Career Options

Although entrepreneurship can apply to virtually any industry, the following are common entrepreneurial career paths:

Consumer Goods and Retail

Consumer goods are generally divided into four categories: beverages, food, health and beauty aids, and small appliances. Often, apparel, accessories, and entertainment products can also be loosely grouped into the category of consumer goods and retail. Entrepreneurs in this area are business-minded individuals with creativity, passion for product design, and ideas about bringing convenience, entertainment, or enhanced quality of life to consumers. This may take the form of a cosmetics line, a brand of baked goods, an energy drink, or a line of handbags.

Social Entrepreneurship

According to Ashoka founder, Bill Drayton, “social entrepreneurs are individuals with innovative solutions to society’s most pressing problems. Rather than leaving societal needs to the government or business sectors, social entrepreneurs find what is not working and solve the problem by changing the system and spreading the solution.” Social entrepreneurs may create social enterprises, using commercial strategies to advance the welfare of society or the environment. Less focused on maximizing profits for external shareholders, social enterprises can take the form of for-profit or nonprofit organizations. Examples of social enterprises include Ashoka, Kiva, Applegate, Acumen Fund, Teach for America, and RSF Social Finance.

Technology

Technology entrepreneurship was pioneered in Silicon Valley and has since inspired a new wave of entrepreneurial thought leadership among the latest generation of business leaders. The explosion of social media, mobile devices and applications, wireless technology, and online education has presented a myriad of possibilities for innovation. The technology industry is rife with opportunities for those with keen business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit. Most recently, mobile applications have ushered in a new market for creativity and utility, and new business potential grows exponentially as the tech industry continues to evolve.