Preparing for the Biggest A Word of the Year From Attention to Adaptability How are you preparing your atmosphere and attitude to accommodate the next generation of business owners who will sit in your classroom? Is your school preparing students for employment... or preparing them for adaptability? Today’s students will build portfolios, launch businesses, freelance, consult, create, and reinvent themselves multiple times throughout their lives. Click here to learn how Consider sharing this...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Putting New Meaning into Motion From Stagnant to Suddenly If I asked you to finish this lyric… "Suddenly..." What would you sing? For me, two lines came to mind: “Life has new meaning…” and “The wheels are in motion…” What if next year isn’t about doing more? What if it’s about thinking differently? The entrepreneurial mindset creates those “suddenly” moments Click here to learn how Would you share this with a principal, teacher, or district leader who may be ready to take a different path?...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Disability is NOT Inability From Panic to Public Public speaking is typically one of the biggest obstacles that students face, although it's modeled every day by each of their teachers. Taylor was one of my Special Education students whose business plan was solid. Her target market and financial data were precise, but was extremely nervous about speaking in front of the audience of parents, school officials and community members. She pitched though! One part of what I do as an...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Listening for the Triple Win From Contract to Impact When we stop negotiating for one winner and start designing solutions for multiple winners, the impact multiplies. Recently, I had the opportunity to broker two contracts for a client, helping them expand into entirely new territories. At first glance, it looked like a typical business win. But as I listened to the conversations between district leaders, faculty, and stakeholders, I realized something bigger was happening. Click here to...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Let Us Eat Mindfully From Empty to Full Who taught me that success isn’t just about eating alone? Quelina Jordan-Shaw The late Dr. Arthur E. Thomas was a bona fide exemplar of Sankofa - reaching back and bringing forward, making sure that everybody eats. Centralian supports communities facing economic challenges by helping them create pathways through entrepreneurship education. Click here to watch the video At Centralian Consulting, I take time to understand your students’ needs, your...
4 months ago • 1 min read
No Half-Stepping From Compact to Luxury “First, believe it is possible. Next, exhaust every plausibility.” - Quelina Jordan-Shaw In my years as an educator and now as a consultant, I have witnessed the challenges today’s high schoolers face when confronted with career choices. Far too few are getting the opportunity to learn and practice entrepreneurship, and risk not gaining how to navigate tomorrow’s workforce. I believe every student should be empowered to pursue hard things, embrace...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Listening as the Differentiator From Compact to Luxury That experience of being judged by my skin color and job title was enough for me to walk out and never patronize them again. Fast forward to the next dealership and a salesman who took time to listen to my needs, wants and goals. Not only did I drive away with a luxury vehicle (only 249 people in the country have this model), but with a lesson that when you really listen to the customer or client you can give them more than they even...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Tapping Outside the Box From Resolute to Rogue I watched incredible educators get laid off, overlooked, and discarded despite their empathy, excellence and equity. As an educator, I realized most schools expose students to jobs… but not entrepreneurship. And when ownership is discussed, it’s often limited to trades or retail, instead of showing students the full power of building wealth, creating solutions, and leading industries. Click here for the Next Step Centralian exists to help schools...
4 months ago • 1 min read
The Career Crossroads Choice From Employment to Education That moment taught me that I truly am “the master of my fate.” I was at a professional crossroad. My “good government job” was being transferred across the country to work at a decommissioned nuclear weapons facility and I had to decide whether to bury or to give birth to my real career dream. Click here for the CHOICE Where do you want your class, your students, your school or district to BE? Let's discuss how you can advance...
5 months ago • 1 min read