Next Level Young CEOs

Visionary/CEO- Norma Lynn Brown Testimony

I learned at an early age the power, importance and value of entrepreneurship from my grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and my parents the late Oneal and Bertha Lee Lynn by working in our family-owned store, Lynn's Grocery in Hartsville S.C. 

After teaching Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Business for 35 years and being an award-winning DECA Advisor in high schools, GOD gave me the Vision to create a Young CEO Entrepreneurship Summer Camp. I created this camp to teach youth and young adults how to develop a business plan to create, maintain and sustain a passion business of their choice. Now this fall, we will start a Young CEO Experience: Beyond the Books ™ program to continue to teach, encourage and inspire our Young CEOs and Leaders.  

In my 35 years of teaching and 8 years of conducting Young CEOs Summer Entrepreneurship Camps, I have witnessed hundreds of young people lives transformed. This transformation not only impacts the students, but also impacts and transforms families, communities, the entire state, country and the world!!!!!. This is an investment with a 100% return on your investment: The Next Generation of Young CEOs and Leaders!!!

YOUNG CEOs MISSION STATMENT  

To empower, educate, and transform young entrepreneurs in grades 4-12 and 17-25 into Young CEOs as they embark upon the Young CEO journey of discovering their gifts, talents and passions to be inspired to own, create and lead to become leaders in the areas of entrepreneurship, personal development, education, leadership, community service and community involvement. 

YOUNG CEOs VISION STATEMENT 

We envision a world of confident, knowledgeable and impactful Young CEOs and Leaders who are strategically developing and boldly articulating their business plans that will allow them to create, manage and sustain their own unique and innovative businesses in a creative Young CEO incubator space that will solve problems and create solutions for themselves, their families, their communities and will become world changers.

THE YOUNG CEO EXPERIENCE STARTS WITH A YOUNG CEO CAMP & BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

After retirement Norma Brown created a two-week Young CEO and Leaders summer camp for youth in grades 4-12 teaching them and allowing them to embrace the experience of creating a business plan to start a business of their choice that is connected to their passion. 

At the end of the two weeks, students she their plans in a Young CEO Business Plan Competition. There are 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners representing two ages groups, groups; however, ALL the Young CEOs receive start-up seed money to continue their Young CEO Experience. 

After the competition, each Young CEO displays their business in a pop-up shop to sell their goods and services. To ensure every student has the opportunity to experience the entrepreneurial mindset, there is NO COST to them thanks to a variety of generous donors from the community, businesses and donations.

In addition to the Columbia, S.C. camp Mrs. Brown teaches another 2-week camp called Camp Wanza in Charleston, South Carolina. Camp Wanza was started in memory of Tywanza Sanders, a young man who was murdered in the Emanuel 9 Church Shooting. He was known as an amazing entrepreneur with several business before his death.

THE YOUNG CEO EXPEREINCE CONTINUES BEYOND THE Young CEO SUMMER CAMP 

After teaching 35 years and 9 years of summer workshops, Mrs. Brown saw that students needed more than a Young CEO summer camp to start and maintain a sustainable business. She then created the Young CEO Experience Program ™ to provide ongoing support, training, and practical tools for Young CEOs. Also Mrs. Brown created the AIM High Charter School Young CEO Experience Program at Benedict College and now the AIM High Young CEOs are now a part of the Young CEO Experience After School and year-round Program

The Young CEO Experience ™ year-round after-school program will provide business mentorship, post-secondary and career planning, personal and business finance, entrepreneurship curriculum, community service and engagement, leadership development, profession/expert staff, field trips, college tours, and business competitions.

The Young CEO Next Level Club represents an elite group of high-achieving students poised to become future CEOs and leaders; they excel academically, drive positive change within their communities, and actively manage their finances to achieve significant growth in their businesses and in their personal and professional life. Members are Young CEOs that have completed a business plan and presented their business plan in a “Shark Tank” Business Plan Competition through one of the Young CEOs Summer Camps, the AIM High Young CEOs

Parents  of the Young CEO Experience Program are required to join because the Young CEOs are minors and they serve as the officers of the organization . Parents and guardians receive resources, guidance and support for their Young CEO and leaders.