In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Leah Ellis, founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, a nonprofit helping children ages six to 17 build real business, financial, and leadership skills through hands-on experience. Leah shares how watching her own daughter start a business at four years old sparked a bigger vision for helping children lead, create, and solve problems right now.

We explore what happens when adults step back, ask better questions, and let young people make real decisions. Leah walks us through children’s business fairs, mastermind groups, problem spotting, financial literacy, and the power of letting kids learn from failure in safe, meaningful ways. Tune in to hear how entrepreneurship can help children build confidence, agency, and practical skills for life.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• How the Society of Child Entrepreneurs helps children build business, money, and leadership skills
• Why adults should guide children with questions instead of managing their ideas
• What children learn through business fairs, product design, customer interaction, and failure
• How entrepreneurship builds confidence, resilience, and real-world problem-solving
• Ways educators and families can start small with market days, problem spotting, and “how” questions

Resources:

• Society of Child Entrepreneurs
• Society of Child Entrepreneurs on Facebook
• Sparks to Stars: The Story of Astra & Zeke
• Acton Children’s Business Fair
• Kansas Leadership Center
• Search Institute’s Developmental Assets

Produced by NOVA