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Brant Scheifler

Founder & Chief Encourager, Whiteboard Entrepreneur.com

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Does formal education play a significant role in the success of entrepreneurs and the outcomes of their business activities?

The foreground of such debate is perhaps seen in this debate: Are leaders born or made? With multiple TED (and Tedx) talks discussing entrepreneurship, I was curious what the community thought about the role that education plays in the success of the entrepreneur. (*please don't just say, it depends.)

Related Talks:
Topics: Entrepreneurs
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Closing Statement from Brant Scheifler

Thanks all for your thoughts and comments. It's clear that most commentators don't view education as being vital to the success of the entrepreneur. In fact, many feel it can be a hindrance. With that said, many pointed out that education is what you make of it and that it can be utilized as a tool, even if that tool is context/perspective. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!

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    Azilmi Hakim 500+

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    TEDx Organizer
    Mar 19 2012: I think the world of education and understanding of the function will be behind how meaning is leader created, or the leader was born in

    formal education that is applied in every country has the function and purpose of each, there is intended to create an entrepreneur, a leader, be a solution for the gover,emt system in the future, all have a very good goal, but it all again again in an environment where human beings are born, grow up educated and ready to become something, it all can not be separated from the role of education which he lived, I agree with what Mr. Robert Benjamin as a gang leader will not be effective when he became a leader in a company

    so did his thing with the entrepreneur, when he became champion in the traditional market will not necessarily be the champion he is also in the stock market, all returned to the formal education he received and the environment in which he grew
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      Brant Scheifler

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      Mar 20 2012: I see your point in that a leader/entrepreneur finds success within his given realm/niche, which may not crossover well. However, you also said that education has the intended purpose of creating an entrepreneur. From my perspective/experience this is not the case. There are some programs designed and catered to this mission but by large most are not, in my opinion. Do you find this to be true in a different country than the USA? If so, what country is that?

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