Abstract? Sometimes. Disruptive? Possibly. Innovative? Always. The entrepreneurial mindset at Pine Crest School takes on many forms and is woven throughout the Lower, Middle and Upper School curricula. Five years ago, Mrs. Keri Kolettis, Vice President of Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship, developed the three-year social entrepreneurship program offered in Upper School. Mrs. Kolettis works closely with Divisional leadership to incorporate entrepreneurial learning opportunities in all grade levels.
“Our goal is that we see entrepreneurship in every class,” said Mrs. Kolettis. “The delivery and methods of this content will vary but the fundamental learning of how to be resilient, creative, collaborative and enterprising will remain the same.”
Pine Crest President Dr. Dana Markham’s ’18H vision of expanding the curriculum to advance skills that reflect real-world challenges and scenarios helped guide the direction and implementation of the entrepreneurship curriculum in alignment with our 2024-29 Strategic Plan, “Learning and Leading: Globally Connected, Culturally Inspired.”
“Our students are prepared to lead us into the future,” said Dr. Markham. “We are constantly reviewing what must be true to ensure our students are future-ready and how we can evolve our curricula to fulfill that need.”
From Lower School students learning to lead and problem-solve to Middle Schoolers tackling community impact projects to Upper Schoolers developing scalable ventures, Pine Crest nurtures entrepreneurship as a mindset and a practice.
This mindset is supported by dynamic partnerships. In recent months, Pine Crest expanded its network to include Pioneer Academics, the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program. Two new partnerships joined this list in 2024–25, adding fresh perspectives and global opportunities.
One of those opportunities was the grand opening of the newly expanded Entrepreneurship Dedicated to Global Engagement (EDGE) learning space. During the event, Upper School Social Entrepreneurship students welcomed Stephen Ross, CEO and Chairman of Related Ross, along with his colleagues Kenneth Himmel, Jordan Bargas and Kevin Ryan. Ross, best known for developing Hudson Yards in New York City, spoke to students about innovation, sustainability and designing with purpose.
“Design and build spaces that people can be proud of,” said Bargas, Senior Vice President of Development, as he encouraged students to think not just creatively—but impactfully.
“Our students were energized by the visit,” said Mrs. Kolettis. “They asked thoughtful questions, engaged in meaningful dialogue and left feeling inspired to pursue big ideas.”
They didn’t have to wait long for another global connection. In October, seniors in the Social Entrepreneurship program participated in a virtual speaker series with the London School of Economics (LSE) Generate Schools Programme. LSE entrepreneurs and business leaders—including Tim Deeson, LSE’s Entrepreneur in Residence—shared personal stories and practical lessons on launching ventures in a rapidly changing world.
“By sharing what I know, I can show people what’s possible—and that they can do it too,” said Tim.
This partnership culminated in the Innovation Festival, a three-day event hosted on the Fort Lauderdale campus in early 2025. Co-organized with LSE, the festival brought together speakers and alumni from across the globe. Venture capitalists, startup founders, industry disruptors and Pine Crest faculty joined forces to lead panels, share insights and inspire action.
When asked to describe the collaboration between Pine Crest and LSE, venture capitalist and LSE alum Chandni Hirani called it “trailblazing.”
“We were proud to welcome LSE and other global partners to our campuses,” said Mrs. Kolettis. “As Dr. Markham often reminds us, the world is becoming smaller and the need for global connection is stronger. Pine Crest students will be prepared for the future of work.”
The Innovation Festival was open to all Upper School students and faculty and staff from both campuses—underscoring Pine Crest’s commitment to ensuring every student has access to real-world, globally connected learning experiences.