Meet Blue Ocean Teacher Champions – outstanding educators who integrate Blue Ocean principles into their teaching and inspire students to explore entrepreneurship

What motivates you to inspire and support student entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurship has a high failure rate, with research showing that about 90% of startups fail, and only 40% of businesses are profitable (CB Insights, 2023). As a Youth Innovation Advocate, I want to ensure that my students are set up for success by equipping them with the right tools to think creatively, solve real-world problems, and differentiate themselves in competitive markets.

One of the most effective ways I do this is by integrating Blue Ocean Strategy into my curriculum. Unlike traditional business strategies that focus on competing in existing markets, Blue Ocean Strategy empowers students to create entirely new market spaces, reducing competition and increasing the likelihood of success.

This strategy has had a profound impact on my students, helping them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for entrepreneurship. As one student put it,

“Not only is it the type of challenge high schoolers need, but it also opens a new side to people they might not discover until the Blue Ocean is mentioned. Value innovation empowered me to generate innovative ideas, driving my creativity to new heights.” (Davis Moore)

Many of my students recognize the value of this approach beyond the classroom:

“Blue Ocean Strategy helps students find passion and joy with entrepreneurship and find deeper problems with their issues than what they alone faced.” (Alaina Fowler)

“I think Blue Ocean should stay for next year as well because it gives students a chance to delve into the world of innovation and entrepreneurship rather than just memorization and regurgitation of information.” (Chloe Smith)

“Blue Ocean Strategy requires critical thinking skills that will help you in the real world.” (Ryan Smith)

By fostering this mindset, I am not just teaching business concepts, I am helping to develop future innovators and leaders who are equipped to build businesses that stand out, succeed, and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace.

I also find that it brings out the best in my students. It doesn’t matter what their Class Rank, GPA, SAT Scores are, great ideas come from all walks of life.

How have you incorporated the Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition in your teaching?
I have incorporated the Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition into my teaching as a culminating, real-world application of business strategy that challenges students to think beyond traditional competition and create innovative market spaces. Attached I included a document that outlines how the Blue Ocean Strategy aligns with the Indiana Department of Education Standards, Ivy-Tech College’s and RISE’s requirements for Dual-Credit, as well as Goals and Desired Outcomes for the Principles of Entrepreneurship Curriculum Map.

Integration into Curriculum:

Foundational Learning:

Before the competition, I introduced students to Blue Ocean Strategy concepts such as Value Innovation, The Three Tiers of Non-Customers, the ERRC Grid, the Strategy Canvas, and Buyer Utility Mapping.
We analyze case studies of companies like Apple, Tesla, and Starbucks, helping students understand how market leaders differentiate themselves.

Hands-on Application:

Students research societal issues, popular pain points, then try to find an issue that is of the most interest and importance to them.
Students develop their own Blue Ocean business ideas, applying tools like Questionnaire Design, Buyer Utility, Perceptual Mapping and Conjoint Analysis to define their market space, and develop the Three Tiers of Non-Customers.
They conduct market research projects, using SWOT, PESTLE, and the Competitive Matrix to give real insights into customer needs and how to eliminate, reduce, raise, and create value innovations.
As a class and more in depth with our club, we analyze the elements that have made previous competition winners successful.
I provide workshops on pitching and storytelling, helping students craft compelling business presentations.

Competition Preparation & Impact:

Students form teams, refine their ideas, and submit video pitches for the class and club to analyze and provide feedback.
From that feedback and my own, students submitted a revised video to the Blue Ocean Competition.
Many students have expressed how transformative the experience was, with feedback like:

“Blue Ocean Strategy really helps get me into the mindset of having my product or service stand out and meet customers’ demands.” (Tirsa Blanco)

“This competition allowed me to create something I’m passionate about while thinking outside the box.” (Chloe Smith)

What impact has participating in the Blue Ocean Competition had on your students’ career aspirations or entrepreneurial journeys?
One of the most powerful examples of student impact came through the team Flip-E. Their idea attracted the attention of a COO from a GIS data firm, who offered unsolicited mentorship and thousands of dollars in professional software to help refine their concept. With this support, the team earned 2nd place at the Purdue University Northwest Society of Innovators Innovate WithIN Regional, won an additional competition, and established a partnership with engineers at Purdue University Northwest.

Equally meaningful are the individual transformations. One previously disengaged student—frequently off-task—became deeply invested after receiving one-on-one guidance building a Strategy Canvas in Excel. Their pride in mastering the skill led them to volunteer to teach their peers.

In another case, a student struggling to connect with a group project found renewed purpose after a conversation about her passions for social justice and the environment. By aligning the project to her interests, she developed an original solution and gained the confidence to work independently.

Share a specific example of a student or team whose blue ocean entrepreneurial journey was significantly influenced by your guidance.
One standout example of a student team whose entrepreneurial journey was significantly influenced by my guidance is The Flip-E Team, consisting of Omar Aftab, Brandon Walker, and Amy Mao.

Laying the Foundation with Blue Ocean Strategy

Amy Mao had previously worked on ESTRO, a bra designed to detect women’s health issues, as part of Munster High School’s first-ever team to enter the Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition in 2024. She and her teammates, Sedona Sweeney, Isa Gonzalez, Ari Jamerson, and Audri Erving, were among my top-performing Principles of Entrepreneurship students, so I identified them as a strong pilot group. I exempted them from the semester final project to allow them time to align their idea fully with Blue Ocean Strategy concepts, marking the first time students at Munster High School engaged in such an approach.

This experience was a learning moment for both my students and me.

For me: I realized I needed to introduce Blue Ocean Strategy earlier in the semester to give students more time for refinement.
For Amy: She learned the value of iteration and that great business ideas require multiple rounds of development and feedback.

The Evolution of Flip-E

Although Amy was no longer in my class the following year, she joined the newly formed Blue Ocean Strategy Club, where she connected with Brandon Walker and Omar Aftab. Together, they created Flip-E, an automated page-turner for sheet music, targeting previously overlooked market—musicians who struggle with manual page-turning, including differently abled individuals.

Each student has a background in music and has brought a unique strength to the team:

Amy Mao – A dedicated innovator with experience from her first competition.
Omar Aftab – A visionary thinker with a natural ability to explore unconventional ideas.
Brandon Walker – One of Indiana’s top debate students, a DECA state champion, and a strategic communicator.

Brandon had also competed in the 2024 Blue Ocean Competition with RunDoc, but from that experience, we both saw that six weeks was not enough time to develop a winning pitch. To improve this, we extended our preparation timeline for Flip-E, meeting every other week from September to November, then increasing to weekly meetings, and eventually, daily meetings after winter break until the submission deadline.

Guidance and Real-World Applications

I worked closely with the Flip-E team, helping them refine their concept, conduct market research, and develop a compelling pitch. Key aspects of my guidance included:

Industry Expert Consultations: I connected them with our school’s Choral Director and Teacher of the Year, Mr. Luke McGinnis, to gain insight into how their product could benefit musicians. They also interviewed other music teachers and differently abled musicians to refine their buyer utility.

Market Feasibility Research: I encouraged them to speak with our principal, Mr. Morgan Nolan, to understand school budget constraints and how administrators evaluate new technology investments. This helped them identify potential customer pain points and pricing strategies.

Production and Pitch Refinement: We transformed my classroom into a makeshift production studio. Initially, they wanted to include a green-screen effect for their ERRC Grid presentation, but as we neared the deadline, we decided to prioritize clarity and value innovation over unnecessary visual effects.

The team submitted their pitch at 9:00 PM on Sunday, February 16th, with Brandon forwarding the confirmation email.

Recognition & Future Impact

Their submission gained notable attention. I shared the pitch on my LinkedIn, where it caught the eye of Rick Snell, COO of Datastory, who was so impressed that he provided them with heat maps and geo-targeting data valued at over $1,000 to help them scale their idea. Although they couldn’t use the data for the Blue Ocean Competition, it will be instrumental as they continue their entrepreneurial journey.

Flip-E has already achieved early success:

They won $200 at the local level of the Society of Innovators’ Innovate WithIN pitch competition, attributing Blue Ocean Strategy as a key factor in their victory.

The team used their competition pitch video and Datastory data to secure funding from venture capitalists and angel investors. They have a partnership with Purdue University Northwest Engineers and Incubation Lab.

Conclusion

Through my mentorship, Flip-E’s journey exemplifies the power of Blue Ocean Strategy in action. By helping them apply strategic tools, conduct real-world market research, and refine their pitch, I guided them from an initial idea to a funded startup opportunity. Their experience not only shows the effectiveness of Blue Ocean Strategy in entrepreneurship but also highlights the long-term impact of fostering student innovation beyond the classroom.

How do you motivate your students to complete all the requirements of the competition?
Driving Student Engagement in the Blue Ocean Strategy Competition

Motivating students to complete the full scope of the Blue Ocean Strategy Competition requires a deliberate balance of inspiration, structure, and real-world relevance. I approach this through the following strategies:

Inspiring Through Real-World Case Studies
I ground learning in powerful examples of innovation, from Henry Ford’s affordable automobile to Tesla’s practical electric vehicles, Starbucks redefining coffee culture, IKEA democratizing design, and Apple transforming personal technology. These examples help students see how innovation creates entirely new markets.

Connecting to Student Aspirations
I position the competition as more than a class assignment—it is a platform for building portfolios, strengthening college applications, and developing career-ready skills. I regularly share student success stories to demonstrate real outcomes, including business launches, funding opportunities, and internships.

Providing Structure and Accountability
Students are guided through a clear roadmap with defined milestones and weekly check-ins. This ensures consistent progress, reduces overwhelm, and creates opportunities for feedback and iteration.

Building a Collaborative Innovation Culture
I foster a team-oriented environment where students support and challenge one another. The Blue Ocean Strategy Club serves as a hub for idea development, pitch practice, and peer feedback, reinforcing a culture of shared growth.

Leveraging Mentorship and Industry Connections
Students engage with guest speakers and industry professionals, conduct real market research, and receive feedback that elevates their work beyond the classroom.

Recognizing Effort and Growth
I celebrate milestones publicly, reinforcing that success is not limited to winning. Students are recognized for developing critical thinking, confidence, and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Encouraging Ownership and Passion
Students choose problems they care deeply about solving. This autonomy increases engagement, investment, and the quality of their work.

Through these strategies, students move beyond simply completing requirements—they embrace innovation, exceed expectations, and develop skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

Advocacy, Access, and Elevating Student Work

I actively advocate for my students by creating opportunities for their work to be seen and valued. By sharing student projects on LinkedIn, one team (Flip-E) was discovered by an industry executive who provided mentorship and professional-grade software. This experience showed students that their ideas have real-world relevance and impact.

To further enhance learning, I secured grant funding from the Munster Education Foundation to purchase professional video production equipment, including Canon camcorders and Sennheiser microphones. This shift away from smartphone-based work not only aligned with school policy but significantly increased student engagement and the quality of final submissions.

Creating a Culture of Recognition and Belonging

Understanding that not all impactful ideas receive external recognition, I created internal structures to celebrate student achievement. I launched an annual Blue Ocean Strategy Club showcase, where students present their work, reflect on their growth, and are formally recognized.

At this event, students are honored for both achievement and leadership, including founding members, student ambassadors, and trailblazers who helped establish the program. This culture of recognition reinforces that every contribution matters and builds a lasting sense of pride, community, and belonging.

How do you support students or teams who struggle with their pitches?
The biggest challenge my students face is condensing complex ideas and Blue Ocean Strategy tools into a concise, engaging 3-to-5-minute pitch. To address this, I use relatable analogies based on their interests:

Making It Engaging Like TikTok…but Professional

Many of my students enjoy TikTok, so I use it as an example. TikTok videos are short, engaging, and spark curiosity—just like a great pitch. I emphasize that the goal is to capture attention; if people want to know more, they’ll ask follow-up questions.

Using Sports Highlights as an Analogy

For my sports-loving students, I ask:

“How long is a typical game?”

They respond,

“About three hours”.

Then I ask,

“How long are the highlights?”

They respond,

“Usually one to two minutes”.

I explain that their pitch should be like a highlight reel—showcasing the most exciting and impactful parts.

Providing Structured Templates & Examples

I ensure students have a clear framework by providing the official competition template and a completed sample pitch I created using Apple as an example. This helps them see how to apply the Blue Ocean Strategy tools effectively.

Simplifying Video Production

For students who are less experienced with iMovie, Canva, or video editing, I teach them how to convert a PowerPoint into a video in just a few clicks. This ensures that technology is never a barrier to participation.

I also introduce basic production techniques, like the Rule of Thirds and storyboarding, to help them create visually engaging pitches.

Helping Students Generate Ideas

For students struggling to find a business idea, we brainstorm personal pain points that frustrate them in everyday life. Then, we workshop possible solutions and evaluate their feasibility using Blue Ocean Strategy tools.

Supportive and Collaborative Entrepreneurial Community

I’ve encouraged students to work with each other, not against each other. I encourage constructive feedback. A great example is Omar Aftab. Omar’s visonary attributes are not just limited to “Flip-E”, Omar is constantly working with other team’s pitches to help them workshop and refine their innovations. He suggested the “Unity” saftey app partner up with other service providers that could mutually benefit from each other. One of many ways he’s helped other youth innovators.

By using relatable examples, structured guidance, encouraging collaboration, and creative problem-solving techniques, I ensure that every student, regardless of experience or confidence level, has the tools and support to craft a compelling pitch.

Do you encourage your students form a blue ocean club or community to foster entrepreneurial team building and collaboration for the competition? How do you support such initiatives?
How I Support the Blue Ocean Club & Team Building

Creating a Collaborative Environment

The club serves as an incubator where students can test and refine their ideas in a supportive setting. I organize brainstorming sessions, feedback workshops, and peer reviews to help students develop and strengthen their business concepts.

Regular Coaching & Check-ins

We meet biweekly from September to November, then increase to weekly sessions leading up to the competition. In the final weeks, we meet daily after school to fine-tune pitches, enhance presentations, and troubleshoot challenges.

Connecting Students Across Disciplines

I encourage interdisciplinary collaboration by bringing together students with different strengths. For example:
Business-minded students focus on strategy and feasibility.
Creative students work on branding, marketing, and design.
Tech-savvy students handle video production and digital tools.
This team-building approach mirrors real-world entrepreneurship, where diverse skill sets drive innovation.

Providing Access to Industry Experts & Mentors

I connect students with business professionals, educators, and local entrepreneurs to offer insights, feedback, and networking opportunities. For instance, Rick Snell, COO of Datastory, was so impressed with our students’ work that he provided market data worth over $1,000 to help them scale their ideas.

Encouraging Real-World Validation

I guide students to conduct market research by speaking with teachers, administrators, and potential customers to validate their business concepts. For example, the Flip-E team consulted with choral directors and music educators to understand industry needs before finalizing their pitch.

Building a Culture of Continuous Learning

Even after the competition, the Blue Ocean Club helps students iterate on their ideas and pursue other entrepreneurial opportunities. Several teams, like Flip-E, have used their Blue Ocean experience to advance in other pitch competitions, such as Innovate WithIN, where they won a $200 cash prize at the local level.

Impact on Students

By fostering a supportive and collaborative entrepreneurial community, students gain confidence, leadership experience, and problem-solving skills that extend beyond the classroom. Whether they win the competition or not, they walk away with real-world business insights, stronger teamwork abilities, and a deep understanding of innovative strategy.

The Club also put together a video that aligns Project Based Learning with Blue Ocean Strategy:

https://youtu.be/bnaR9QD-Zng?si=qxnA1hP3Y4sKnyPi

What value can you add to the growing community of educators around the world who are bringing the blue ocean entrepreneurship competition to their high school classrooms?
Last summer I began work on my manuscript “Bringing Blue Ocean Strategy to the Classroom” Dr. Munir read it over provided useful feedback and passed it along to Prof Mauborgne, who not only read it, but also took the time to call me and provide me great feedback and notes, that has resulted in the recently updated version now entitled “Teach Like an Innovator” going from 312 to 168 pages, and having more of a practitioner focus, and not getting too into the weeds with pedagogical concepts. I also addressed some of the repetitiveness that occurred throughout the manuscript as well.

What are your goals for supporting more students in their entrepreneurial pursuits in the next 2-3 years?
Over the next 2–3 years, my goal is to scale student innovation outcomes by making entrepreneurship education more accessible, structured, and sustainable for teachers. I’ve found that the biggest barrier to expanding student participation isn’t student interest—it’s teacher bandwidth and confidence in delivering entrepreneurship curriculum effectively.

To address this, I plan to focus on three key areas:

1. Creating a Turnkey Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

Building on the great resources this organization already has available to students and educators, I aim to develop a structured, day-by-day framework that allows teachers to easily implement entrepreneurship and innovation projects without needing to build curriculum from scratch. This will lower the barrier to entry and enable more classrooms to participate. My manuscript will serve as a good foundation for this.

2. Expanding Access and Inclusion
I want to ensure that entrepreneurship opportunities reach beyond high-performing or self-selected students. By embedding innovation into core business and general education courses, we can engage a broader and more diverse group of students, including those who may not initially see themselves as entrepreneurs.

3. Scaling Through Teacher Support and Networks
Through initiatives like the Blue Ocean Strategy Teacher Network, I plan to support and mentor other educators by sharing resources, best practices, and implementation strategies. By empowering teachers, we multiply impact far beyond a single classroom.

Ultimately, my goal is to shift entrepreneurship education from isolated programs to a scalable, sustainable system—one that equips more students with the ability to think creatively, solve real-world problems, and create meaningful value.

The Blue Ocean Teacher Champion program recognizes outstanding educators who integrate Blue Ocean principles into their teaching and inspire students to explore entrepreneurship through value innovation. To learn more about becoming involved, visit our Teacher Resources page.