More Crucial Than Ever: Entrepreneurship and AI Skills
- Young CEO Squad Editor
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
& WHY THIS MATTERS FOR OUR KIDS
I wanted to share some exciting news: a recent global survey shows that in the past year, companies around the world have jumped on board with artificial intelligence in a big way. About 72% of organizations are now using AI in at least one part of their business.
This shift means that using tools like ChatGPT at work is quickly becoming as common as opening Excel or Slack. The takeaway is clear: businesses are no longer experimenting with AI—they’re finding real value. Companies are saving money, boosting revenue, and giving employees back their most valuable resource: time.
One stat that really stood out to me: 65% of companies now use generative AI regularly, almost double the number from just ten months earlier. And this growth isn’t just happening in tech—it’s touching everything from marketing and customer service to product design and beyond.
The tools are becoming more accessible and user-friendly, which means you don’t need to be a “tech person” to start using them. Whether it’s drafting an email, brainstorming new ideas, or analyzing data, AI is becoming a normal part of daily work life.
What This Means for Our Kids
As parents, this trend should make us pause and think: how do we prepare our kids for a world where AI isn’t optional, but essential?
That’s where teaching entrepreneurship and AI skills together makes all the difference.
These two areas work hand in hand to shape kids into:
Flexible thinkers who can adapt as tools and industries change.
Problem solvers who know how to find solutions creatively and practically.
Multi-taskers who can juggle different responsibilities when needed.
Focused achievers who know when to tune out distractions and zero in on what matters.
A Personal Note
I have an 8th grader. A couple years ago, when AI started showing up in schools, teachers weren’t up to speed on how it worked. The default solution? Ban it. Meanwhile, as a solopreneur, I use AI every day in my business. Honestly, it’s been rocket fuel for my productivity. But when my son sees me using AI, he groans—as if I’m cheating or taking a shortcut.
That reaction is exactly the opposite of what we need. Instead of kids seeing AI as a “cheat,” we want them to see it as a tool for creativity, learning, and problem-solving. We want them to be fascinated and curious, not dismissive.
How to Shift Kids’ Attitudes Toward AI
Here are a few strategies parents can use to turn resistance into curiosity:
Show Them the Fun Side Instead of leading with productivity, start with play. Ask AI to write a silly bedtime story, create a quiz on their favorite show, or invent new ice cream flavors. Once they see AI can be fun, they’ll be more open to its serious uses.
Connect AI to Their Interests If your child loves sports, show them how AI can analyze stats. If they’re into eBikes, explore how the batteries work and to get the most life out of your charge. If they’re into music, use AI to write song lyrics. Kids are more engaged when tech meets their passions.
Model Curiosity, Not Just Efficiency When you use AI for work, narrate your thought process. Say things like: “I wonder how else we could phrase this…” or “Let’s see what creative ideas it gives us.” Kids pick up on your mindset.
Emphasize Collaboration, Not Replacement Make it clear that AI isn’t there to do the work for them—it’s there to help them do more, faster. Just like calculators didn’t replace math, AI won’t replace creativity or critical thinking. It just changes how we approach the work.
Link AI to Entrepreneurship Show your kids how real entrepreneurs use AI—whether it’s to brainstorm a business idea, design a flyer, or research competitors. Suddenly, it’s not about “cheating”—it’s about building something new.
The world of work is evolving quickly—and the best gift we can give our kids is the confidence and skills to evolve with it. By blending entrepreneurship with AI learning, we’re molding them into flexible, capable problem-solvers who will thrive no matter how fast things change.
Entrepreneurship teaches kids to identify opportunities, build confidence, and take initiative. Pair that with AI literacy—learning how to use tools that can brainstorm, automate, and speed up repetitive tasks—and our teens are not just keeping up, they’re stepping into the future with a clear advantage over students graduating from college right now.
How You Can Start
You don’t have to overhaul your child’s education to give them this edge. Try small steps:
Encourage them to start a mini-business, even if it’s as simple as designing stickers or selling baked goods.
Show them how to use tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas, draft a flyer, or even practice pitches.
Explore kid-friendly entrepreneurship and AI challenges together—it’s learning, but it feels like play. (Ask AI to design your packaging, write your slogans or help price your products.)
The goal isn’t to make them (or you) experts overnight. It’s to help them build a mindset: I can figure things out, I can use new tools, and I can create value.
The world of work is evolving quickly—and the best gift we can give our kids is the confidence and skills to evolve with it. By blending entrepreneurship with AI learning, we’re molding them into flexible, capable problem-solvers who will thrive no matter how fast things change.
Here’s to raising the next generation of innovators 🌟
About the Author
Suzanne Appel didn’t plan to exit corporate life—until her own children inspired her.
After 25 years leading digital marketing for major brands, Suzanne found new purpose watching her kids turn ideas into mini businesses. Lemonade stands became trading and selling collectibles, and she realized something powerful: if we want kids ready for the future, we need to start teaching them how to create it.
In 2019, she launched Young CEO Squad, a hands-on entrepreneurship program for kids ages 7–12. Through business-in-a-box kits and school partnerships, Suzanne makes entrepreneurship fun, accessible, and real—giving kids the tools and confidence to launch their own ventures.
More than a product, it’s a mission: to reach ambitious kids in all communities, especially those with limited resources. Each kit sold helps fund workshops and, soon, scholarships for young entrepreneurs.
Suzanne lives in Southern California with her husband, two kids, and two scrappy dogs. Her goal? To raise a generation of confident, creative problem-solvers—one kid business at a time.
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