This story was submitted by Zuora.
At Zuora, our purpose is to help people subscribe to modern ways of doing business - ways that are better for people, companies and the planet. Subscribing to this philosophy encourages new mindsets that put people first (instead of products) and focus on sustainable growth.
Igniting an entrepreneurial mindset
Putting people first applies to our employees (we call them ZEOs), customers, and the broader community. One of the ways we put people first is by partnering with the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) to ignite an entrepreneurial mindset and build a more equitable future for the youth of underserved communities. NFTE is an international nonprofit organization providing entrepreneurship training and education programs.
Through our partnership, ZEOs have volunteered over 690 hours over two years helping NFTE students activate their entrepreneurial thinking through a variety of activities, including college/career mentoring, innovation field trips where students learned about how modern businesses are subscribing to recurring revenue models, and volunteers partnered with students to craft business ideas and hone their pitches.
A student participant shared the value of the innovation field trips by explaining: “Volunteers knew what they were doing and provided great feedback on pitches. They pointed out different aspects of the product we hadn’t even thought of and assisted us on how to deliver it as well. I was able to learn how to produce a good pitch that was quick but still informative.”
Tackling sustainability through innovation
Zuora also participates in NFTE’s World Series of Innovation, which invites young people to solve some of the biggest challenges facing humanity by advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and, more specifically, fighting climate change and preserving the planet through subscription-based innovations. In 2022, 40 ZEOs evaluated nearly 100 submissions, ultimately selecting three finalists whose innovative ideas showcased how recurring revenue models can support a more sustainable world.
ZEOs have also served as local, regional, national, and international judges for pitch competitions where students presented their business ideas.
The importance of an entrepreneurial mindset
In today’s innovation economy, where needs and opportunities are evolving faster and more fluidly than ever before, our youth need a mindset that equips them to recognize opportunity, take initiative, and innovate in the face of challenges. In two years, Zuora’s support of NFTE has helped impact the lives of almost 58,000 youth annually, including about 700 students, through the support of volunteers who have served over 690 hours, and we’re just getting started.
