Montessori Reflections

July 11, 2025

Planting the Seeds of Entrepreneurship in Childhood

“The most important skill isn’t knowing the right answer—it’s knowing how to keep going when you don’t.”

What comes to mind when you hear the word entrepreneurship?

Maybe you picture someone pitching to investors, launching a bold startup, or building the next world-changing idea.

But in Montessori, entrepreneurship is not just about business. It’s a mindset. We believe entrepreneurial thinking begins in childhood—long before they have decided on any career, whether they want to be a doctor, an artist, an engineer, a CEO or a change-maker. It begins the moment a child is trusted to make a decision, take a risk, and try again after failing.

It’s Not Just Business. It’s a Mindset.

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about creating a product or launching a business. It’s a mindset rooted in creativity, problem-solving, adaptability, and resilience. These aren’t qualities you cram for later in life—they’re planted early, through experience.

In a Montessori classroom, children don’t wait for permission to learn. They lead their learning. They choose meaningful work, repeat it, perfect it, and own it. The materials invite discovery. The environment invites independence. The adult, rather than instructing, prepares and observes.

So while a child is pouring water—carefully, intentionally—they’re building the same inner skills they’ll need to launch a new idea someday:

→ Focus.
→ Perseverance.
→ Confidence in trial and error.
→ Intrinsic motivation.

A child baking muffins or spinning yarn might not look like they’re preparing for the future economy. But they are. They’re learning that effort matters. That their ideas matter. That they matter.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

The world is changing fast. New industries are emerging. Entire job categories are disappearing. In the face of all this uncertainty, we can't predict exactly what skills our children will need—but we do know this:

The children who thrive will be the ones who can adapt, lead, and keep learning long after school ends.

That’s why we see entrepreneurship not as an elective—but as essential.

A Question for You

If you're a parent, educator, or caregiver:

How are you nurturing these traits in the children around you?

Do they have the space to make decisions?

To struggle and try again?

To follow their own curiosity?

When we trust a child’s process—rather than rush it—we do something radical: we plant the mindset that will carry them through any challenge the future throws at them.

Up Next:

What do Beyoncé, Jeff Bezos, Julia Childs, and Yo-Yo Ma have in common?

They were all Montessori children. And next week, we’ll show you how that early foundation shaped their resilience, creativity, and success.

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July 7, 2025

Ever Do What You Swore You’d Never Do?
How I Found My Way Back to Montessori

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, “How did I end up here?”

If you’d asked me twenty years ago whether I’d become a Montessori educator—let alone lead an international Montessori school—I would have laughed. I was determined to forge my own path, to prove that I could be someone entirely separate from my family legacy.

You see, my mother was the first person to bring Montessori education to Taiwan. Growing up, our home was filled with conversations about child development, independence, and following the child’s natural rhythm. But as a teenager, I wanted nothing more than to do something different.

I studied European History, pursued my dream of being an artist and a greeting card designer, and tried to define success on my own terms. But life has a funny way of calling us back to what matters most.

When I became a mother myself, everything shifted. Suddenly, all those Montessori ideas I’d rolled my eyes at as a child started to make sense. I saw how my twins lit up when given the freedom to explore, the calm that came from a prepared environment, the deep satisfaction they felt when they did things for themselves.

That was when I realized Montessori wasn’t just my mother’s vision. It was a gift for every child—and every family.

The Power of Returning to Your Roots

Coming back to Montessori never felt like a career move. It was more like a homecoming.

I learned that sometimes, the things we resist most fiercely are the very things we’re meant to embrace. In my case, it took becoming a parent to understand the depth and wisdom of the Montessori philosophy.

Montessori is not a method confined to the classroom. It’s a way of seeing children as capable, worthy of trust, and full of potential. It asks us to let go of control, to honor each child’s unique journey, and to believe that true growth comes from within.

How You Can Embrace Montessori—Even If You’re Skeptical

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I’m not sure Montessori is for me,” I understand. I’ve been there. But I invite you to try one simple shift this week:

Observe before you intervene.
Before jumping in to help your child, pause. Watch. You may be surprised at what they can do on their own.
Simplify one space in your home.
Create a calm, ordered corner where your child can access materials independently.
Trust the process.
Growth doesn’t always look the way we expect. Sometimes it’s messy. That’s okay.

Your Invitation

If you’ve ever found yourself walking a path you swore you’d never take—know that you’re not alone. Sometimes, the unexpected journey is the one that transforms us most deeply.

I’m honored to walk this road alongside the families and educators who believe in a different way of raising children—one rooted in respect, curiosity, and joy.

Want more inspiration?
Follow along as I share more stories, strategies, and reflections on building independent, resilient children in a rapidly changing world.