From brainstorming product ideas to battling in nationwide competitions, the students in Virtual Enterprise are learning what it really takes to run a company. Virtual Enterprise (VE) is a business class at several high schools, San Juan Hills included. In VE, students are interviewed and hired for business positions, then once positions are delegated, the class creates a business product to sell at numerous competitions throughout the year.
Anyone can join VE and be an employee, but for a more leader-focused role as an executive, students can choose to undergo a series of interviews with the teacher and returning members. The class then votes on the best candidate, and the winner will become the company’s CEO, CFO, etc. Once students are assigned positions, they create several business ideas to address current issues in the world. Employees work hard to develop advertisements, posters, slideshows, business plans, pitches, and address the problem that their company is combating.
Mr. Wooten has three class periods, all of which create, present, and compete with their company’s product at trade shows. These events are typically hosted at local high schools, but the more competitive ones take place in Bakersfield and even New York. A company must qualify regionally to attend the Bakersfield trade show, and nationally for the New York one.
At trade shows, not only do employees sell their company’s product to competing schools, but the executives of each company also compete against each other by reciting their company’s business plan and pitches to judges. These trade shows simulate what it is like to be an employee of a real business and give students skills that can be applied beyond high school.
This year, Mr. Wooten’s fourth period class made Benefizz, a company that offers a healthier and easier alternative to dirty soda. His second period made Nopelle, an eco-friendly version of Birkentstock sandals and clogs, made of cactus leather, and with an interchangeable strap
“We have flyers, we have posters…and once they say go, we all start and sell things…people walk around and we have shifts,” said Cash Meyer (12), 4th period’s Vice President of Sales, when talking about selling his company Benefizz’s product at trade shows.
The Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Benefizz, Ella Verde (12), works with the company’s CEO to delegate tasks, organize, and lead the company’s several departments. The CSO’s job is to ensure that their employees are on task and prepared for any questions or people they encounter at trade shows.
“I make a sales workshop before every trade show to teach all my associates how to sell”, said Verde, CSA of Benefizz.
The CSO and CEO ensure that their employees are ready for anything. They typically are students that have been a member of VE for multiple years, and have experience attending trade shows or in some cases the Youth Business Summit in New York. Attending this Business Summit is each VE class’s ultimate goal: to qualify and compete against other businesses from across the nation. Select company members can qualify for the Summit, and have the opportunity to create and compete a business idea against people from across the world. If Mr. Wooten’s VE class qualifies for the New York trade show, the executive members fly out for a week in April to compete, and also explore the beautiful city.
Another executive member, Kaiya Balcom (12), is Mr. Wooten’s second period’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of their company, Nopelle. This year, Nopelle consists mostly of first year members, so the CEO’s job is to teach and delegate tasks to their employees. Balcom speaks highly of the VE program and acknowledges how beneficial it is in developing business and marketing skills.
“You always want a strong background on how to sell yourself and sell products [be]cause no matter what you’re doing, you’re always going to need to sell something”, said Balcom, CEO of Nopelle.
VE provides a great opportunity for students to learn to communicate with peers professionally and obtain experience collaborating with a team. This class is honor weighted, which boosts your grade point average, and not only does this class impress colleges, it also instills confidence in each student in public speaking and problem solving skills. If you’re looking for a class period to gain experience beyond the classroom, VE is an excellent way to do exactly that.
