Junior Achievement BizTown Gives Students a Real-World Look at Big Dreams and Bigger Possibilities
When students walk through the doors of Junior Achievement (JA) BizTown in Tempe, they aren’t just visiting a field trip destination, they’re stepping into a future full of possibilities.
For one day, students become CEOs, marketers, development officers, business leaders and entrepreneurs, taking on real-world responsibilities in a fully immersive simulation. They apply for jobs, interview with teachers, manage business loans, pay bills and work together to keep their businesses running.
But the work begins long before they arrive at BizTown. Throughout the year, students spend approximately 14 hours in the classroom learning financial literacy, banking fundamentals, interviewing skills and business concepts that prepare them for the experience ahead.
The impact extends far beyond a single day.
“We celebrate those dreams, and we’re very big on ‘yes, and...’ here,” shared Eddie Mehta, Development Director at Junior Achievement of Arizona, while discussing conversations with students about their future ambitions. “Kids talk about wanting to be influencers… and we say, ‘That’s a great dream. Also, did you consider that if you're an influencer, you are running your own business?’”
That philosophy — meeting students where they are and helping them expand their understanding of future possibilities — is central to JA’s mission and made possible through community support and partnerships.
Organizations like ASU Gammage play an important role in bringing these experiences to life. Through its presence in BizTown, students gain exposure to careers in arts and culture while stepping into roles in marketing, ticketing and development. For many students, it may be their first introduction to the wide range of opportunities off the stage that exist within the performing arts industry.
And for students, seeing professionals in those roles can make future careers feel tangible.
“Having a real marketing employee from ASU Gammage here makes it even more relatable. Students see that what they’re doing is a real job. It exists,” Mehta shared while speaking with students participating in the simulation.
That real-world connection leaves a lasting impression.
“It’s rewarding to see it take fruition because I helped design this space six years ago,” shared Desiree Ong, ASU Gammage Education Program Manager, while visiting the student-run space.
For educators, the impact of the experience is immediate.
“Students that maybe aren’t motivated by a traditional event at school come here and suddenly you see the click happen — they are really caught in,” Michael Linn, a teacher at Kiva Elementary School shared. “They’re having fun.”
Programs like BizTown are particularly meaningful because they help bridge educational gaps for students who may not otherwise have access to financial literacy and career readiness opportunities.
“For students who don’t get this kind of education at home, you hope they learn it at school,” Mehta explained.
Through philanthropy and community partnerships, organizations like ASU Gammage help ensure those opportunities remain accessible for students across Arizona, opening doors to experiences that inspire confidence, spark curiosity and help young people imagine what’s possible.
The student serving as ASU Gammage’s Chief Marketing Officer for the day reflected on what she learned through the experience, sharing that, “It’s really important to advertise and make sure you tell people what your product is and what you do.”
And when asked “would you ever want to work in marketing one day after today?” she replied an eager “yes” with a smile.
These moments demonstrate the power of hands-on learning experiences to spark confidence, curiosity and future career aspirations. Students may have arrived focusing on paying off a business loan, but they leave with something far greater: a stronger understanding of themselves, their potential and the many paths their future can hold.
