Swindon Beauty entrepreneur lobbies government to equip young people with business skills in school
Emilie Musoke, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Empowering Beauty, based in Swindon, is calling on the UK government to make skills acquisition compulsory in schools to improve national development.
The 25-year-old Ugandan started her business during the lockdown and is now a successful entrepreneur, she believes that business skills are an essential part of achieving individual and collective success, and provides young people with the tools to be successful in the workforce, in their education and in their personal lives.
In an interview with Urban Kapital magazine, Emilie spoke of her own experience, saying that acquiring various business skills enabled her to do well with her resources and financial management, improved her strategic planning skills, and helped her to curtail crises within her own business.
“During lockdown I decided I wanted to work for myself and on my own terms”.
“It started with falling in love with skincare and skin health, then eventually found a passion in lashes and brows, which gives an instant, noticeable transformation.”
She continued, “Ever since I started the business I can’t say I see myself doing anything but beauty and empowering women every day. Making money and meeting people has empowered me and boosted my self-esteem.”
In an article published by Kings College London in early 2021, Anna Rebmann and Ute Stephan looked at how young people can foster an entrepreneurial mindset to build diverse careers. Taking into consideration concerns about the rise in youth unemployment and the aftermath of the Covid pandemic. The article highlighted the importance of business skills acquisition, not only as a route into entrepreneurship, but as a tool to improve employability and life skills.
Entrepreneurial competencies are the knowledge, skills and attitudes that help a person start a company, but these skills are useful across industry sectors and can be adapted through learning. Entrepreneurial skills equip young people with the tools for identifying opportunities, creative problem solving, taking initiative, communicating, reflecting, adapting, and encourages attitudes such as curiosity, open-mindedness, proactivity, flexibility, determination, and resilience. While some entrepreneurs are born, there is vast evidence that entrepreneurial competencies and developing “the entrepreneurial mindset” can be taught.
Emillie also believes skills acquisition is an important part of young people’s development and their ability to succeed in the future.
She advises young people to acquire the right skills that can open up opportunities, build their confidence, knowledge, and resilience as they face the challenges of life.
“With the right set of skills, young people can get ahead in their careers, gain an edge in the job market, and develop the skills needed to make a positive impact on the world,” Emillie said.