The Entrepreneurial Journey

Louise Earnshaw founded the Chutzpah Factory College of Entrepreneurship Inc (Chutzpah Inc.) to provide accredited real-world entrepreneurship training to marginalised youth.

Chutzpah Inc. was inspired by Earnshaw's PhD research into Chutzpah in entrepreneurs and maverick youth. The word "chutzpah" is Yiddish for cheek, audacity, guts and gall, in other words, an entrepreneur! The research found similarities (chutzpah!), between successful entrepreneurs and youth at-risk. Earnshaw recognised that her research model and findings had international application and proceeded to establish Chutzpah Inc. and to develop the Certificates II, III, IV and Diploma of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Skills.

In March 2002 Earnshaw introduced her methodology to the public as training workshops in youth entrepreneurship development, and since then has completed:

• Workshop tours in seven countries working with in excess of 10,500 participants resulting in skilling high-risk youth to launch micro-enterprise
• Founding the Chutzpah Factory College of Entrepreneurship Inc.
• Trialling Certificate II in Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Skills in five Australian states
• Launching three Australian Chutzpah sites including two Indigenous sites in the Goldfields and Ngaanyatjarra Lands, Western Desert
• Facilitating in excess of 100 high-risk indigenous and non-indigenous youth to create micro-enterprises, leading to employment, education and training, work placements, traineeships and apprenticeships
• Identifying a number of mirco-enterprise projects for the purpose of cultural preservation in the Indian Himalayas and Sri Lanka