After graduating from university and at the age of 22 James set up his business; studentbeans.com is a website offering the latest student deals, discounts, university advice and job offers for students in different cities of the UK. In 2005 James recognised a need to help students in the UK stretch their loan and save money and time. The site provides a valuable resource to help students make the most of their university experience. James is also an ambassador for Make Your Mark. And he’s a guest lecturer at Birmingham University. “If you ask a group of 15-16 year olds what they plan to do after school, the majority will say, ‘Go to university, then get a job’,” says James Eder. “I ask them, ‘How about starting your own business?”
28 years old
James Eder The Beans Group Co-Founder and Commercial Director UK
Today James leads a team of 24 people in studentbeans.com and the site is now recognized as the leading UK site for marketing to 15-24 years old reaching 600,000 registered users. In 2010 James was named one of the top ten Future 100 Young Entrepreneurs of the year. AIESEC is still very much part of who James is and he is looking forward to continuing his involvement, giving even more back and recruiting more AIESECers for many years to come. James’s favourite quote: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” Mark Twain.
Paul strongly believes in bringing cultures and people together, an attitude he has role modelled in his life. Paul has spent the last 5 years building a business that encourages and fosters the ability to fluently speak a second language. This business has developed a unique process and software package that allows individuals to rapidly learn a second language, no matter the time available to them. Through his entrepreneurial spirit, Paul actively demonstrates a commitment to personal growth and a desire to help others bridge the language and culture divide inherent in cross-cultural living. In 2003, after his term working for AIESEC globally, Paul was passionate about finding business opportunities that made a difference to society. After learning to speak Mandarin and Cantonese fluently he became a founding manager of Third Ear Publishing, established in 2008. Third Ear Publishing works with teachers in rural China, donating products and expertise, to help them cross the language divide. Starting in October 2008, Paul spent 18 months working on the “Kungfu English Application” for iPhone. In 2010 Kungfu English was the 4th Highest Grossing App in the Chinese iTunes Store, and was the highest grossing app in the education category.
32 years old
Paul Coffey Third Ear Publishing Limited Director Australia
40 under 40
Roles which Paul took in AIESEC helped him to; develop the ability to lead a team; collaborate with stakeholders and believe that the impossible can be achieved, if you work hard enough. Paul left AIESEC with the self confidence and skills required to run a business, as well as the ability to harness the enthusiasm of different people to aid in building the business.