Congratulations to our up-and-coming entrepreneur, Jonathan Parkes!
Jonathan is the winner of the Exploring Entrepreneurship Challenge, the prize being a full scholarship to the Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation (CERI) Entrepreneurial Mindset Boot Camp, valued at $2000.
We caught up with Jonathan at the recent prize presentation, and here’s what he had to say…
Exploring Entrepreneurship – why did you attend this event?
I decided to attend this event primarily to meet and gain an insight into the work and lives of successful entrepreneurs. As entrepreneurship was a path I considered pursuing, listening to experts in the industry seemed like a good place to start.
What was your biggest takeaway from this event?
The most exciting aspect of this event was engaging with successful, local entrepreneurs and business owners. Hearing stories of their successes and failures, their highs and lows, and their overall lives gave an insight into the life of an entrepreneur. Furthermore, I was surprised to learn that Western Australia had a substantial and diverse entrepreneurship community. This opened a door into the local network of Western Australia’s innovators.
Talk us through your submission experience.
As someone who spends more time lost in the thought of fictitious products and companies, I had a list of ideas to explore. I chose one that most resonated with me and began researching everything I could about the industry. Using the key points outlined in the competition, I wrote my business plan and submitted it. A few weeks later, I was notified, to my surprise, I had been chosen as a finalist. The week following, I prepared my pitch and went to CERI’s office to present my idea with the others chosen. It was a great experience to listen to the ideas and pitches of others, as well as present my own in a formal setting.
What do you hope to gain from CERI’s Mindset Boot Camp?
Networking and engaging with other like-minded people to myself is what I am most excited about in attending the Boot Camp. Connecting with others who have the same passion and drives in pursuing innovation, change and business will be an invaluable experience. Furthermore, developing the required skills and the required mindset will be a milestone in my entrepreneurship journey.
And, of course, anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to encourage anyone who has an interest in starting their own business, or merely an idea or interest in entrepreneurship to attend events like this. Despite having no formal business education or experience, I got a lot out of this event and would recommend it to everyone.
We’d also like to congratulate the runners up, Jemma Shipman and Brian Hornsby. Thanks to CERI’s generosity, Jemma and Brian also received full scholarships to the CERI Entrepreneurial Mindset Boot Camp.
