By Nadira Mohammed, Corporate Communications Student Journalist

Launched in 2023 by visionary educator Stacey Simmons-Roberts as a successor to Business Week, Entrepreneurship Day has quickly become a cornerstone event. Organized at least once a year, it has grown in scale and ambition, fueled by the enthusiasm and ingenuity of its participants. Every semester, the School of Business & Entrepreneurship becomes a vibrant hub of innovation during the much-anticipated Entrepreneurship Day. This signature event showcases student creativity, business acumen, and entrepreneurial spirit, offering a thrilling journey into the heart of modern enterprise.

The event featured an array of booths offering a variety of products and experiences. Not all booths had formal names, so they are described based on their offerings:

1. Lollies Booth: Selling a selection of lollipops.
2. Brownie Delit: Showcasing an assortment of brownies, including Oreo-topped and cream cheese-filled options.
3. Brownies and Cookies Booth: Another booth dedicated to delicious baked goods.
4. Trini-Small Island Fusion Cuisine Booth: Highlighting a creative blend of Trinidadian and small island flavors. Flyers for this booth were shared in the dorm chat, though they couldn’t be located at the moment.
5. Confectionery Booth: A lady selling delightful cakes and cinnamon bites.
6. Fresh Seasoning and Plants Booth: Offering fresh seasoning blends and festive plants for Christmas.
7. Crochet Creations Booth: Run by a young entrepreneur selling handmade crocheted items like keychains, faux flowers, and more.
8. Decorated Stanley Cups & Cinnamon Rolls Booth: Featuring uniquely designed Stanley cups alongside cinnamon rolls.
9. Pholourie and Endeavour Booth: Operated by a student from the South Campus, who gained popularity for her offerings and was encouraged to participate in the event.
10. Charles Chocolates Booth: Selling the beloved chocolate brand.
11. Desserts Booth in BB13: Located within the BB13 classroom, this booth offered gourmet cupcakes and cinnamon rolls.

Activities and Entertainment:

• BB13 Classroom Transformation: Hosted games organized by the BSA, including table tennis, pool, floor chess/checkers, and a puzzle challenge. The puzzle challenge, in collaboration with the Stanley Cup booth, offered a Stanley cup as a prize. A brand tub activity also gained immense popularity, with students eagerly trying to win over 20 prizes before eventually securing a coveted pair of headphones.
• Music and Parang: Provided by the BSA, setting a festive atmosphere.
• Presidential Support: USC President actively engaged with the event, generously supporting businesses by purchasing from nearly every booth and paying for attendees’ activities. He also participated in games, notably challenging ASB President Jamol Pompey to an intense table tennis match.

The event fostered vibrant interactions, showcased creative ventures, and brought together the USC community for a memorable celebration.

Entrepreneurship Day seamlessly merges classroom theory with real-world application, providing students with an invaluable opportunity to apply concepts learned in courses like Entrepreneurship, Advertising & Sales Promotions, and Service Marketing. Students develop business plans, craft marketing strategies, sell products, and offer services—skills that are directly tied to their final grades, making this event both a challenge and an opportunity for growth.

One shining example of this application is Christel Thompson, a third-year Marketing student. As a seasoned participant in Entrepreneurship Day, this being her third year, Christel demonstrated her expertise by selling crocheted items such as keychains and faux flowers. Her booth showcased her ability to merge creativity with marketing strategies, a testament to her coursework in Marketing and Advertising.

Students utilized pre-event marketing to attract attendees, employing tactics learned in class to promote their booths via social media, dorm flyers, and word-of-mouth. On the day of the event, they had to engage directly with customers, putting into practice principles such as persuasive communication, overcoming objections, and building rapport—skills honed in Advertising and Sales Promotions. For instance, booths selling brownies, pholourie, and gourmet cupcakes had to adapt their pitches to convert interested visitors into paying customers, mimicking the dynamics of a real-world marketplace.

The event was hosted by Stacey Simmons-Roberts, who emphasizes experiential learning as a cornerstone of her teaching philosophy. By replacing traditional final exams with events like Entrepreneurship Day, she ensures her students gain practical experience, which she believes is critical to shaping capable, well-rounded professionals. Faculty like Odell Jueanville also provided guidance during the event, offering feedback and strategies to improve the students’ entrepreneurial efforts for future success.

The event’s collaborative atmosphere extended beyond the students. Faculty, staff, and even the USC President participated, offering encouragement and financial support. The President’s active involvement, including paying for items at various booths and challenging the ASB President Jamol Pompey to a spirited game of table tennis, highlighted the university’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial growth in its students.

For many students, Entrepreneurship Day was an eye-opener, revealing the challenges of running a business. They learned firsthand how to attract customers, negotiate sales, and deal with competition. These experiences reflected the concepts taught in their courses and provided them with a practical understanding of entrepreneurship.

As the evening wound down, faculty and staff continued to engage with the event, offering insights and recognizing students’ efforts. Entrepreneurship Day proved to be more than just a grade-earning opportunity—it was a platform for innovation, personal growth, and community engagement.

As the evening wound down, faculty and staff continued to engage with the event, offering insights and recognizing students’ efforts. Entrepreneurship Day proved to be more than just a grade-earning opportunity—it was a platform for innovation, personal growth, and community engagement.

Looking ahead, the Business Student Association (BSA) is working to expand the event’s reach, inviting students from all disciplines to participate. This cross-university collaboration aims to create a melting pot of ideas, fostering innovation from diverse perspectives.

The upcoming edition, themed around Christmas, promises festive cheer with holiday-themed offerings and interactive activities designed to attract larger crowds. Beyond the festivities, there are plans to make Entrepreneurship Day a more frequent and integral part of campus life, reflecting the school’s commitment to preparing students for the professional world while celebrating their creativity.