Currently, Andre is a Founder at Enfuse Youth a youth led consultancy aimed at improving the life opportunities for young people; a start up he intends to turn into a global organisation to help young people across the world. Andre has also a passion for sport, having run at a national level and also for arts, where he attended Sylvia Young Theatre school as a youngster.
In his first year at Kingston University, Andre gained first hand experience in entrepreneurship through his university society Kingston Entrepreneurs. He became an active member of this society and added membership with SIFE to his commitments outside of his degree. It was here that he got his first taste for entrepreneurship.
During his second year at Kingston Andre took advantage of a myriad of opportunities that came his way and caught the entrepreneurship bug and began to brainstorm and develop his own idea – Enfuse Youth – an education consultancy, helping young people to fulfill their potential both in the working environment and the business environment. He went onto to secure funding [£5,000] for his start up business from Unltd.
Andre was selected as one of ‘The Courvoisier Future 500‘ as a rising star on the UK entrepreneurship circuit, a list that aims aggregate the up and coming entrepreneurs in the country. Alongside this he has devoted himself to consulting on a number of companies and events most notable the London Week of Peace [LWOP].
Welcome Andre! Tell us a little bit about Enfuse Youth and your goals with the company
Enfuse Youth is a social enterprise providing youth education and further consultancy services and to 13-25 year olds with a special focus on the 13-18 year old age group.
We are dedicated to providing the ‘how’ to making young people enthusiastic about the possible career options available to them by providing clear, comprehensive and impartial guidance, training and opportunities to access employment, self-employment or pursue post-secondary education.
Our subjects include: Entrepreneurial process, employability, personal success skills, creative process, financial literacy, social issues.
The company aims to provide engaging in fun programmes, especially tailored to young an individuals needs. Our professional trainers and mentors ensure young people excel during our sessions and are able to learn from ‘models’ in the business and professional world.
Enfuse Youth believe that the younger generation are the future and therefore deserve to access to the best practical knowledge and advice in their pursuit of their chosen career path regardless of their circumstance.
You’ve had great success in your life so far, including being 2009 NUS Student of the year. What is your greatest triumph so far and what do you consider ‘success’ to be?
My greatest success to date was representing the UK at OYIP in Sydney, Australia on international affairs as a young person. It was my first responsibility representing the UK and opening my mind up to a range of unique possibilities.
{AF template=round_quotes} Success is relative to every individual; a key point that must not be understated. I understand success to be the ability to continue on your path no matter what obstacles appear before you. {/AF}
A key word here would be – persistence. The wider goal is to contribute more to society than you take out especially in this day and age where many believe business success as a pure zero-sum game.
From your experience in entrepreneurship so far, what personality traits are most important?
1) Action
2) Stamina
3) Discipline
4) A clear vision
5) Honesty
Do you goal set? How crucial is it for moving forward in life?
Yes, of course. This is daily ethos I undertake. In the same way we use the A-Z or comparatively speaking the ‘Tom-Tom’ to tell us where we are going and give us a purpose and direction in whatever we want to achieve. You begin with the end in mind and then you work backwards from there. Thus, making every step reachable and specific.
How important is to concentrate on the future rather than the past in order to be the best you can be?
The past cannot be changed, let it go. You can learn from the past – both your successes and failures – in order to move forward and become a better individual. {AF template=round_quotes} Failure isn’t always a bad thing especially if you learn from it. {/AF} Conversely, your future is what you can change and it’s a blank canvass waiting for you to draw out your future. Here you can chart your goals, progress and set targets to keep moving you forward.
Lastly, what are you wisest words to the UK student population who want to achieve success in their career or in business?
Model the best.