Regarding recruitment at AIM, are there any common misconceptions applicants have about what it takes to succeed in impact-driven entrepreneurship? Did you have any doubts about yourself when you first applied to the program?
I certainly had doubts when I first applied to the program! I was rejected in 2021 and then accepted in 2022: I got further in the process than I expected to in 2021 so in that sense the rejection was actually a source of confidence that this might be a realistic avenue for me in future.
I think applicants tend to believe that they need more prior experience than they do (we’ve had multiple excellent participants in their very early 20s), and perhaps underestimate the value of flexibility, particularly in your organisation’s first 12 months. Several of our organisations have made significant early pivots from what the preliminary research report suggested might be the best path, and people’s preference for which charity idea they’d like to found often changes during the program.
Regarding recruitment at AIM, are there any common misconceptions applicants have about what it takes to succeed in impact-driven entrepreneurship? Did you have any doubts about yourself when you first applied to the program?
I certainly had doubts when I first applied to the program! I was rejected in 2021 and then accepted in 2022: I got further in the process than I expected to in 2021 so in that sense the rejection was actually a source of confidence that this might be a realistic avenue for me in future.
I think applicants tend to believe that they need more prior experience than they do (we’ve had multiple excellent participants in their very early 20s), and perhaps underestimate the value of flexibility, particularly in your organisation’s first 12 months. Several of our organisations have made significant early pivots from what the preliminary research report suggested might be the best path, and people’s preference for which charity idea they’d like to found often changes during the program.