This module, “Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset & Vision”, empowers young women to develop the personal competences essential for entrepreneurship. It integrates practical tools for SMART goal setting, vision development, resilience building, and emotional self-regulation. Through experiential learning, storytelling, and reflective exercises, participants learn to articulate their aspirations, transform ideas into actionable plans, and strengthen confidence to overcome psychological barriers such as self-doubt and fear of failure. For youth workers, these topics are vital to effectively guide young women in shaping clear visions, fostering intrinsic motivation, and nurturing the self-belief required to pursue entrepreneurial paths. The module addresses key questions such as:

1. How can young women turn their aspirations into achievable entrepreneurial goals?
2. What mindset and emotional skills help sustain motivation through challenges?
3. How can youth workers cultivate confidence and resilience in aspiring women entrepreneurs?

The primary goal of this module is to improve the competencies of youth workers in empowering young women to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and vision. After completing the module, youth workers will be able to:

• Apply practical tools and methods – such as SMART goal setting and personal roadmap templates – to help young women translate aspirations into concrete entrepreneurial plans.
• Facilitate reflective and experiential learning activities that strengthen resilience, optimism, and self-confidence among participants.
• Support the development of emotional self-regulation skills, enabling young women to manage fear, stress, and self-doubt effectively.
• Integrate storytelling and mentorship strategies to inspire and sustain motivation in aspiring entrepreneurs.

These outcomes ensure youth workers are equipped to nurture both the mindset and practical competences essential for women’s entrepreneurial success.

Explicitly link to EntreComp and LifeComp competences (e.g., EntreComp: 'Planning and This module builds a strong link between the EntreComp and LifeComp frameworks, equipping youth workers to foster both entrepreneurial and personal competences in young women.

EntreComp competences:

• Vision: Creating and communicating a clear entrepreneurial purpose.
• Planning and Management: Setting SMART goals and implementing structured action plans.
• Motivation and Perseverance: Maintaining drive and commitment despite challenges.
• Self-Awareness and Self-Efficacy: Recognizing on success and failures to build continuous growth.
• Learning through Experience: Reflecting on successes and failures to build continuous growth.
• Coping with Uncertainty, Ambiguity, and Risk: Developing adaptive thinking and courage to take calculated risks.

LifeComp Competences:

• Wellbeing: Cultivating optimism, hope, and resilience for sustainable motivation.
• Self-Regulation: Managing emotions, thoughts, and stress to stay focused.
• Empathy and Communication: Building supportive peer and mentor relationships.
• Flexibility: Adapting to change with a positive mindset.

Young women aspiring to become entrepreneurs – a lack of self-confidence, fear of failure, and uncertainty about how to turn ideas into action. Many young women possess creativity and ambition but struggle with internal obstacles such as limited role models, risk aversion, and self-doubt. This module provides the mindset shift needed to overcome these barriers. By integrating goal setting, vision development, and emotional resilience, it helps participants move from hesitation to empowerment. It also enables youth workers to create safe, supportive spaces where young women can build self-belief, develop a growth mindset, and learn to see failure as part of progress. Ultimately, this module nurtures the courage and clarity needed to transform personal potential into sustainable entrepreneurial action.

Jasna Radenović is a woman entrepreneur from Plav, Montenegro — the founder of a small creative company that produces toys from eco-friendly, natural materials.

Her entrepreneurial journey & relevance to our module

• Spotting a need & purpose (“Why”): Jasna began her project because she wanted toys for her children made from safe, natural materials — a need she discovered was not met in Montenegrin stores. That reflection turned into an entrepreneurial vision rooted in care, sustainability, and creativity.
• Vision & values driven: Her business idea aligns with values of safety, environmental friendliness, and social responsibility — showing how a clear vision (as taught in the module) can guide business purpose.
• Taking action: from idea to business: Without necessarily having a formal business background when she started, Jasna turned her idea into a tangible product. This mirrors our module’s emphasis on goal setting, breaking down aspirations into concrete steps, and action planning.
• Resilience & perseverance: Launching a niche, eco-friendly toy business in Montenegro likely came with challenges — limited market demand, sourcing materials, production constraints. Yet, by committing to her values and vision, she persisted. This reflects the module’s focus on resilience, self-confidence, and coping with uncertainty/risk.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and self-belief: By believing in the worthiness of her idea and acting on it, Jasna demonstrates self-efficacy and inner motivation — essential competences highlighted in the module under our EntreComp and LifeComp frameworks.

Jasna’s path shows that entrepreneurship doesn’t require a big investment or advanced business education — it often begins with listening to your values and needs around you, then deciding to act. For young women in Montenegro and beyond, her example demonstrates that:

• A personal concern (quality toys for her children) or passion can become a business.
• Values like sustainability, care and creativity can be turned into a real and meaningful enterprise.
• With vision, persistence, and self-belief, even small beginnings can lead to concrete entrepreneurial ventures.

Her story celebrates how a simple idea born out of care, aligned with personal values and executed with commitment, can overcome barriers — including market gaps, social expectations, and uncertainty.

Entrepreneurship can often sound complicated, filled with business terms, financial language, and complex strategies. This module breaks those ideas down into simple, relatable concepts that any young woman can understand and apply, regardless of her background or experience.

At its heart, entrepreneurship means turning an idea into something real that creates value—for yourself, your community, or the market. It’s about spotting opportunities, believing in your ability to act on them, and taking small, planned steps toward a goal. You don’t need to have a business degree or a perfect plan to start; what matters most is having the right mindset—a combination of curiosity, courage, and persistence.

The module introduces goal setting through the SMART framework—which simply means setting goals that are:

• Specific: Clear and focused, not vague (e.g., “Sell 50 handmade products” instead of “Start a business”).
• Measurable: You can track progress and know when you’ve succeeded.
• Achievable: Realistic given your time and resources.
• Relevant: Connected to your bigger purpose or vision.
• Time-bound: With a clear deadline to stay motivated.

Vision development is another key idea. A vision is your “big picture”—what you want your life and business to look like in the future. It’s not about having all the answers, but about knowing what drives you and what kind of impact you want to make. This module helps participants imagine that future and express it in simple terms, like a short “vision statement” that acts as a compass for their decisions.

Another important concept is resilience—the ability to bounce back from challenges and keep going even when things don’t go as planned. Entrepreneurship involves uncertainty, and setbacks are normal. Through stories, reflection, and practical exercises, participants learn that every failure is a lesson and that persistence often matters more than perfection.

The module also simplifies self-regulation, which means understanding and managing your emotions, thoughts, and reactions under stress. For example, when facing rejection or fear, you can use mindfulness or deep-breathing techniques to stay calm and make better choices. This helps in maintaining focus and emotional balance—skills that are just as important as financial or technical knowledge.

Finally, the module introduces youth workers to accessible ways of teaching these ideas—through storytelling, peer discussions, and creative tools like vision boards and personal roadmaps. These methods make abstract entrepreneurial concepts tangible and personal.

In simple terms, this module teaches that entrepreneurship isn’t only about running a business—it’s about believing in yourself, setting meaningful goals, staying resilient, and taking consistent steps toward your vision. By learning and teaching these skills in a clear, practical way, youth workers can empower young women to see entrepreneurship as a reachable and rewarding path for personal and social change.

Time Needed: 45-60 minutes

Step by step instructions

1.Identify Your Big Goal (5 min)

• Write down one long-term aspiration for your entrepreneurial journey.
• Example: “Launch a sustainable fashion brand within 2 years.”

2.Break It Down (10 min)

• Divide the big goal into smaller, manageable steps.
• Example: Research suppliers → Design collection → Create prototype → Launch marketing plan.

3.Apply the SMART Criteria (15 min)

• S (Specific): Clearly define what you want to achieve.
• M (Measurable): Decide how you will track progress.
• A (Achievable): Make sure the goal is realistic with your resources.
• R (Relevant): Ensure it aligns with your personal vision.
• T (Time-bound): Set a clear deadline for completion.

4.Create an Action Timeline (10 min)

• Assign each step to a specific date or month.
• Include milestones to celebrate progress.

5.Review and Adjust (5 min)

• Reflect on potential challenges and plan strategies to overcome them.
• Update goals as needed to stay realistic and motivating.

Checklist: SMART Goal Ready

☐ Goal is Specific
☐ Goal is Measurable
☐ Goal is Achievable
☐ Goal is Relevant
☐ Goal has a Time-bound deadline
☐ Steps broken down with timelines
☐ Potential obstacles identified and solutions planned

How to develop your entrepreneurial vision & build resilience

Purpose: Articulate your purpose and strengthen confidence to pursue it despite challenges.

Time Needed: 45–60 minutes

Step-by-Step Instructions

• Discover Your “Why” (5 min)

1. 1. • Reflect: Why do you want to start this entrepreneurial journey?
      • Write one sentence describing your motivation.

• Visualize Your Future (10 min)

1. 1. • Close your eyes and imagine your life 5 years from now as a successful entrepreneur.
      • Ask: What are you doing? Who are you helping? How do you feel?

• Define Your Core Values (5 min)

1. 1. • List 3–5 values that guide your decisions (e.g., creativity, fairness, sustainability).

• Write a Vision Statement (10 min)

1. 1. • Combine your why, visualization, and values into a 2–3 sentence statement.
      • Template: “I will create [product/service] that [impact] by [method], so that [who benefits] can [result].”

• Build Resilience Strategies (10 min)

1. 1. • List personal strengths that help you overcome challenges.
      • Identify potential setbacks and how you will respond positively.
      • Example: Fear of failure → Reframe as learning opportunity.

• Keep Your Vision Visible (5 min)

1. • Post your vision statement or create a vision board for daily motivation.

Checklist: Vision & Resilience Ready

☐ Vision statement written and clear
☐ Personal values identified
☐ Future scenario visualized
☐ Strengths acknowledged
☐ Strategies for setbacks planned
☐ Vision displayed in a visible location

• SMART Goal Template

Purpose: Help participants set clear, actionable, and measurable entrepreneurial goals.

Instructions:

1. Write your main goal in the “Goal Description” column.
2. Tick or explain how the goal meets each SMART criterion.
3. Break it down into actionable steps with deadlines.
4. Identify potential challenges and how you will address them.

• Personal Vision Statement Template

Purpose: Assist participants in articulating their entrepreneurial vision.

Instructions:

• Complete each section sequentially.
• Share and refine your vision with peers or mentors.
• Keep the final statement visible for daily inspiration.

• Personal Entrepreneurial Roadmap Template

Purpose: Integrates goals, vision, and resilience strategies into a single actionable plan.

Instructions:

1. Fill in goals for each timeframe.
2. List concrete actions and resources required.
3. Identify personal resilience strategies to handle setbacks.
4. Set measurable milestones to track progress.

• Resilience & Self-Confidence Reflection Template

Purpose: Build emotional regulation, optimism, and self-efficacy.

Instructions:

• Reflect on recent challenges or fears.
• Reframe setbacks as learning opportunities.
• Note personal strengths that can help overcome obstacles.
• Review weekly to track growth.

Case Study 1 - Jasna Radenović (Plav): From a Need at Home to an Eco-Toy Business

Context & challenge

Jasna, a mother in Plav, wanted safe natural toys for her children but found limited local supply. Living in Montenegro’s north, she faced limited local markets, seasonal demand, and the inertia of small-town life. Women in northern Montenegro also face resource constraints and stereotypes that can limit entrepreneurship.

How she applied module skills

• Vision & “Why”: Jasna clarified a purpose-driven vision — safe, eco-friendly toys that preserve local craft and support families. This gave her intrinsic motivation to persist through slow early sales.
• SMART goals & roadmap: She set a 12-month roadmap with SMART milestones (prototype, local market stall, 3 wholesale accounts). Breaking big aims into monthly steps helped her monitor progress and stay motivated.
• Resilience & reframing: Early rejections and supply delays were reframed as learning (improve design, diversify suppliers). She used journaling and peer feedback to maintain optimism — classic LifeComp wellbeing and self-regulation in action.
• Storytelling & networks: Sharing her story locally attracted volunteer help and micro-orders; she used role-model stories and local mentorship to boost confidence.

Support & regulatory context used

• Jasna used online guidance and training resources for women in business developed with UNDP in Montenegro to formalize business practices and find training. 
• As she grew, she engaged with local SME support channels and grant calls (national SME funding and competitiveness programs) to finance equipment and expand 

Outcomes & learning points

• Jasna transformed a personal need into a viable micro-enterprise, using vision, incremental SMART steps, and resilience strategies. Her case shows the value of combining personal motivation with practical action planning and local support. 

• production.

Practical tip for youth workers

Use Jasna’s story as a template: help participants write a short vision statement, set 3 SMART milestones for 3/6/12 months, and list two resilience strategies to use when progress stalls.

Case Study 2 — EmpowHER-supported Women’s Cooperative (Northern Montenegro) — Collective Action & Capacity Building

Context & challenge

Rural municipalities in Montenegro’s north (e.g., Berane, Bijelo Polje, Plav) show untapped women-led entrepreneurial potential but suffer from limited access to markets, financing, and skills. The EmpowHER initiative and related programmes target these gaps.

How the cooperative applied module skills

• Collective Vision & shared values: The group co-created a short vision statement — “sustainable rural crafts that preserve tradition and create local income.” A SMART goals & role allocation: They set SMART goals for a 6-month pilot: produce 200 units, secure one local retailer, run two pop-up markets. Each member got specific tasks (production, quality, sales, bookkeeping). This clarified accountability and reduced overwhelm.
• Resilience & self-regulation practices: The cooperative adopted weekly reflection meetings to reframe setbacks (bad market turnout → lesson for product placement). Mindful breathing and peer encouragement reduced stress during busy seasons.
• Learning through experience: After an initial failed market, they adjusted price points and packaging based on customer feedback — demonstrating EntreComp “learning through experience.”

Support, regulations & funding used

• The cooperative accessed capacity-building and market-linkage support through EmpowHER and UN partners focused on rural women’s empowerment.
• For formalization and funding, they consulted national SME support information and applied to regional SME/crafts funding rounds promoted by the Ministry of Economic Development. Recent national programs prioritize inclusivity and offer higher co-funding rates for women and rural entrepreneurs. 

Outcomes & learning points

• Within a year the cooperative achieved their pilot milestones, improved product-market fit, and formalized bookkeeping — outcomes traceable to clear visioning, SMART planning, and routine resilience-building. Their success underlines how group accountability and targeted support accelerate early-stage ventures.

Practical tip for youth workers

Promote cooperative or peer-group models where members draft a single shared vision, split SMART milestones, and schedule weekly reflections — this multiplies motivation and distributes risk.

Young women entrepreneurs often face biases, caregiving expectations, and male-dominated industry norms. Build awareness by identifying these challenges, seeking supportive networks, and leveraging mentorship. Strategies include advocating for your ideas confidently, balancing responsibilities with realistic goal-setting, and highlighting unique perspectives as strengths in innovation and problem-solving.

Exercise 1: SMART Goal Workshop

Objective: Transform your entrepreneurial idea into clear, actionable goals.

Instructions:

1. Write down your main business idea or aspiration.
2. Break it into one short-term goal (3 months) and one long-term goal (12 months).
3. Apply the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
4. Identify action steps for each goal and potential challenges with solutions.
5. Share your goals with a partner for feedback and refinement.

Materials: SMART Goal Worksheet, pens, flipchart (optional)

Exercise 2: Craft Your Vision Statement

Objective: Articulate a clear, motivating entrepreneurial vision.

Instructions:

1. Reflect on your “why”: Why does this idea matter to you?
2. Visualize your life and business 5 years from now: Who are you helping? What impact are you creating?
3. List your core values that guide your business decisions.
4. Draft a 2–3 sentence vision statement combining your purpose, impact, and values.
5. Display your statement or create a mini vision board to keep it visible.

Materials: Vision Statement Template, paper, markers, magazines (optional)

Exercise 3: Resilience Mapping

Objective: Identify potential obstacles and build strategies to maintain confidence and motivation.

Instructions:

1. List three potential challenges you might face in pursuing your entrepreneurial idea.
2. For each, write how it makes you feel and why it could be a barrier.
3. Reframe each challenge as a learning opportunity or action step.
4. Identify personal strengths or resources to overcome each challenge.
5. Share reflections in small groups and discuss strategies for maintaining resilience.

Materials: Resilience Reflection Worksheet, pens

Exercise 4: Personal Entrepreneurial Roadmap

Objective: Integrate goals, vision, and resilience into a single actionable plan.

Instructions:

1. Use your vision statement as the foundation.
2. List short- and long-term SMART goals aligned with your vision.
3. Map out action steps, timelines, and resources needed for each goal.
4. Include resilience strategies to overcome obstacles.
5. Set milestones and indicators of success for progress tracking.

Materials: Personal Entrepreneurial Roadmap Template

1. Exploring Motivation

• Why do I want to pursue this entrepreneurial idea?
• How does this goal align with my personal values and vision?

2. Facing Challenges

• What fears or self-doubts arose while defining my goals or vision?
• How did I respond to these emotions, and what strategies helped me move forward?

3. Learning from Experience

• What small wins did I achieve this week toward my entrepreneurial goals?
• What setbacks or obstacles did I encounter, and what lessons did I learn from them?

4. Building Resilience

• Which personal strengths did I use to stay motivated or overcome challenges?
• How can I reframe failure or uncertainty as an opportunity for growth?

5. Mindset Shifts

• How has my confidence in pursuing my entrepreneurial idea changed over the past week or month?
• What new perspectives or approaches am I willing to try to achieve my vision?

6. Future Planning

• What is the next actionable step I will take to move closer to my vision?
• How can I maintain optimism and self-belief when facing future challenges?

• Ability to set clear, actionable SMART goals and break down long-term aspirations into achievable steps.
• Skills to articulate a personal entrepreneurial vision that aligns with values and inspires motivation.
• Techniques to build resilience and self-confidence, reframing failure and overcoming fear of risk.
• Understanding of emotional self-regulation to manage stress, uncertainty, and psychological barriers.
• Competence in creating a personal entrepreneurial roadmap, integrating goals, vision, and coping strategies.
• Awareness of gender-specific barriers in entrepreneurship and strategies to navigate biases and male-dominated sectors.
• Experience with reflective practices, journaling, and visualization to track growth and mindset shifts.
• Exposure to inspirational role models and storytelling for motivation and perspective.

Use this section to turn your learning into concrete, real-world action. Reflect on your goals, vision, and resilience strategies, and outline the steps you will take immediately after completing this module.

Step 1: Identify Immediate Priorities

• Which goals or ideas from the module do you want to focus on first?
• Example: Finalize my SMART goals, draft my vision statement, or identify my first milestone.

My Immediate Priorities:

Step 2: Define Concrete Actions

• Break each priority into specific actions you can take in the next week or month.
• Assign deadlines or timeframes to stay accountable.

Step 3: Plan for Challenges

• What obstacles might arise?
• How will you respond or reframe setbacks positively?

Step 4: Support & Accountability

• Who can support or mentor you as you implement these actions?
• How will you track progress and celebrate milestones?

My Support Network: __________________________________________
Progress Tracking & Milestones: __________________________________________

Step 5: Reflection & Commitment

• Write a short statement committing to your next steps:

“I commit to taking the following actions in the next [week/month] to advance my entrepreneurial vision: …”

Use this checklist to verify the practical skills you’ve developed through the Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset & Vision module. Tick each skill as you gain confidence in applying it.

Goal Setting & Action Planning

☐ I can set clear, actionable SMART goals.
☐ I can break long-term goals into smaller, manageable action steps.
☐ I can create a timeline for achieving goals.
☐ I can anticipate potential obstacles and plan solutions.

Vision Development

☐ I can articulate a clear personal entrepreneurial vision.
☐ I can connect my vision to my values and motivations.
☐ I can visualize future scenarios to guide decision-making.
☐ I can create a vision board or other tools to maintain focus.

Resilience & Self-Confidence

☐ I can identify personal strengths and leverage them in challenges.
☐ I can reframe failure or setbacks as opportunities to learn.
☐ I can manage stress and emotions effectively (self-regulation).
☐ I can maintain optimism and perseverance when facing uncertainty.

Integration & Planning

☐ I can combine goals, vision, and resilience strategies into a personal entrepreneurial roadmap.
☐ I can track progress toward my goals using milestones.
☐ I can reflect on learning and adjust plans based on feedback and experience.

Gender & Context Awareness

☐ I can recognize gender-specific barriers and biases in entrepreneurship.
☐ I can identify strategies to navigate male-dominated sectors and caregiving expectations.
☐ I can seek and leverage mentorship or supportive networks effectively.

Use this scale to evaluate your confidence in applying the skills learned in the Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset & Vision module. Circle or mark the number that best reflects how confident you feel.

Scale:
1 – Not confident at all
2 – Slightly confident
3 – Moderately confident
4 – Very confident
5 – Extremely confident

1. Goal Setting & Action Planning

• Setting clear SMART goals: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Breaking goals into actionable steps: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Creating timelines and milestones: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Anticipating obstacles and planning solutions: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐

2. Vision Development

• Articulating a personal entrepreneurial vision: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Aligning vision with values and motivation: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Visualizing future scenarios for guidance: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐

3. Resilience & Self-Confidence

• Leveraging personal strengths to overcome challenges: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Reframing failure as a learning opportunity: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Managing stress and emotions effectively: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Maintaining optimism and perseverance: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐

4. Integration & Planning

• Combining goals, vision, and resilience into a roadmap: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Tracking progress and adjusting plans: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Seeking feedback and reflecting on learning: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐

5. Gender & Context Awareness

• Recognizing gender-specific barriers and biases: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Applying strategies to navigate male-dominated sectors: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐
• Leveraging mentorship and support networks: 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐