If you were to list the top 40 most famous people from Rockhampton, I imagine Rod Laver would top the list along with quite a few other sport identities; Anna Meares, Jamie Dwyer, Duncan Armstrong, Mick Dittman being just some of them.
If you were to do a list of the top 40 entrepreneurs under 40 years of age from the Rockhampton region who would be on that?
Is it an important list to compile?
I believe yes. Innovation and disruption in commerce are major drivers of economic growth and job creation. Innovation and disruption are just tools though; the entrepreneur is the catalyst and momentum force, (think Steve Jobs).
Not all the region’s youth hope to emulate the career of a Cameron Munster or Gretel Scarlett. Many will know more about the background of 32 year old American Mark Zuckerberg then the Rockhampton born Melbourne Storm player or lead actor in Australia’s ‘Grease the Musical’.
To immediately emulate the Facebook founder might be too big of a leap for the latest batch of school leavers, but highlight what local young (under 40) entrepreneurs are doing and the steps they took will aspire more to do something similar.
Rockhampton and Australia for that matter needs more entrepreneurs as we move from a resource to knowledge based economy.
Presently it is reported only 4% of 15-25 year old Australian STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students are interested in working at a start-up. Let alone commencing a start-up enterprise.
It’s not just necessary for our youth to know, learn about and be inspired by local entrepreneurs. Parents need to also.
Parents influence on their child’s subject selection and career choice has to be open and encouraging of entrepreneurialism; not push the ‘safe’ choices.
‘Safe’ jobs are disappearing; looking at how problems are presently solved and creating better solutions is where the job action is. This requires a mindset that questions then challenges the established not be part of it.
The ‘established’ is under constant attack.
Who should be on the list and/or how compiled?
Hopefully a local media organisation might like to promote the concept and encourage nominations. A body like Startup Capricorn could then determine a list from nominations received.
The resulting list may cause arguments over who was or wasn’t included; all the better, because that is secondary to the need for creating the list.
I wonder how many on the list will be left hander’s?