Ep. 175 - Empowering Child Entrepreneurs with Leah Ellis
Fri Jan 23 2026
Leah Ellis from the Society of Child Entrepreneurs shares how asking a child simple questions of “Why?” can empower them to solve problems and even become entrepreneurs.
Because Entrepreneurship is about solving problems.
During COVID, Leah’s 4½-year-old daughter Melody had been watching entrepreneurship training videos alongside her mom. One day she said, “Mommy, I want to start a business too.”
Leah’s gut reaction was no—you’re four, you’re still working on counting to fifty.
But Melody kept asking “Why?” And Leah stood there realizing she didn’t have an answer.
“Every answer I had was stuck on why other people wouldn’t let her do it and not necessarily why a four-year-old in the midst of a global pandemic with nothing better to do couldn’t start a business.”
So they did it. Melody started “Melody Paints”—custom drip art sold through a Facebook page and a Google form. You picked your colors, paid via Venmo, and she shipped you a painting.
Why Leah Started the Society of Child Entrepreneurs
After moving back to Kansas, Leah hosted a children’s business fair at a local coffee shop. Eleven kids showed up. Some made over $300 in two hours. One kid donated everything to his church’s summer camp scholarship fund. The place was so packed they would’ve been fined if the fire marshal had walked in. But then it was over. The kids went home and nobody taught them anything else. That bothered Leah. She wanted to create something that kept going—peers for her daughters to talk business with, a place where entrepreneurship wasn’t a one-day event but an ongoing conversation. So in July 2024, she convinced some friends to help her start a nonprofit.
Now the Society of Child Entrepreneurs has business fairs, curriculum, storybooks, monthly workshops, and a nationwide online platform that just launched.
The Best Age to Start
Leah says the sweet spot for entrepreneurship is 4th through 6th grade. By fourth grade, kids desperately want whatever name-brand thing is cool right now. Parents have already spent four years buying cool stuff that ended up collecting dust, so they’ve stopped. Now the kid has to figure out how to get it themselves. That’s when the scrappiness kicks in—selling bracelets to classmates, weeding grandma’s garden for cash, painting shirts.
By 7th or 8th grade, kids start looking for “real” jobs—fast food, steady babysitting gigs. They drift away from the creativity of entrepreneurship unless they’re already plugged into a program. If they are, they usually stick with it.
Your Actionable Steps
The Dinner Table Question
At meals, ask your kids: “What’s one problem you noticed in your life today that you could solve, and how would you solve it?” It might be something small—getting toothpaste from the end of the tube. It might be something they actually saw—a kid who struggles to get off the bus because the last step is too tall. Either way, ask follow-ups. And if they want to pursue it, let them.
“Your guide is the person who asks you questions and supports you while you find your journey and you go on your mission.”
I particularly liked this story:
One girl in the program makes decorative pens with sayings at the top. When asked to write a mission statement, she said she didn’t have one—she just makes pens.
Leah kept asking Why. “Why do you make pens?”
“Because I like having a pretty pen.”
“Why?”
“Because it shows people what’s important to me without having to say anything.” That was her mission. For people to share what matters to them, and sometimes without saying it in words.
Stop Solving, Start Asking
Swap out your instinct to fix things for a habit of asking questions.
How would you do that?
What would it look like in practice?
What could go wrong and how would you handle it?
Keep pushing until they work through it themselves. Find ways to create that same dynamic at home or in your community.
“Think about something in your life that annoys you. Chances are it annoys the neighbor down the road too. What can you do to solve the problem for both of you and get some of his money while you’re at it?”
If you want to hear more positive content like this, subscribe to the Thriving the Future Substack.
If you found this episode insanely helpful, you can show Thriving the Future some love by making a one time (no subscription!) donation.
Get full access to Thriving the Future Substack at thrivingthefuture.substack.com/subscribe
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Leah Ellis from the Society of Child Entrepreneurs shares how asking a child simple questions of “Why?” can empower them to solve problems and even become entrepreneurs. Because Entrepreneurship is about solving problems. During COVID, Leah’s 4½-year-old daughter Melody had been watching entrepreneurship training videos alongside her mom. One day she said, “Mommy, I want to start a business too.” Leah’s gut reaction was no—you’re four, you’re still working on counting to fifty. But Melody kept asking “Why?” And Leah stood there realizing she didn’t have an answer. “Every answer I had was stuck on why other people wouldn’t let her do it and not necessarily why a four-year-old in the midst of a global pandemic with nothing better to do couldn’t start a business.” So they did it. Melody started “Melody Paints”—custom drip art sold through a Facebook page and a Google form. You picked your colors, paid via Venmo, and she shipped you a painting. Why Leah Started the Society of Child Entrepreneurs After moving back to Kansas, Leah hosted a children’s business fair at a local coffee shop. Eleven kids showed up. Some made over $300 in two hours. One kid donated everything to his church’s summer camp scholarship fund. The place was so packed they would’ve been fined if the fire marshal had walked in. But then it was over. The kids went home and nobody taught them anything else. That bothered Leah. She wanted to create something that kept going—peers for her daughters to talk business with, a place where entrepreneurship wasn’t a one-day event but an ongoing conversation. So in July 2024, she convinced some friends to help her start a nonprofit. Now the Society of Child Entrepreneurs has business fairs, curriculum, storybooks, monthly workshops, and a nationwide online platform that just launched. The Best Age to Start Leah says the sweet spot for entrepreneurship is 4th through 6th grade. By fourth grade, kids desperately want whatever name-brand thing is cool right now. Parents have already spent four years buying cool stuff that ended up collecting dust, so they’ve stopped. Now the kid has to figure out how to get it themselves. That’s when the scrappiness kicks in—selling bracelets to classmates, weeding grandma’s garden for cash, painting shirts. By 7th or 8th grade, kids start looking for “real” jobs—fast food, steady babysitting gigs. They drift away from the creativity of entrepreneurship unless they’re already plugged into a program. If they are, they usually stick with it. Your Actionable Steps The Dinner Table Question At meals, ask your kids: “What’s one problem you noticed in your life today that you could solve, and how would you solve it?” It might be something small—getting toothpaste from the end of the tube. It might be something they actually saw—a kid who struggles to get off the bus because the last step is too tall. Either way, ask follow-ups. And if they want to pursue it, let them. “Your guide is the person who asks you questions and supports you while you find your journey and you go on your mission.” I particularly liked this story: One girl in the program makes decorative pens with sayings at the top. When asked to write a mission statement, she said she didn’t have one—she just makes pens. Leah kept asking Why. “Why do you make pens?” “Because I like having a pretty pen.” “Why?” “Because it shows people what’s important to me without having to say anything.” That was her mission. For people to share what matters to them, and sometimes without saying it in words. Stop Solving, Start Asking Swap out your instinct to fix things for a habit of asking questions. How would you do that? What would it look like in practice? What could go wrong and how would you handle it? Keep pushing until they work through it themselves. Find ways to create that same dynamic at home or in your community. “Think about something in your life that annoys you. Chances are it annoys the neighbor down the road too. What can you do to solve the problem for both of you and get some of his money while you’re at it?” If you want to hear more positive content like this, subscribe to the Thriving the Future Substack. If you found this episode insanely helpful, you can show Thriving the Future some love by making a one time (no subscription!) donation. Get full access to Thriving the Future Substack at thrivingthefuture.substack.com/subscribe