Shark Tank star Naomi Simson, founder of RedBalloon, gives Queenwood students a lesson in business

SHARK Tank star Naomi Simson gave a group of Queenwood students the facts of business life — and some advice about bones.

Shark Tank producer Barry Tennant and panellist Naomi Simson flanked by Queenwood students Coco van Dijk, 16, and Alessandra Johns, 16.

Queenwood students got a bite of the business world thanks to the Shark Tank team.

Entrepreneur Naomi Simson took time out of her busy schedule to pass on her business wisdom to the girls.

And she was joined by the show’s producer Barry Tennant, dad to Charlotte in Year 11.

“In the Social Science Department we believe that engaging with the real world is vital in getting students to understand the complexities of modern business,” said teacher Zoe Thompson.

Ms Simson set up the website RedBalloon and has become a household name thanks to her role on the reality TV series.

Red Balloon entrepreneur Naomi Simson at her office in Pyrmont.

She had a series of key messages for the girls to help them get ahead in business.

This included adding three new bones: a wish bone, a back bone and a funny bone.

The wish bone provides the ability to create a dream and the back bone delivers resilience and the determination to keep going in the face of adversity.

The funny bone gives a shot of good humour as having fun is an essential element of success, she told the girls. Her other key nuggets of advice were not to gossip and to be grateful.

The cast of Network Ten’s Shark Tank.

“Ms Simson noted that the best thing for development was a few early setbacks, and had us laughing throughout the talk, even confiding that she was scared of sharks,” Ms Thompson said.

Meanwhile, there are several other business projects running in the school.

Year 9 is planning a small business expo as an introduction to entrepreneurship.

And Year 11 learned about real businesses when students visited three different companies in Sydney’s inner west.