6 answers
basira
Student
Fremont, California
3
Questions
Asked
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What did you study after high school, and how did it help you become an entrepreneur?
Suppose I am a junior in high school right now and want to become an entrepreneur. What major do you think would suit me best?
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6 answers
Johnson Tran
Tutor
101
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Johnson’s Answer
There's no perfect major for starting a business because successful entrepreneurs come from all kinds of backgrounds. However, majors like Business Administration, Marketing, Finance, or Accounting can help you understand how a company works.
But remember, your major is only part of the journey. Start building skills now. Join clubs, enter competitions, manage your money, and talk to people who run businesses. Their advice is invaluable and can't be found in books.
Entrepreneurship is more about action than study. Solving problems, communicating, and leading a team are crucial skills, possibly more important than your degree.
As a high school junior, don't worry too much yet. Focus on what interests you. Picking a major you enjoy and that aligns with your goals will keep you motivated and help you gain the necessary skills.
But remember, your major is only part of the journey. Start building skills now. Join clubs, enter competitions, manage your money, and talk to people who run businesses. Their advice is invaluable and can't be found in books.
Entrepreneurship is more about action than study. Solving problems, communicating, and leading a team are crucial skills, possibly more important than your degree.
As a high school junior, don't worry too much yet. Focus on what interests you. Picking a major you enjoy and that aligns with your goals will keep you motivated and help you gain the necessary skills.
Pete Knowlton
Security Engineering & Risk Management
5
Answers
Kirkland, Washington
Updated
Pete’s Answer
Success is rarely a straight line, despite that it always makes sense looking backwards. The key to a successful business is first recognizing a problem you are able to solve, that others can't solve as well as you think you can, while charging a high amount of $ for that solution. That's the main premise of entrepreneurship.
You mention you are still in High School. I highly recommend joining one of the business clubs if they exist in your school, as this can open up the door to experience and internships. Example would be DECA and FBLA in the United States.
That said, there are many topics to understand that will save you days to learn upfront (think as business knowledge shortcuts) over years of anguish if you learn the hard way (having to fix a mistake and learning while paying the cost of that mistake). Examples are paying taxes, book keeping, and abiding by country and local laws and regulations, or anywhere you plan to transact your invention, service, or endeavor.
TL;DR: Business mentors can help fast track your learning. Business / Finance classes also help build this business foundation. The entrepreneur mindset follows this line of thinking: "Oh this looks cool or interesting, how do i do this? [insert 48 hours of youtube videos, googling, ai searches, and official learning classes, calling business friends, and creating many business plans].
If you are starting at zero knowledge, start with the business clubs in your school. It will get you connected to the right people to help you get where you want to go.
You mention you are still in High School. I highly recommend joining one of the business clubs if they exist in your school, as this can open up the door to experience and internships. Example would be DECA and FBLA in the United States.
That said, there are many topics to understand that will save you days to learn upfront (think as business knowledge shortcuts) over years of anguish if you learn the hard way (having to fix a mistake and learning while paying the cost of that mistake). Examples are paying taxes, book keeping, and abiding by country and local laws and regulations, or anywhere you plan to transact your invention, service, or endeavor.
TL;DR: Business mentors can help fast track your learning. Business / Finance classes also help build this business foundation. The entrepreneur mindset follows this line of thinking: "Oh this looks cool or interesting, how do i do this? [insert 48 hours of youtube videos, googling, ai searches, and official learning classes, calling business friends, and creating many business plans].
If you are starting at zero knowledge, start with the business clubs in your school. It will get you connected to the right people to help you get where you want to go.
Christian Becerra
Operations professional
40
Answers
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Updated
Christian’s Answer
One thing I’ve learned from starting my own projects is that entrepreneurship doesn’t necessarily require a specific degree. It requires curiosity, problem-solving skills, and a willingness to figure things out as you go.
I’ve worked across different industries, and some of the most valuable skills I’ve developed have been in operations, communication, and bringing ideas to life. For example, when developing educational programs for young people, I’ve had to think about everything from budgeting and partnerships to outreach and actually delivering the program. You quickly realize that having a great idea is only the beginning!
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, I’d consider majors like business administration, economics, computer science, or even something in the humanities. It really depends on what kind of business you want to build.
My biggest advice? Don’t wait until college to start experimenting. You’re a junior in high school, which means you have plenty of time to test ideas, start a small project, or identify a problem in your community that you’d like to solve. You’ll learn a tremendous amount simply by trying.
I’ve worked across different industries, and some of the most valuable skills I’ve developed have been in operations, communication, and bringing ideas to life. For example, when developing educational programs for young people, I’ve had to think about everything from budgeting and partnerships to outreach and actually delivering the program. You quickly realize that having a great idea is only the beginning!
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, I’d consider majors like business administration, economics, computer science, or even something in the humanities. It really depends on what kind of business you want to build.
My biggest advice? Don’t wait until college to start experimenting. You’re a junior in high school, which means you have plenty of time to test ideas, start a small project, or identify a problem in your community that you’d like to solve. You’ll learn a tremendous amount simply by trying.
Dean Ongcangco
Cyber Security Engineer
4
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Dean’s Answer
Hi there! I agree with some of the answers above in that there's no specific degree for entrpreneurship, although I think a degree in Business is definitely a good base to have. If you would like to understand though the technical parts of entrepreneurship, such as building a product through software etc. Computer Science or and Information Technology related field would be the option imo.
Kimberly Ferguson
Write on LinkedIn
19
Answers
Huntsville, Alabama
Updated
Kimberly’s Answer
Business definitely and start-up business degree if there's one. You should connect on social media with new entrepreneurs so they can offer advice to you.
Robel Regala
Insurance Operations Analyst
42
Answers
Calamba, Calabarzon, Philippines
Updated
Robel’s Answer
After high school, you may pursue studying Business-related subjects, which helped you build skills in communication, problem-solving, data analysis, and decision-making. These skills have been very useful to your career and would also be valuable for entrepreneurship.
What helped you the most was learning how organizations operate, how to manage resources effectively, and how to understand customer needs. Entrepreneurship is not just about having a business idea. It is also about planning, managing finances, solving problems, and adapting to challenges.
That said, I believe real-world experience played just as important a role as formal education. Working with different people, learning from mistakes, and continuously improving your skills have all contributed to developing an entrepreneurial mindset.
What helped you the most was learning how organizations operate, how to manage resources effectively, and how to understand customer needs. Entrepreneurship is not just about having a business idea. It is also about planning, managing finances, solving problems, and adapting to challenges.
That said, I believe real-world experience played just as important a role as formal education. Working with different people, learning from mistakes, and continuously improving your skills have all contributed to developing an entrepreneurial mindset.