Expressen's Johan T Lindwall has followed Daniel in many of his school visits with Prince Daniel's Fellowship Entrepreneurial programme. Lindwall has interviewed Daniel and the inspirators at those visits and published on Thursday a long article about why Daniel started the programme, how he has chosen the inspirators, what the inspirators think about the programme.
This is how Daniel builds his Swedish Dream Team
- I myself have failed. There is nothing ugly in that.
Early morning at the Mälardalen School, Prince Daniel asks: Who has a dream of creating your own business? Make something of your own?
Many raise their hands and it gets Daniel to note:
- Good! We need more businesses in Sweden! It provides more jobs and you know what? It's not ugly if it would not work in the beginning. Then you just have to start over and try again! It's not ugly to fail.
Prince Daniel's Fellowship is an entrepreneur program run with the Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences, to inspire young people to become entrepreneurs. Done with visits to high schools and universities, and mentoring program where young entrepreneurs are paired with selected entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Once a year, the annual Entrepreneurial Day is organized in Stockholm. The majority of mentors and young entrepreneurs gather there.
Some of the mentors about the programme:
Martin Lorentzon, founder of Spotify: Schools and students are the future of Sweden, and it is important that they get to meet role models to start new businesses. Therefore, this is a brilliant initiative from Prince Daniel and a great opportunity for us to give back to the community. I am very proud and happy every time I meet a new school!
Susanne Najafi, founder of Unity Beauty Group: I'm so glad that I thanks to Prince Daniel's Fellowship have the opportunity to make a bit of difference. To show young people that it is not so dangerous to fail but that it is part of the success - everything to them to take the plunge into entrepreneurship.
Kenneth Bengtsson, Chairman of Systembolaget, former CEO of ICA: Prince Daniel has done something really good. It has been a privilege and incredibly interesting and fun to be part of this. Daniel has been very good at getting together such a network of people. It is very impressive.
Daniel chooses the mentors with the steering group of Fellowship. The team includes names like Mia Brunell Livfors, CEO of Axel Johnson AB, Cristina Stenbeck, Chairman of Kinnevik, Stina Honkamaa, CEO of United Screens, Filippa Knutsson, founder of Filippa K, and Karl-Johan Persson, CEO of H & M.
The prince tells with what criteria they are selected by:
- They have own experience in various entrepreneurial journeys. Gladly in various industries. It is important to show different personality types, sectors and strategies. All this with mentors and entrepreneurs has to do with finding people that complement each other's weaknesses or strengths. That appeal to different interests, recognize themselves and identify with each other.
Daniel about some of the mentors at the project:
Cristina Stenbeck, Chairman of Kinnevik and Elin Kling, fashion entrepreneur with her own clothing brand:
- Two talented and successful entrepreneurs in their various industries. We need more these kind of role models for young people who want to concentrate on getting a successful career as self-employed.
Mia Brunell Livfors, CEO of Axel Johnson
- She is a mentor who fits perfectly into the program. She has experience in various sectors and industries. She has held several senior positions within Kinnevik, and now as CEO of Axel Johnson AB. Mia is a good role model for young entrepreneurs who want to develop themselves.
Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam, TrueCaller
- Two super great and good role models. Really inspiring entrepreneurs who in a short time have found very many users. Typically good role models who are building up something big in the new digital technology.
What does it take to succeed as an entrepreneur? According to Prince Daniel, it's about passion.
- To have the real passion for what you do, the key is to do a really good job and realize their ideas and dreams. We believe there are many who would find great joy in daring to test their ideas more widely. Our vision is that everyone who wants to start a business should dare to do it. Unfortunately way too many ideas never come true. If we can influence the culture to become more encouraging, it would mean a lot both for the individual and Sweden. The desire to succeed must be greater than the fear of failure. Sweden needs more people who dare. And to be more daring the society needs to be more supportive and understanding. We should pay tribute to those who dare and honor those who succeed.
How is the feeling to stand there in front of all young people?
- Hopeful! They give me energy and I hope I can give them energy. That's the whole point of this.
Daniel about
... the 50-something visits to schools implemented so far:
- It has been an incredible feeling to meet young people and share their thoughts. We hope that we have managed to get a few to dare to test their business ideas into practice.
... how the young entrepreneurs are matched up with mentors:
- We'll look at what kind of help the mentees need, and who is most suitable to be the person's mentor. The first step is that they must meet and then see if they work together. If it works, they work together for two years and it can be both tight and intense.
... how the results seen so far:
- You notice it in business growth, the way they have total soared to sales and everything, a huge change. It is of course enormously fun to see this happening.
Kända svenska företagare har handplockats av prins Daniel _ Kungligt _ Expressen
Translation
well he looks overjoyed lol. Not too happy with the 1-1 result
