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With Fenley Scurlock, Jason Liaw, and Dr. Jan Keating (Moderator)
Teen entrepreneurs Fenley Scurlock and Jason Liaw discuss lessons learned from their book Down to Business: 51 Industry Leaders Share Practical Advice on How to Become a Young Entrepreneur and how to help kids in Gen Z and Gen Alpha build critical business, leadership, and life skills, as well as an entrepreneurial mindset.
Cost: Free to Everyone
- 30 October, 5:00 PM EDT (UTC-4)
Sixteen-year-olds Fenley Scurlock and Jason Liaw are teen entrepreneurs and co-authors of Down to Business: 51 Industry Leaders Share Practical Advice on How to Become a Young Entrepreneur, published by Penguin Random House. DTB was recently featured on a list of the 24 best graduation books for students of all ages, alongside those by Michelle Obama, Amanda Gordon, Mary Pope Osborne and Dr. Seuss, as curated by educators from We Are Teachers: “In this groundbreaking book, these young entrepreneurs interview leaders involved with brand-name businesses like MasterClass, Hallmark, IKEA, Parachute, and more.”
The premise of Down to Business is to help kids in Gen Z and Gen Alpha build critical business, leadership, and life skills, as well as an entrepreneurial mindset. More than 50% of Gen Z youth say they want to be their own bosses, and for Gen Alpha, studies show it is even more, at 75%. Yet, the skills are not taught in most middle and high schools, and their book aims to fill that critical gap. It offers advice from global leaders across a range of industries – from space and sports to robots and ice cream and features interviews with venture capitalists, social entrepreneurs and big brands. More than half of the interviews are with women leaders, and diversity as a key indicator of business success is a key theme throughout the book.
As a book by teens for kids (and adults!) of all ages – the first business book of its kind – Fenley and Jason ask questions that are relevant to their generation: Is college worth it if you want to be an entrepreneur? How can business be used for good? Should CEOs speak out about social issues? They also offer key takeaways and actionable advice that kids can practice no matter their age or stage in their entrepreneurial journey.
In addition to career and leadership advice, they offer an inspirational, intergenerational conversation about what Gen Z is thinking about the big problems they need to solve – from AI ethics to climate change, political polarization to racial inequality – and the entrepreneurial mindset that will help them do it.
Fenley Scurlock is a rising junior at Stanford Online High School (OHS), a teen entrepreneur, and an award-winning multidisciplinary writer. Fenley launched a business when he was seven making artisanal soaps and whimsical pens that he sells at farmers markets, kids’ business fairs, and in his online store. He has won multiple business, sales, and marketing awards, and has been interviewed by national and local media outlets.
He is passionate about using business principles and an entrepreneurial mindset to make positive change in the world. He was one of 18 students from around the country selected as a 2024 Davidson Ambassador for social entrepreneurship, and is the recipient of the Congressional Award Bronze Medal, the U.S. Congress’ highest honor for youth.
He has studied creative writing at the Kenyon Young Writers Workshop, Stanford Summer Institutes, Yale Young Writers Workshop and Ellipsis Writing, among others, and his work has been recognized by the Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards with a Gold Key award and by Writopia Lab’s Youth Essay Writing Conference. He is currently working on the first book in a high fantasy trilogy. Through his writing, he seeks to explore the human condition and use fantasy as a lens to analyze society as it was, is, or could become.
During his free time, Fenley loves reading, traveling, rock climbing, and competing in Pokémon card tournaments.
