SCH Student Entrepreneurs Take NYC: A Day of Innovation, Inspiration, and Female Leadership

More than 20 Upper School students from SCH's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) program spent an impactful day in New York City last week, engaging directly with trailblazing women at the helm of finance, architecture, and tech. In partnership with GenHERation®—a network that connects high school and college women with female executives—students visited JPMorgan Chase, Perkins Eastman, and Google’s St. John’s Terminal to gain a first-hand look at what it takes to succeed in the professional world.

Pitch-Perfect at JPMorgan Chase

The day kicked off in Midtown Manhattan with a panel at JPMorgan Chase featuring three dynamic women in finance who offered a behind-the-scenes look at leadership and investment strategy. GenHERation asked the panel: What makes a good leader great? The answers came clearly—set a vision, build a trusted team, inspire those around you, and lead by example.

Students then had the opportunity to pitch their own ventures in front of a panel of judges from finance, law, and media. “Investing in a person or a company means believing in their experience, understanding their customer, and trusting in their ability to solve real problems,” one judge-panelist shared. “A strong team and clear market fit matter more than a perfect résumé.”

The panelists encouraged students to build comfort with public speaking, embrace feedback, and stay curious—qualities essential not just in finance, but in life. “Any work experience can teach you something,” one speaker advised. “You get out what you put in.”

Designing the Future at Perkins Eastman

Next stop: Perkins Eastman, one of New York City’s leading architecture firms. Students toured the model-making room, stepped into collaborative workspaces, and saw design in action. During lunch, they participated in Designing Your Future, a joint panel between Perkins Eastman and Meta.

Panelists spoke about their winding paths into architecture, design, and strategy—some who originally pursued medicine or law before discovering their true passions. Students were encouraged to embrace the entrepreneurial mindset, recognize inefficiencies, and take initiative.

“There’s no straight line to success,” one speaker said. “Be resilient. Build your neural pathways by solving problems over and over. That’s how you grow.”

Two of Meta’s professionals stayed behind to give feedback on a quick workshop where students got into small groups and were tasked with providing a change, widget, or new addition to Instagram that they, as users, would want to see implemented. The winning group suggested that Instagram’s bio characters are too limiting and would like to see an option to record a voice message so users could get to know the profile or business better with more color.

Students walked away with reminders to lead with empathy, do the hard things that make you grow, and find that sweet spot between humility and will. 

Big Ideas at Google St. John’s Terminal

The final stop was at Google’s stunning, one-year-old St. John’s Terminal campus—a workspace complete with rooftop gardens, vibrant cafes, and nearly six acres of open-air terraces designed for creativity and collaboration.

During the final panel of Google professionals, students learned about design thinking—a process rooted in empathy, ideation, and prototyping. They discussed the importance of active listening, building community, and letting curiosity guide both personal and professional development.

One speaker emphasized, “You can’t control how others react, but you can control how you show up. That’s where your power lies.” Others spoke about the importance of saying yes to new opportunities—and learning when to say no to preserve your well-being and focus.

Real-World Learning, Real-World Confidence

This immersive day trip exemplified the mission of SCH’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership: to equip students with the mindsets, skills, and confidence to be changemakers. Whether on the trading floor, in a design studio, or at the tech frontier, students saw how innovation, empathy, and resilience fuel meaningful careers—and how their SCH foundation is preparing them to lead with purpose.

This trip opened my eyes,” one student reflected. “We got to see real-world entrepreneurship in action and meet women who are making change happen. It made me excited for what’s possible."