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

At Glenrich International School in Bangladesh, business studies teacher Khokon Mahmud is doing more than teaching theories—he’s igniting entrepreneurial ambition and helping students discover their potential and turn creative ideas into real-world impact through the blue ocean competition.

Mahmud has seamlessly incorporated the Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition into his curriculum and created immersive experiences that make blue ocean principles tangible and exciting for students. “First, I help students understand what Blue Ocean Strategy is and how it differs from Red Ocean Strategy,” he says. “Then, we apply it to real-world problems and create business models based on these solutions.”His approach involves:

• Case-based learning that challenges students to identify business problems and develop blue ocean solutions
• Red vs. Blue Ocean debates where students argue the merits of different business approaches
• “Meet the Businesses” project that connects students with real entrepreneurs for firsthand insights
• Carnival participation where students showcase their blue ocean business ideas to internal and external judges

To scale this impact, Mahmud helped create the Blue Ocean Club aligned with the school’s Eco-Biz Club. Under the leadership of student president Dinari Neeranga Jayawardena, the club serves as a launchpad for blue ocean projects students undertake. “From organizing campaigns and workshops to guiding peers in developing pitch videos, our club is actively creating a culture of collaboration and innovation,” he says.

Mahmud also brings the wider school community on board. He organizes live registration events, parent information sessions, and Microsoft Teams groups to share updates and ensure that students stay informed and inspired. “Even students’ parents came to meet me individually to learn more. That’s when I knew we were building something meaningful,” he says.

“This isn’t just a competition. It’s a journey from innovation to implementation. It’s about showing students that they have the power to create solutions for real-world problems—and giving them the tools and confidence to do it.” – Khokon Mahmud

What motivates Mahmud is clear: the limitless imagination of his students. “The curiosity of students and their unique ideas—these are the seeds of innovation,” he explains. “Each student has their uniqueness, and they possess outstanding problem-solving skills that can address both current and future challenges. They just need support, guidance, and collaboration to turn their dreams into reality.”

For students struggling with their competition pitches, Mahmud offers personalized guidance. “I organized one-to-one sessions and made them understand the step-by-step process with pitch templates,” he explains. “For those facing difficulty with editing, I guided them with video editing tools and IT support that enabled them to edit and upload their own video pitches.”

Under Mahmud’s mentorship students have gone on to win a number of national level competition such as Scholastica Eco-Biz Summit and launched real businesses. “All of these students used the skills and insights they gained from the Blue Ocean Competition to shine in these national platforms,” Mahmud proudly notes. “Some of them have even started their own businesses based on the ideas they developed.”

“This isn’t just a competition,” he emphasizes. “It’s a journey from innovation to implementation. It’s about showing students that they have the power to create solutions for real-world problems—and giving them the tools and confidence to do it.”

To educators around the world, Mahmud offers this: “This competition is interconnecting high school students and teachers around the world for real-world solutions with innovation,”
“Blue Ocean Strategy isn’t just for business—it’s a way of thinking that unlocks potential in every subject, from science to social studies. It brings ethics, sustainability, and innovation together in a powerful way. When we bring this mindset to our classrooms, we empower students not just to dream big—but to act boldly”, he says.

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.