Brad Kolavo Creates Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow
We have a shared passion for preparing emerging leaders for exciting careers, through learning hands-on, entrepreneurial skills.
Palisades Charter High School CTE and Business Education Teacher Brad Kolavo prepares his students to become professionals, through DECA and Virtual Enterprise curriculum.
By turning his classroom into a collaborative workspace, Pali High business students are given the opportunity to apply professional and leadership skills to real-world scenarios. The Business Enterprise course allows students to gain on-the-job work experiences within the classroom, through a simulated business environment. The only difference between the Business Enterprise course and an actual business is that no goods are produced or money exchanged.
Working in more than one department, Kolavo’s students gain experience with sourcing, buying and selling, marketing and advertising, finance, and human resources. By combining multiple academic subjects and career fields, students gain a better understanding of – what they learn in the classroom applies to real-life.
Capitalizing on current trends in the marketplace, Kolavo’s students developed business plans for subscription companies, Pure Box and Style Box. They created Pure Box, a customizable snack box that provides a healthy convenient way to snack with protein, vegan, and gluten and nut-free options. Their company mission is to impact everyone’s food in a delicious and healthy way, responding to common dietary needs. The students who started Style Box, envisioned a monthly clothing box tailored towards Generation Z’s personal style. By filling out a thorough survey, their customer’s clothing is curated uniquely for them in their monthly subscription box.
A proud sponsor of the annual FIDM Entrepreneur of Tomorrow Challenge and DECA partner, FIDM was invited to attend the Pali High Virtual Enterprise International Showcase, in April. Students shared everything from their business plans, social media campaigns, to their leadership strategies. FIDM College Representative Cecile Fayen asked the students pertinent questions about sourcing, production costs, profit margins, and marketing. Through their immersive curriculum, they were well prepared to answer those questions, demonstrating an understanding of business management and product development, from concept to completion.
Kolavo shared that their school, parents, and Pacific Palisades community and business partners were impressed that “they teach this in high school?” By utilizing innovative career-incubator education practices, Kolavo has better prepared his business students for their post-secondary education and future careers.
