Podcast
Raphael Smals - The difficulty of teaching entrepreneurship
A conversation with Raphael Smals about teaching entrepreneurship, academic formats, industry experience, and what students need when learning to act under uncertainty.
In this conversation
Raphael Smals discusses entrepreneurship, teaching, academic institutions, and industry experience. The conversation asks whether entrepreneurship can be taught and what is often missing when people try.
The conversation treats entrepreneurship education as more than inspiration. The hard part is designing learning environments that build judgment, practical skill, and the ability to act under uncertainty.
Central question
Can entrepreneurship be taught, and what would students actually need to learn?
What we cover
- How Raphael Smals moved between industry, entrepreneurship, academia, and teaching.
- Why different institutions approach entrepreneurship education differently.
- Which entrepreneurial skills are important but often not taught directly.
Guest background
Dr. Raphael Smals has industry and entrepreneurial experience and later moved into academia, where teaching became a major part of his work.
Things to listen for
- Why entrepreneurship education has to include uncertainty, action, and feedback.
- Where academic formats help and where they may miss practical skill-building.
- How industry experience changes the way entrepreneurship is taught.
Teaching entrepreneurship
Classroom knowledge
Students learn concepts, frameworks, and examples of entrepreneurial work.
Entrepreneurial practice
Students need to make decisions, test assumptions, handle uncertainty, and learn from consequences.