Our Vision
Our vision is a future where young people are exposed early to entrepreneurship and equipped to create opportunities, drive innovation, and contribute to lasting economic growth. We envision a future where every student graduates with clarity about their career path, practical skills they can apply immediately, and the confidence to pursue their goals.
Our Mission
Our mission is to build a strong pipeline of future entrepreneurs by providing hands-on entrepreneurial education, mentorship, and early access to resources that empower youth and young adults to succeed.
OUR
Equity in education
Practical learning
Ethical entrepreneurship
Student-centered growth
A Purpose-Driven Approach
We are guided by the belief that a structured approach is required to build the future intentionally:
Practical Entrepreneurship Education
We deliver practical entrepreneurship education through structured programming that teaches youth and young adults ages 15–24 how to develop, launch, and operate a business. We place a strong focus on financial literacy, business planning, marketing, and innovation.
Mentorship and Coaching
We pair participants with mentors who reflect their lived experiences and can offer culturally responsive coaching and business guidance. Our mentors facilitate peer learning, guest speaker sessions, and real-world exposure to entrepreneurship.
Hands-On Learning and Capital Access
We integrate experiential components, such as business simulations, capstone projects or pitch competitions. Furthermore, we provide seed capital to capital providers for promising youth-led ventures.
Partnership Development
We strengthen partnerships with local schools, businesses, universities, and community organizations to enrich programming and extend our reach.
EVALUATION & SUCCESS METRICS
We track program outcomes to utilize data to enhance programming and demonstrate the long-term impact on participants. We measure our success through:
- Number of youth who launch or expand a business
- Skills gained in core business areas
- Confidence and leadership development
- Post-program engagement in entrepreneurial activities
- Financial literacy gains and budgeting proficiency
Meet The Director
At High School to the Pros, our team of dedicated educators, industry veterans, and entrepreneurs is on a mission to level the playing field. We believe talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not.
As the Director of High School to the Pros, Andrea Ekiyor is a dynamic operations leader who coordinates and implements large-scale initiatives designed to empower Marion County youth. Driven by the belief that talent is equally distributed but opportunity is not, she develops strategic frameworks that equip local high school students with entrepreneurial skills, AI literacy, and real-world experience. Under her leadership, the initiative helps students navigate multiple pathways toward securing $40,000+ careers or launching their own businesses without the burden of college debt.
Andrea’s extensive background in social impact and community development deeply shapes her approach to program leadership. Having spent decades managing federal and local partnerships, analyzing program data, and tracking outcomes, she specializes in structuring initiatives that bridge the gap between underserved communities and meaningful opportunities. Her experience designing and coordinating career and college readiness programs ensures that the pathways offered through High School to the Pros remain aligned with industry needs and community collaboration.
As a former collegiate student-athlete, Andrea understands the discipline, preparation, and teamwork required to succeed in competitive environments. She seamlessly translates this organizational mindset from the athletic arena into her executive leadership. Rather than acting as a direct coach, she serves as the general manager of the initiative—ensuring the program’s “economic athletes” have the ultimate, well-coordinated playbook to win in life and in their careers.
A successful entrepreneur and systems-builder, Andrea also understands the financial and logistical realities families face. She co-founded Moms in the Zone, a platform committed to equipping mothers of student-athletes with valuable resources, encouragement, and support throughout their journey. She is also the author of The Other Side of the Whistle, a reflective guide for mothers navigating the demanding world of youth sports.
Armed with a Master of Social Work and a CompTIA Prompt Engineering Certification, Andrea leverages operational leadership, strategic partnerships, and data-driven implementation to champion equitable access and economic mobility. Her work is centered on ensuring the next generation is equipped not only to participate in the future economy—but to lead within it.
