Entrepreneurial Mindset for Transformative Education with Stephen Carter
Stephen Carter
109 episodes
5 days ago
In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with Amir Mahadi, Founder and CEO of Joshua Expeditions, to unpack how a nonprofit Christian travel organization launched in 1997 has grown into a global, mission-driven partner for hundreds of Christian schools. Amir shares his story of blending business ownership with deep dependence on God, why JE is “mission first, travel second,” and how student trips can become catalysts for calling, leadership, and even entrepreneurial thinking. They discuss JE...
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In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with Amir Mahadi, Founder and CEO of Joshua Expeditions, to unpack how a nonprofit Christian travel organization launched in 1997 has grown into a global, mission-driven partner for hundreds of Christian schools. Amir shares his story of blending business ownership with deep dependence on God, why JE is “mission first, travel second,” and how student trips can become catalysts for calling, leadership, and even entrepreneurial thinking. They discuss JE...
In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with Amir Mahadi, Founder and CEO of Joshua Expeditions, to unpack how a nonprofit Christian travel organization launched in 1997 has grown into a global, mission-driven partner for hundreds of Christian schools. Amir shares his story of blending business ownership with deep dependence on God, why JE is “mission first, travel second,” and how student trips can become catalysts for calling, leadership, and even entrepreneurial thinking. They discuss JE...
In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with Rod Gilbert, Head of School at Santa Fe Christian Schools in Solana Beach, California—a K–12 school just over a mile from the Pacific Ocean that’s redefining what innovation in Christian education looks like. Together, they explore how schools can move beyond comfort and control to create environments where students develop true resilience, moral agency, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Rod shares his conviction that education must invite students...
Shark Tank has become the pop-culture symbol of entrepreneurship, filled with high stakes, fierce competition, and investors circling for the best deal. It reflects what business scholars call a red ocean world, where everyone fights for the same space and survival becomes the goal. Entrepreneurship in schools should look different. In this episode, we explore how Blue Ocean Strategy can reshape the way we teach young innovators to think. Instead of chasing crowded markets or flashy invention...
Innovation can feel lonely — especially in education. When you’re building something new, it’s easy to get buried under the weight of logistics, doubt, and the many hats you have to wear. In this episode, Stephen Carter shares a story from a recent Seed Tree Mastermind session and explores why connection is the key to sustaining creativity and courage. You’ll discover how community can reignite passion, prevent burnout, and accelerate meaningful change — and why even the best ideas can’t thri...
In this episode of the Entrepreneurial Mindset for Transformative Education podcast, Stephen Carter unpacks the idea of a Unique Value Proposition (UVP)—the clear reason people choose you over anyone else. More than a catchy slogan, your UVP is the heart of value creation: identifying problems, understanding your audience, and delivering solutions that matter. Stephen shares how students can practice this skill through real-world entrepreneurship projects, including the surprising story of a ...
In this episode, Stephen Carter talks with Dr. Scott Harsh about Greater Atlanta Christian School's journey to integrate spiritual formation, academic excellence, and business innovation into a cohesive student experience. They discuss how to personalize learning, curate each student’s path, and build a culture that’s “obsessed with finding a better way.” You’ll hear how the Spartan Café became more than a coffee shop—serving as a living lab for leadership, revenue, hospitality, and real-worl...
What makes education truly transformative? How can schools move beyond academics to ignite passion, grit, and purpose in students? In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with Chad McDaniel, Senior School Advisor at World Vision, who has visited Christian schools across the country and seen firsthand what engages students at the deepest level. Together, they explore how connecting entrepreneurship with global impact creates powerful opportunities for students to flourish—by helping others f...
The words we use don’t just describe reality—they create it. In this episode, Stephen unpacks how language directly shapes student identity and school culture, and why every teacher, parent, and leader is really a Chief Repeating Officer. He explores the flywheel of the entrepreneurial mindset—how growth mindset leads to grit, grit leads to redefining failure, and failure redefined leads to opportunity seeking. Along the way, Stephen shares three simple but powerful language swaps you can sta...
In this episode of Entrepreneurial Mindset for Transformative Education, Stephen Carter sits down with Tawanna Rusk, Assistant Director at CESA and former Associate Head of School at Mount Paran Christian in Atlanta. Together, they explore how entrepreneurship education is reshaping Christian schools by cultivating grit, creativity, and responsibility in students. From student-run businesses that serve as real-world laboratories, to the power of mentorship and teacher-as-coach models, Tawanna...
Listen - EVERY school should be working toward the creation of a culture where the entrepreneurial mindset can flourish, but this culture does not happen on its own. It requires intentional language and key measurements to allow the right amount of FREEDOM, AUTONOMY, and RESOURCES for teachers to embrace innovation in order to drive student engagement. In this episode, Stephen Carter breaks down how this culture at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy enabled the entrepreneurship program to not...
In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with longtime mentor and former Head of School at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Randy Brunk, to explore what happens when school leaders embrace a culture of yes. For 18 years, Randy led CHCA through seasons of growth, experimentation, and deep cultural transformation—laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most replicated K–12 entrepreneurship programs in Christian education. Together, they unpack how thoughtful risk-taking, teac...
In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with Kathie Davis—educator, creative advocate, and leadership champion—to explore the powerful idea that artists are entrepreneurs. Together, they unpack how schools can help creative students see themselves as leaders and changemakers, not just performers or hobbyists. Drawing from her work at Sacred Heart Schools in Louisville, Kathie shares how integrating entrepreneurship and leadership into the fabric of education can transform how students think...
What does it look like when a school places equal value on student formation, family partnership, and real-world readiness? In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with Dr. Susan Crosier, Head of School at Grace Preparatory Academy in Arlington, Texas—the first trademarked university model school in the nation. Together, they explore how Grace Prep is rethinking everything from classroom structure to curriculum alignment, all anchored in a bold Portrait of a Graduate that emphasizes r...
In this episode, we explore one of Jim Collins’ most practical and empowering ideas: “Fire Bullets, Then Cannonballs.” It’s a mindset shift that helps schools innovate wisely—by starting small, testing what works, and scaling only when the time is right. Stephen shares how this principle shaped the launch of a thriving entrepreneurship program, and how it can transform everything from student-run ventures to leadership initiatives. Rather than betting big on untested ideas, schools can take a...
This episode dives into one of Jim Collins’ most powerful ideas: The Flywheel Effect. Stephen Carter explores why real, lasting school transformation doesn’t come from flashy launches or one-time events—but from consistent, mission-aligned actions that build momentum over time. From student-run businesses to leadership programs, the episode unpacks how small, strategic steps—done repeatedly—can unlock exponential growth. Stephen also breaks down how to design your school’s unique flywheel usi...
Discipline beats intensity. Steady, consistent effort—regardless of external conditions—is what drives breakthrough results. This is the 20 Mile March—a metaphor for setting and sticking to clear performance markers no matter the circumstances. In this episode, we explore how in a world obsessed with hacks, bursts of energy, and overnight success stories, we need to teach our communities the value of consistent, disciplined progress over time. I’ve seen so many schools launch bold new initiat...
Why do some schools seem to innovate without losing who they are… while others lose their identity in the process? In this episode, we explore the Jim Collins concept behind the necessity of preserving the core (holding tightly to your mission, values, and distinct identity) while also stimulating progress (relentlessly pursuing new ideas, methods, and programs to stay relevant and effective). Innovative programs like entrepreneurship, STEM, or design thinking make learning feel excitin...
Dr. Joel Hazard, the Head of Academic Collaboration and Culture at Fellowship Christian School in Roswell, Georgia, has amazing insights when it comes to transforming the school experience around true collaboration. On a mission to provide the best possible Christian education, Dr. Hazard explores how we, as teachers and school leaders, need to get used to being uncomfortable. He recommends implementing After Action Reviews (AARs) for a culture of continuous improvement that focuses on 1) wha...
After a chance encounter with Chris Voss, author of Never Split the Difference and CEO of the Black Swan Group, I walked away with a valuable lesson around negotiation tactics. Voss suggested that the key to a negotiation is to get what you want with the other person saying "no." The reasoning is that it feels considerably safer to say "no" than to say "yes" and therefore you are more likely to close the deal or make the sale if you can get what you want while the other person feels they can ...
Ready to fully engage your students around transformative education? Weston Kurz, executive director of Dayspring Christian Academy, breaks down key leadership thoughts in a discussion around creating synergistic wins for students. In a day and age where students have more choice in education, schools need to see students as customers, and when this happens, students will begin to flourish through a whole child outlook. Real engagement involves students (and teachers) stepping out of th...
Entrepreneurial Mindset for Transformative Education with Stephen Carter
In this episode, Stephen Carter sits down with Amir Mahadi, Founder and CEO of Joshua Expeditions, to unpack how a nonprofit Christian travel organization launched in 1997 has grown into a global, mission-driven partner for hundreds of Christian schools. Amir shares his story of blending business ownership with deep dependence on God, why JE is “mission first, travel second,” and how student trips can become catalysts for calling, leadership, and even entrepreneurial thinking. They discuss JE...
