Moving from a student entrepreneur to mentoring young people as a teacher

When Sakshi Garg, a teacher at Mount Abu Public School in, India attended a School Enterprise Challenge event in 2025 with her students, she didn’t expect to stumble upon a piece of her own past. As she walked through the school business “marketplace”, a familiar name caught her eye: “Nutri Café” - it was the same school business she helped launch as a teenager!

Sakshi had discovered enterprise when she joined the School Enterprise Challenge in 2013, while she was in Grade 11 at KIIT World School, Pitampura. It was the real-world learning experience that stood out for her and shaped her beliefs about education.

“Whatever I was learning theoretically, I was able to apply in the real world. For instance, in Business Studies, I learned the concept of the 4 P’s of marketing - product, price, place and promotion - and I was able to apply these concepts in our business. "Education should not only prepare us for exams - it should prepare us for life. Learning by doing is far more powerful than memorising the concepts”.

By Grade 12 Sakshi knew she wanted to be the kind of educator who brought that practical, empowering approach into her own classroom. Eight years later, in 2021, Sakshi joined Mount Abu Public School as an Economics teacher. The school had long been part of the School Enterprise Challenge, and its leadership quickly recognised her passion for experiential learning, encouraging her to lead the programme with students. Under Sakshi’s guidance, Mount Abu Public School now runs seven to eight businesses each year.

“Its incredibly rewarding when I see my students experiencing the same kind of excitement, curiosity and teamwork that I once did. The School Enterprise Challenge shaped me as a learner, giving me confidence, direction and the courage to think differently., Now being on the other side as a mentor, I feel proud to pass on the same spark to my students. It's not just about teaching entrepreneurship - it's about shaping their mindset, preparing them for life beyond academics.”

One of the most prominent and promising businesses at Mount Abu is SHINE - Skill Hub for Innovation and Network Exchange - a platform for learners to exchange their skills. The idea came directly from the students. One learner described feeling “different” because peers had digital skills that he didn’t have. That conversation sparked the business concept:

Sakshi proudly watched her students tackle every challenge together - from deciding how to package their products to choosing what skills to offer.

“They identified the problems themselves and found the solutions,” she says. “It’s a learner-driven environment.”

Sakshi has seen remarkable changes in her students, "Many of them who were shy or hesitant now confidently present their ideas, communicate with customers and negotiate prices". The impact stretches beyond Sakshi’s classroom. Many parents have noticed changes at home with their children becoming more responsible and confident.