Munster High School
Teacher takes young entrepreneurs on a journey of innovation, inspiration
Krissy LaFlech has translated her own career and entrepreneurial journey into lessons for her students at Munster High School.
She teaches entrepreneurship to more than 150 students, advises the DECA program and teaches the New Venture Development class.
“Working with young entrepreneurs is incredibly rewarding. I love witnessing their passion and drive to succeed, and it’s inspiring to see them take risks and pursue their dreams,” she said.
“It’s also exciting to see the fresh ideas and innovative solutions they bring to the table.”
Krissy is in her 5th year of teaching at the high school after she veered into a new chapter. She had owned a small business with her husband and worked in marketing as a district manager at Starbucks for more than 10 years.
“Working with young entrepreneurs allows me to constantly learn and grow, and I feel privileged to be a part of their journey.”
As an entrepreneurship educator and innovator, she has helped lead her students in the state’s Innovate WithIN, which is a student pitch competition. She works as a mentor and guide for competing students, who have to take their ideas for a new business, product or service and present it to judges for a chance at monetary prizes and resources.
Her leadership has continued to help her students reach a higher level at the annual competitions, and at the 2023 Innovate WithIN, her team competed at the state level and placed third. Joshua Avila, Austin Beetson, and Sayeed Mohammed are behind Novos, an eco-friendly product line of air fresheners that spark the sensation of being anywhere in the world through natural oils reminiscent of global cultural scents.
Krissy feels she is making an impact on her students through her teachings and guidance for Innovate WithIN competitors by boosting skill development, confidence and creativity as well as encouraging innovation and creating an ecosystem.
“I am helping young entrepreneurs develop essential skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making,” she said. “Encouraging and supporting them through their entrepreneurial journey builds their confidence, which can extend beyond their ventures into all aspects of their lives.
“I also facilitate connections and networking opportunities, which can be crucial for their ventures’ growth and long-term success.”
Krissy is honored to be a part of the Innovate WithIN world that inspires and spurs students to really explore entrepreneurship.
“It provides a platform for young entrepreneurs to validate their ideas and concepts, which is an extremely crucial process in their journey. It serves as an inspiration for young individuals to see problems as opportunities and look outside themselves to create something bigger,” she said.
“I believe that all students should possess an entrepreneurial mindset in everything they do. It is a great way to look at the world and facilitate change.”
Krissy LaFlech
Entrepreneurship Innovator, Instructor and Teacher
Munster High School