Petersens PR Managing Director Rob Petersen writes about being a business role model for young people
I’ve always believed it’s important that people in business share their expertise and experience to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs.
This year it will be twelve years since I first became a role model on the Big Ideas Wales school youth entrepreneurship programme.
Rob Petersen meeting some students at Eastern High School, Cardiff
Delivered through Careers Wales, the role model programme encourages learners aged 11-18 in schools to develop enterprise skills through workshops with business leaders and entrepreneurs.
In the last dozen years, I’ve enjoyed visiting many schools across Cardiff and sometimes further afield to lead these workshop sessions in my role as founder of Petersens PR.
It’s been a pleasure to share some of the things I have learned over my long career in marketing and public relations and to help young people start thinking about their future careers.
But perhaps the biggest pleasure has been meeting some truly inspiring individuals who have been engaged in the workshops and enthusiastic about the prospect of becoming entrepreneurs.
Some of the work they have done has been excellent and some of the ideas they have shared have been very exciting indeed. I’m sure many of them will go on to achieve great things.
It was lovely to receive a very positive testimonial about my involvement in the programme recently.
Carolyn Goodwin, Entrepreneurship Advisor for Careers Wales, wrote:
“Entrepreneurs across Wales, such as Rob, have joined the Big Ideas Wales Role Model network to share their experience with budding young entrepreneurs through workshops, with the aim of opening young people’s minds to new ideas and opportunities that exist and help them think positively about their own future.
“With the support and expertise of volunteers like Rob, thousands of young people across Wales have been inspired to follow entrepreneurial ambitions through the Welsh Government’s Big Ideas Wales service since its launch over 20 years ago. We are eternally grateful.”
I am grateful to be part of such an inspiring programme and I look forward to working with many more schools and young people in the years to come.
To learn more about the programme, visit the Careers Wales website.