USD MBAs Turn to Entrepreneurship, Crediting Their Education

The relationship between entrepreneurship and the MBA is growing all the time. In fact, according to a recently Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) report, one-fourth of MBA candidates have entrepreneurial goals. And that shift in focus is reflected at the University of San Diego School of Business where recently, Kacy Hayes—the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs—spoke about entrepreneurship at USD.

In the article, Hayes wrote about the tight-knit MBA class at USD and how they get to take part in pitching competitions throughout the year—such as the V2 Pitch Competition—as well as other entrepreneurial studies. USD offers specialist courses on growing a venture and raising investor money. And the school is also home to Innovation Week, a week-long event that celebrates social entrepreneurs, upstart innovators and thought leaders.

It’s for these reasons that approximately 35 percent of the USD MBA class in 2016 founded their own business. These businesses included Bon Affair, which is a low-calorie wine company, as well as GigTown, a platform for local musicians to book events.

Hayes adds, “Our students who have gone onto be entrepreneurs have given a lot of credit to their MBA. They learned a lot of the skills that they’ve needed to make smart business decisions. They grew their network, which helped them make connections with investors. They were able to practice and get feedback on some of their ideas in their coursework.”

But it’s not just the coursework and competitions that make USD attractive to MBA entrepreneurs; it’s also the city. According to Hayes, San Diego is a great place for small businesses. The city has a contagious entrepreneurial spirit, and that has had an impact on new ventures at USD and in the area.

To learn more about the many entrepreneurial opportunities for MBA students at USD, check out the school website.

regions: San Diego

About the Author