From developing a product to navigating challenges as a team, JA Company Program gives students the opportunity to experience what it really takes to build and operate a business.
For students participating in JA Company Program, the experience goes beyond developing a product or making sales. Over the course of the program, they take on real responsibilities and work alongside their peers and make decisions that shape their businesses.
JA Company Program gives high school students the opportunity to transform an idea into a functioning small business and gaining hands-on experience across areas such as product development, marketing, sales, financial management and teamwork.
But according to students who have experienced the program firsthand, some of the most valuable lessons happen beyond the business plan.
Hear from our Students
Learning to lead, delegate and ask for help
For Iris O’Keefe, a student from Henry Wise Wood High School in Alberta, her experience as VP Marketing for BloomBar taught her the importance of stepping up and learning to lead through challenges.
BloomBar developed handmade soap bars packaged in plantable, seed-embedded paper, with a goal of reducing packaging waste while building a community around its product.
“I learned the importance of leadership, and how to step up for what I believe in,” Iris shared.
Her experience also taught her the importance of asking for help. As the company grew, she found herself balancing JA responsibilities with schoolwork and realized she needed additional support from her team.
“I learned that asking for help is not as scary as it seems,” she said.
For another student, who served as President of BloomBar, leadership meant learning when to listen rather than immediately trying to solve a problem.
“Oftentimes, everyone is eager to come up with solutions, but especially in circumstances like conflict, encouragement through listening and understanding really brings up a team,” the student explained.
That experience helped them better understand their teammates’ strengths and become more flexible when plans changed.
Turning an idea into something real
One of the most rewarding parts of Company Program is seeing an idea move from concept to reality.
“I really loved being able to work with everyone on my team and really see how just this idea could turn into a real product,” the BloomBar President shared.
That same sense of accomplishment stood out for Iris, who said the experience changed how she viewed her own capabilities.
“I truly believe now that if I have a dream I am now able to achieve it.”
For Qasim Pardhan of Oakridge Secondary School in Ontario, that transformation happened over four years in JA Company Program.
Qasim participated throughout all four years of high school, taking on roles including VP of Finance, VP of Technology and President. His companies included Cargo Clean, SCAN Apparel, Bloom Bracelets and ReSwipe.
His teams experienced success at the regional and national levels, with ReSwipe ultimately winning Company of the Year at the JA Canada national competition.
Yet when asked what surprised him most about the program, Qasim didn’t point to the awards.
“Going in I didn’t expect an extracurricular to teach me as much about leadership, teamwork, and communication as it did.”
Learning through real challenges
The hands-on nature of Company Program means students also encounter challenges that can’t always be solved by following a textbook.
For Qasim, one of the biggest lessons was delegation. Instead of trying to handle every task himself, he learned how to train others, trust his teammates with responsibility and create systems that helped the company operate more efficiently.
He also developed practical skills in task management, spreadsheets and automation that he expects to use well beyond entrepreneurship.
For the BloomBar President, another important lesson came from discovering just how much a company’s presentation can influence its success.
“Customers don’t necessarily see all the work that happens behind the scenes but they see the brand and the experience you create around the product,” the student said.
The experience showed them that having a strong product is only part of the equation. How a company communicates and markets that product can influence how customers respond to it.
The value of stepping outside your comfort zone
While each student entered Company Program with a different role and experience, their advice to future participants was remarkably consistent: take the opportunity and get involved.
“It’s an environment where you’re allowed to mess up, and you’ll learn a ton from that,” Qasim said.
He encourages students to stick with the experience even if it feels uncomfortable at first, emphasizing that many of the skills developed through the program extend well beyond business.
Another student offered similar advice, encouraging participants to attend as many trade shows as possible to meet new people, practice talking about their products and build confidence.
For Iris, Company Program is an opportunity for students who want to learn how businesses are built, solve problems and connect with like-minded peers.
“JA Company Program is where you’ll find your calling.”
Building skills that go beyond entrepreneurship
The students’ experiences reflect what makes JA Company Program different from simply learning about business in a classroom. By creating and operating a real venture, students have the opportunity to apply their learning, work through uncertainty and see the results of their decisions firsthand.
They develop skills in areas including teamwork, leadership, marketing, sales and financial management, while also building confidence, communication and problem-solving skills.
And sometimes, the most lasting lesson isn’t about running a company at all.
It’s learning how to trust a team, speak up when you need support, make a difficult decision, try something outside your comfort zone and keep going when things don’t go according to plan.
Ready to build something of your own?
Learn more about JA Company Program and how students can get involved: JA Company Program
