Empowering OST Leaders with the Missouri Afterschool Network
VentureLab |
April 8, 2026
VentureLab Empowers OST Leaders at the 2026 MASN Afterschool Leadership Conference
The Missouri Afterschool Network (MASN) 2026 Afterschool Leadership Conference in Kansas City was defined by a powerful metaphor introduced by keynote speaker Marissa Badgley: effective leaders must function as a thermostat, not just a thermometer. While a thermometer merely records the temperature, a thermostat sets it.
At VentureLab, we know that setting a culture of innovation requires more than just a vision; it requires the right tools to set that environment. We were thrilled to join OST Leaders and program directors from across Missouri and Kansas at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center to provide hands-on strategies for building an entrepreneurial “climate” within their programs.
Creating a Climate of Creativity
VentureLab led two hands-on sessions designed to equip educators with ready-to-use tools that bring entrepreneurial learning to life. Participants didn’t just hear about ESTEAM®, they experienced it.
In our first session, administrators traded their clipboards for prototyping materials. To truly understand the impact of ESTEAM® (Entrepreneurship + STEAM), they had to become the learners. Working in collaborative teams, participants took on a rapid design challenge: identifying a problem, ideating a solution, and building a physical prototype.
Throughout the build, we paused for strategic reflections where leaders discussed how these activities would scale to their specific grade levels, staff capacities, and schedules.
These moments helped educators translate the experience directly into their own learning environments. By the end, each team delivered a pitch, filling the room with energy, creativity, and plenty of smiles.
The session wrapped with a thoughtful debrief, where leaders discussed how to bring these experiences back to their staff in ways that build buy-in, adapt to real-world constraints, and ensure student engagement.
From First Click to Final Pitch
The second day of the conference highlighted the importance of advocacy and giving youth a voice. To support this, our second workshop focused on making participation in pitch competitions simple and accessible for every program, regardless of size or previous experience.
We stripped away the “intimidation factor” by walking through the process step-by-step:
- The Spark: Playing a round of Wacky Inventions to generate instant business ideas.
- The Capture: Recording quick pitch videos on the spot.
- The Launch: Navigating the pitch competition portal to practice uploading entries.
Jessica Myers of SoulFisher Ministries in St. Louis, along with 4 other afterschool administrators from across the state, present their pitch idea.
After the conference, Jessica and Etosh Walker, Tutor at SoulFisher Ministries, went on to record and submit 21 videos to the Mott Million Dollar Challenge. Thanks to the Missouri AfterSchool Network, those videos will also be automatically entered into the Missouri Youth Entrepreneurship Pitch Challenge and the Young Entrepreneur Pitch Challenge.
Turning Inspiration into Action
As the conference concluded, one thing was clear: strong afterschool programs don’t happen by accident. They are built when leaders take ownership of the creative conditions they provide for their youth.
“It was great to have a space specifically for administration staff to go and get out of the weeds… to see and connect through bigger picture topics.”— Courtney Carpenter, Ozarks Regional YMCA
Whether it’s through a design challenge that builds persistence or a pitch competition that builds agency, these entrepreneurial mindsets are the foundation for the “long-term durability” and community connection that this conference celebrated. We are excited to see these leaders return to their communities with the tools to bring youth entrepreneurship experiences to life. Read more about the Afterschool Leadership Conference here.
Ready to set the “innovation thermostat” in your program? Explore VentureLab’s educator offerings and discover ready-to-use curriculum designed to empower your students to imagine, create, and lead.
