush; 2. Do what you love; 3. Pay it Forward; and 4 - and perhaps a surprising one - Enjoy failing / Don’t try to be perfect!"

Thanking the school, Mary McKenna, entrepreneur-in-residence and the students, concluded: “I can’t wait to see what these future entrepreneurs bring to the world!” 

Celebrating this, the 10th year of the event, the local school have had almost 100 successful entrepreneurs inspire the students over the years and they have had continued great support since.

Roisin Rice, Vice Principal, St. Mary’s College, pictured with Mrs. Mariese Brown, Head of Business and Enterprise, Thornhill College and students from both schools.

Event organiser in the college, Mrs. Clare Doherty said: “There is a fantastic line up for #GEW2022 of high-achieving female founders that will visit the school including Sarah Friar of Nextdoor, Larissa Feeney FCA of Accountant Online, Eileen Rafferty film maker, film producer and co-founder of Errigal Studios and The Bothy, Susan Kelly CEO and co-founder of Respiratory Analytics, Serena Terry known to many of you as Mammy Banter, Karina Kelly serial entrepreneur, CEO and co-founder of Content Llama and last but not least, Olivia Mcveigh social influencer, makeup artist, blogger and Tyrone's best known girl about town. So, all-in-all, a great week’s activities ahead."

Also speaking at Monday’s launch, College Principal, Mr. Brendan McGinn thanked Ms. Friar for taking time out of her busy schedule to visit the school and launch the week’s events.

And he added: “We were delighted and privileged to have had Sarah Friar as our guest speaker to launch our Global Entrepreneurial Week for 2022.

Sarah Friar, CEO and Co-Founder of Nextdoor gets a ‘selfie’ with some of the girls at St Mary’s.

“Not only did Sarah bring an immeasurable wealth of experience to the occasion but she spoke directly and simply to our students, encouraging them to pursue what they really loved and to embrace failure as a true learning experience. Sarah was thoroughly engaging throughout and left a huge and positive impression on the students and staff present.”

During the week’s activities, the students from Year 8 to Year 14 take part in events including presentations from visiting entrepreneurs, discussion groups, life skills workshops and subject-specific career advice.