Leah Ellis started the Society of Child Entrepreneurs because she saw a gap between what children were capable of and what adults were allowing them to do.

Before founding SoCE, Leah had already spent years working with children and families through financial coaching, education, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. She watched children come alive when they were trusted with real responsibility. She also watched many kids begin to internalize the idea that leadership, business, confidence, and decision-making were “adult things” they would grow into someday.

The turning point came through her own experiences as a parent and educator.

Her daughter started selling art and participating in children’s business fairs at a very young age. Leah saw firsthand what happened when a child was given the chance to create something real, earn money from their ideas, interact with customers, solve problems, and be taken seriously. The transformation wasn’t just about business skills. It was confidence, communication, resilience, initiative, and identity.

At the same time, Leah saw how often children’s ideas were dismissed or overly controlled by adults. Many educational systems focused heavily on compliance and memorization, while leaving little room for creativity, leadership, financial literacy, or real-world problem solving.

So she built the kind of organization she wished had existed sooner.

The Society of Child Entrepreneurs was created to give children ages 6–17 opportunities to:

• Start and run real businesses
• Practice leadership now, not “someday”
• Learn financial literacy through experience
• Build confidence through action
• Solve real problems in their communities
• Discover that their ideas matter

At the center of Leah’s philosophy is one core belief:

“Children are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are leaders now.”

That belief became the foundation of SoCE’s programs, children’s business fairs, curriculum, speaking work, and even legislative advocacy like the Kansas “Lemonade Stand Law” effort.

For Leah, SoCE is not just about entrepreneurship. It is about agency.

It is about helping children realize:

• “I can create.”
• “I can lead.”
• “I can solve problems.”
• “My voice matters.”
• “I do not have to wait to make an impact.”

That philosophy is why SoCE often feels less like a traditional business program and more like a movement centered on confidence, leadership, and redefining how society sees children.

About SoCE

We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping young minds with the knowledge and confidence to start and manage their own businesses, preparing them to thrive in an ever-evolving world. Our mission is to empower children by fostering entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, and financial literacy through hands-on experience.

Fostering an entrepreneurial mindset from an early age is crucial at The Society of Child Entrepreneurs. By providing hands-on experiences and educational resources, we aim to cultivate leadership qualities and financial understanding among children, empowering them to innovate and create positive change in their communities.

Our programs focus on practical learning, where children learn by doing. Through structured workshops, mentorship, and real-world projects, participants gain invaluable skills in business planning, marketing, budgeting, and teamwork. These experiences enhance their academic learning and instill crucial life skills such as critical thinking, resilience, and problem-solving.