the-ways-business-graduate-school-drives-entrepreneurship

The ultimate goal of an entrepreneur is to take their best idea and transform it into a tangible, successful business. While the image of a plucky dreamer building a startup that grows into a million-dollar success is appealing, it doesn’t quite capture the complexities of the process.

Launching a business venture is incredibly involved. Finding funding, developing a business strategy, conducting research, and building the right team are all crucial steps in taking an idea and turning it into a reality.

Many assume that higher education isn’t necessary to be a successful entrepreneur; in reality, graduate business school can make the path much easier and provide incredible opportunities. The entrepreneurial spirit and drive can’t be taught, but what can be learned are the skills to make quicker, smarter decisions.

As part of the most innovative university in the country, Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business prides itself on nurturing students’ entrepreneurial mindsets. In programs such as the MBA and its concentration in entrepreneurship, and the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MS-EI), students learn from experienced business leaders and have the opportunity to put their ideas to the test.

“I’ve been able to be in classes and actually learn from people who have done it and had successful careers, which I think is amazing,” says Kate Fitzgerald, a recent graduate of the MS-EI program.

An MBA has always been a top option for enhancing leadership skills, often for those looking to make a career pivot or advance within their organization. But for entrepreneurs, this degree can give them the tools to be a strong leader and build their venture from the ground up.

Through a curriculum designed for where the world is headed, the MBA program at W. P. Carey shapes students into transformative leaders. Whatever kind of career graduates decide to pursue, they’ll leave with the knowledge and experience they need to thrive.

“If you’re looking for an ever-evolving MBA program that thinks about entrepreneurship and innovation as a skillset, this is the place for you,” says Hitendra Chaturvedi, professor of practice in the Department of Supply Chain Management, and co-director of the MS-EI program.

Students can customize their MBA experience to suit their career goals by choosing from nine different concentrations, including a concentration in entrepreneurship. This concentration requires students to take a capstone course that covers every aspect of starting a business through real-life examples. Additional courses in topics like finance, negotiation, and venture capital help students develop their mindset as entrepreneurs and build up the skills they need to succeed. Poets&Quants named W. P. Carey as the top MBA program in the U.S. and No. 2 in the world for entrepreneurship.