On May 5th 2012, eight Little Sisters (along with their Big Sisters) participated in Lemonade Day, a national event that inspires children to learn how to operate their own small business by setting up a lemonade stand. By participating in this annual event, children develop leadership and problem solving skills, as well as gain experience in economics. Big Sister was happy to partner with Babson College for the second year in a row to introduce Little Sisters to entrepreneurship as a possible future career option.
This is the reason why Little Sister Dakaja participated this year with the encouragement of her Big Sister Kristen. Dakaja already knows that when she graduates from college she wants to start her own small business. Through Lemonade Day, she had her first taste of this career. Newbury Streetwas a prime location for Dakaja’s many thirsty visitors, including Lisa Donovan from Kiss 108, Suzanne Picher City Director of Lemonade Day at Babson College, and fire fighters from the Boston Fire Department. Dakaja’s favorite customer, Johnny Earle, owner of Johnny Cupcakes, stopped by to applaud Dakaja’s entrepreneurial skills and answered her questions about starting her own business. Dakaja hopes to put the money raised towards new fun match activities with her Big Sister Kristen.
Little Sister Jazmine’s Lemonade Stand on Boylston Street was also a hot spot. She attracted many Red Sox fans with her catchy marketing jingle and dance. One customer even received car window service when she pulled up to Jazmine’s stand. Jazmine plans to add her earnings to her savings and buy something special for her sister in the future.
Lemonade Day creates an opportunity for budding Little Sister entrepreneurs to learn how to develop a business through goal setting and creating and executing a business strategy. Big Sister Kristen said, “This was a fantastic learning opportunity for both of us – we learned what it takes to be an entrepreneur and all the details that need to be considered. I think it helped Dakaja have a better understanding for how to budget, how to prioritize, and what not to sacrifice.”
