top of page
Screenshot 2023-09-20 at 6.35.36 PM.png

GUEST SPEAKER

JOEL BURROWS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

GHIRARDELLI

This Winter, snag your golden ticket to our Superpower Hour Workshop featuring Joel Burrows, CEO of Ghirardelli. This season will also include our Entrepreneurship 101 Workshop, a field trip to Wish Boutique and office hours—all culminating into our Winter Pop-up Shop.

SEASON OVERVIEW

OCT. 15

Workshop:

Entrepreneurship 101

(Beginner)

2:00 – 3:15 PM

Virtual via Zoom

​

​

Prerequisites:

None; all are welcome

​

Please note:

Completion of this course (current or past) is required to sell in our Winter Pop-up Shop.

​

​

NOV. 5

Drop-in

Office Hours

(All Levels)

4:00 – 4:30 PM

Virtual via Zoom

​

Prerequisites:

None; all are welcome

​

​

​

​

​

OCT. 21

Field Trip:

Wish Boutique

(All Levels)

1:00 – 2:00 PM (Cohort A)

3:00 – 4:00 PM (Cohort B)

In person, Walnut Creek

​

Prerequisites:

Entrepreneurship 101

​

Please note:

Space is limited. RSVP required.

NOV. 30

Drop-in

Office Hours

(All Levels)

7:00 – 7:30 PM

Virtual via Zoom

​

Prerequisites:

None; all are welcome

​​

​

​

​

​

​

OCT. 22

Workshop:

Superpower Hour w/ Joel Burrows (All Levels)

4:00 – 5:00 PM

Virtual via Zoom

​

Prerequisites:

Entrepreneurship 101

​

Please note:

Completion of this course is required if you wish to sell in our Winter Pop-up Shop and have already completed Entrepreneurship 101 in previous season.

​

DEC. 10

Winter Pop-up Shop

(Enchanted Emporium & Snowflake Boutique, All Levels)

2:00 – 5:00 PM
(Setup at 1:00 PM)

In person at Lafayette Community Center​

​

Prerequisites:

Upon completion of "Entrepreneurship 101" and/or "Superpower Hour", students may participate in our Winter Pop-up Shop.

PROGRAM DETAILS

WORKSHOP (BEGINNER)​

OCTOBER 15 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101

Prerequisites: None; All are welcome
2:00 - 3:15 PM; Virtual via Zoom

This 75-minute session will cover:​

  • Identifying a product or service based on market need and/or passion

  • Defining your target customer

  • Conducting benchmarking research

  • Calculating cost, price and margin

  • Sourcing and developing your product

  • Understanding corporate social responsibility

  • Crafting and delivering an elevator pitch
     

Note: Completion of this course (current or past) is required to sell in our Pop-up Shop.

FIELD TRIP (ALL LEVELS)

OCTOBER 21 

FIELD TRIP TO WISH WALNUT CREEK

Prerequisites: Entrepreneurship 101

1:00 - 2:00 Cohort A

3:00 - 4:00 Cohort B

 

Join us for an exciting in-person educational experience at the lovely and amazing Wish Boutique in Walnut Creek. Our host, Sasha Varni, founder and owner of Wish, will give us a personal tour of her wonderful shop. Explore Sasha’s vast assortment of seasonal items, gifts, toys, clothing, accessories, home goods, bath and body products, her baby boutique - and so much more. 

 

  • Experience firsthand the wonder and magic that customers feel when shopping at Wish

  • Get a behind-the-scenes tour from Wish’s founder and owner, Sasha Varni

  • Learn how Sasha creates an exciting and bountiful seasonal product assortment

  • See Sasha’s amazing merchandising super powers in action

  • Hear about Sasha’s marketing strategy, customer service approach, pricing philosophy, and the ins and outs of running a bustling retail shop

  • Meet and learn from other GCI alumnae – and enjoy sweet and spooky treats!
     

Note: Space is limited. RSVP is required.

Wish Storefrong_edited.jpg

WORKSHOP (ALL LEVELS)​

OCTOBER 22 

SUPERPOWER HOUR WITH JOEL BURROWS 

Prerequisites: Entrepreneurship 101
4:00 - 5:00 PM; Virtual via Zoom

 

Our guest for this season’s Superpower Hour is Joel Burrows, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghiradelli Chocolate Company. Joel will tell us about his path to becoming a CEO and share lessons learned throughout nearly two decades in the wide world of chocolate. Ghirardelli, a San Francisco-based, world famous chocolate company, was founded in 1852! Joel will talk about what it’s like to run a thriving global business that keeps looking and moving forward, while holding on to its brand legacy.

 

Joel will share his unique leadership super powers with GCI participants. We’ll explore:

  • Creating your own personal vision for your future

  • Continuously innovating on your core products and business ideas

  • Collaborating with your team (you have one, whether you realize it or not!)

  • Product testing - you’ve got to sample the chocolates

  • Self-care for leaders of all ages

 

Note: Completion of this course is required if you wish to sell in our Winter Pop-up Shop and have already completed Entrepreneurship 101 in previous season.

Headshots Guest Speakers 2.png

OFFICE HOURS (ALL LEVELS)

NOVEMBER 5

DROP-IN OFFICE HOURS  

Prerequisites: Entrepreneurship 101
4:00 - 4:30 PM; Virtual via Zoom

 

During this small-group session, participants can ask questions and ideate solutions to business challenges.

 

​

NOVEMBER 30

DROP-IN OFFICE HOURS  

Prerequisites: Entrepreneurship 101
7:00 - 7:30 PM; Virtual via Zoom

 

During this small-group session, participants can ask questions and ideate solutions to business challenges.

 

​

WINTER POP-UP SHOP (ALL LEVELS)

DECEMBER 10

WINTER POP-UP SHOP

Prerequisites: Entrepreneurship 101 or Superpower Hour

2:00 - 5:00 PM (Setup at 1:00 PM)

Event is in-person & indoors

500 St Marys Rd

Lafayette, CA 94549

Our 6th Annual Winter Pop-up Shop will include two simultaneous holiday markets at the Lafayette Community Center.

 

Upon completion of "Entrepreneurship 101" and/or "Superpower Hour", participants may sell in one the following marketplaces:

Enchanted Emporium

Our Enchanted Emporium will take place in the Jennifer Russell Building at the Lafayette Community Center. It will feature more than 60 young entrepreneurs selling their wares. 

​

This bustling marketplace is open to all, and is ideal for vendors who are selling items that are:

  • Appealing to a broad spectrum of customers

  • All shapes and sizes

  • A variety price points 
     

PARTICIPANT EXPECTATIONS:​​

  • Actively promote our event to friends, family and community members

  • Produce and make available for sale 20-30 pieces of inventory

  • Merchandise and staff a table with their own one-of-a-kind products or services

  • Pitch their products to shoppers

  • Fund their business endeavor and keep 100% of their profits (Tuition should not be deducted when calculating profit * )

IMG_7975 (1).HEIC

Snowflake Boutique

Our Snowflake Boutique will take place in the Sequoia Room (adjacent to the Jennifer Russell Building) at the Lafayette Community Center, and will feature 12 young entrepreneurs. In this magical and merry tot-friendly shopping area, children ages 3-7 will be able to buy gifts for family members with the help of our teen staff.

​

This cozy and whimsical marketplace is great for vendors who enjoy engaging with tots and/or who prefer a slightly calmer environment. It is open to all, and is ideal for vendors who are selling items that are:

  • Appealing to kids shopping for gifts for friends and family 

  • Low- to mid-range price points

  • Durable / not easily broken

​

PARTICIPANT EXPECTATIONS:

  • Actively promote our event to friends, family and community members

  • Produce and make available for sale 20-30 pieces of inventory 

  • Merchandise and staff a table with their own one-of-a-kind products or services

  • Pitch their products to shoppers ages 3-7

  • Fund their business endeavor and keep 100% of their profits (Tuition should not be deducted when calculating profit * )

bottom of page