Entrepreneurship is certainly about innovative ideas, and it’s also a way to connect with a community of like-minded people and grow as a person. This month’s podcast guest, high school senior Alejandro Gonzalez, has appreciated these opportunities since he began reselling items like sneakers and clothing in his native Puerto Rico. He also learned some things about business along the way, including the value of research and an awareness that not everyone can be trusted to hold up their end of a transaction. Selling through various online platforms has also convinced Alejandro that a renaissance mindset is key to connecting with others.
Be sure to tap the arrow above and listen to our conversation with Alejandro, who is carrying his Alejandro Gonzalez: Thank you for having me. Wharton Global Youth: Let’s get started. What do business and entrepreneurship mean to you? Alejandro: Business and entrepreneurship [are] about being able to control my time. Compared to a normal job, I love that in business I can work whenever I want. One day, if I’m inspired to, I can work at 2 a.m. And one day at 7 a.m., I can do that as well. It’s also a way of constantly learning and developing myself. Because in a way, if you want to develop your business, you also have to work on yourself. So, I do also enjoy that a lot. Wharton Global Youth: I want to drill down on your reselling activities. But first, let’s consider the context, I guess. You are from Puerto Rico, a vibrant and resilient island in the Caribbean, that has really endured devastating natural disasters like Hurricane Maria in 2017. How have those challenges changed your perspective on life, and particularly on business? Alejandro: It’s like we almost got a preview of the pandemic with what we had here in Hurricane Maria. I personally didn’t have electricity for around six, seven months. So, it was a bit of a challenge, really. And [we] also had a lot of Glodi Miessi on Unsplash
Conversation Starters
Why is it important to consider emotion when you’re selling something to a customer?
Have you operated a reselling business? Share a few of your best practices in the comment section of this transcript.
Alejandro Gonzalez talks about the value of a renaissance mindset. What does he mean by this? Why do you think this is valuable in business?
