We recently connected with Juan Casimiro and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Juan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
Early in my educational carreer I noted tht the public students I taught in NYC lacked motivation, self esteem and basic skills needed to be sustainable in life. When I started teaching entrepreneurship in 1987 I immeditely knew that within most schools in low-income community existed several voids that I knew could fill and in many cases social and economic problems that were holding inner city back.

I was clear with the voids and the challenges. It took me a series of steps to come up viable solutions to achieve my goal to empwer, teach and create young entrepreneurs in at-risk communities. I learned early on through a non-profit organization that was seeking individuals comitted to bring impact to our schools and communities. I worked with NFTE in the South Bronx, and since then, and numerous companies later, I’ve reached over 1 million youth and adults through entrepreneurship. leadership and social innovation training and development in 35+ countires.

After learning and teaching at the same time, I realized that these two skills work hand-in-hand. My idea and opportunity was right in front of me. Starting a venture that was profitable, that impacted society and that would allow me to put my passion into action. Solving social issues through entrepreneuship and mindfulness was key to everything I did back then. Today, this remains as the core in my life, business and overall existance. Thinking to much about and idea or remaining with one methodolgy or strategy can jeopardize your growth. You must launch. Too many entrepreneurs overplan and never get started.

To succeed in business you’ll never stop learning. Chronologically I like to list my past, present and future:

1986 Ohio State University with a degree in Social Work
1987 Began teching in New York City Public Schiools
1988 City Univ of New York, MA in Education and from Columbia Univ. Business School with a Certificte in Entrepreneurship
1989 to Present started 6 business ventures and 5 non-rpofit organzations
Future, bring BIZNOVATOR and Casimiro Global Foundation to 25 additional countries by 2030

Throughout my start-ups and growing ventures, I always partnered with some who the skills I did not or cared much about. This really worked for me although it presents some chllenges. Like a marriage, there’s ups and downs. Nevertheless, it’s astragegy that has worked for me. It gives me the liberty to pursue mutiple projects at one time. I tend to get board, so challenging myself to run multiple entities at once truly drives me to do more.

Juan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was born in the Dominican Republic. I arrived in NYC in 1966. Never forgot my roots and the messages my parents gave me growing up. Some of the messages I remember are, work hard, love all people, help others unconditionally, never foget where you came from. Today, these messages and examples my deceased parents demonstrated, live in insde of me.

I discovered teaching when I first walked into a public school in NYC seeking a teachng opportunity. Weeks later an opportunity to enroll in a Masters in Education appeared in the NY Times. I took it on and proceeded to become a NYC Public School teacher in 1987. Did that for 7 years and then launcehd numerous ventuers since then.

BIZNOVATOR is an educational and knowledge transfer company that focuses on its mission to empwoer, teach and create young entrepreneurs, social innovators and global leaders. We help thousands of families annually figure out what success path they want to take in life, education and carreer. We help them with a life plan, business plan, and a college prep plan that they get to execute themselves.

We are unique in that we never disconnect from our students. Our follow-up effort is for life. We mentor, coach and provide as much guidance as possible to all of the students that need it or request it. In fact, I’m still in touch with alumni and mentess that I first tught in the 1980s. Been in numerous weddings and am a Godflather to several children. MOst recently attended a 50th birthday for a st high school I taught in NYC back in 1987. In my 35 years of teaching and through the numerous organizations and companies I’ve started, we’ve impacted the lives of over a million youth and aduts in 35 countries. What excites me most is that it’s just the beginning. Our students learn, grow and find their success pathways through our in-persn and virtual workshops, seminars, camps, coaching, and mentoring.

I’ve learned long ago to be grateful for everything you have, all the blessings you’ve received and that keeping your blessings to only benefit you, is senseless! There are countless of young people strugling in the world, and if the social issues continue while many of us standbby and watch we will continue to be part of the poison that’s setting us back. We must continue to create and / or find the ingredients for prosperity with the same intensity that we used to carelessly damage generations before us.

I’ve travled to many countries, and it’s unimagnable what I have seen in Latin America, the Caribbean, and in Africa. I feel for our youth and their future. Although I’m optimistic, we must keep pushing for more development and equity.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Laughed at, misguided, bullied, cheated, set-aside. These showed up throughout my life as an immigrant, as someone that wasn’t driven by tradition learning and raised by parents with no formal education. I’m a believer in the Attitude of Gratitude mindset. Perhaps, if these things would not have happened to me growing up, I might not have gotten to where I am today.

Persevere, fight, and be the hungry dog throughout your life. It’s the hungry dog amongst others that gets the bone.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
100% Accountable! Always under promise and over deliever. I live my business. It’s my passion. I love wht I do. This has lead to over 95% of our clients coming from my presentations at schools, churches, universities, Our venture is a relationship business. People like to connect emotionally. They wnt to be heard. Key to our sales is being in front of people.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.biznovator.com
• Instagram: BIZNOVATOR
• Facebook: BIZNOVATOR
• Linkedin: BIZNOVATOR
• Twitter: BIZNOVATOR
• Youtube: BIZNOVATOR

Image Credits
juan casimiro, BIZNOVATOR has rights to these photos and images, Jose Alvarez