Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.

Academy aimed at small businesses


ASU, in partnership with Salt River Project, will hold its second annual small business leadership academy this fall over a ten week period beginning Sept. 9.

The program is held in order to provide small business owners and CEOs with education that will enhance their skills and enable them to strengthen their businesses.

Andrew Atzert, assistant dean and director of the Center for Executive and Professional Development at the W.P. Carey School off Business, stressed that this leadership academy is important to “understanding organizational dynamics as a business owner.”

“We really want to give [the participants] exposure to what we offer,” Atzert said. “We want business owners to know how to formulate a strategy for their business that allows them to be more competitive.”

To ensure the program instills these specific tools in the participants, SRP, ASU faculty and selected focus groups designed five two week courses, all of which focus on different aspects of business ownership, Atzert said.

The five courses offered are strategy, competing through services, understanding corporate procurement practices, negotiations, and building high performance teams. To complete the course, participants must attend two classes, which are scheduled in the evening.

The courses are taught by faculty members at the W.P. Carey School, giving teachers an opportunity to work closely with small business owners — something they do not get the chance to do often, Atzert said.

“Our faculty is really knowledgeable and enthused about the program,” he said. “They usually don’t get to deal with business owners all that often and this is very refreshing to them. They enjoy it and I think that really comes out through this program.”

Last year, the first year of the academy, SRP and ASU faculty decided to allow sponsored members to participate. But this year they have made a few minor changes, making the program open to all business owners who meet the criteria. To participate, owners must have been in business for more than three years and bring in a revenue of anywhere from $1 million to $5 million.

Linda Paugh, supplier diversity specialist at the W.P. Carey School, said the economy has really changed a lot in the last year, causing more business owners to want to participate in the academy.

“ASU is opening up to the public,” Paugh said. “This is something we were always interested in, and we now want to extend that offer.”

The academy’s tuition fee is $4,000 and upon completion, participants are given four continuing education credits. These credits are not worthy toward a degree.

An important aspect of the academy, Paugh said, is to allow business owners to “establish a network and find other peers who they can tackle challenges in business with.”

“Most of last year’s participants continue to meet and share with each other some of the obstacles they have faced,” Paugh said. “It is our hope that relationship will continue in the future and in the classes to come.”

Reach the reporter at christine.harvey@asu.edu


Continue supporting student journalism and donate to The State Press today.

Subscribe to Pressing Matters



×

Notice

This website uses cookies to make your experience better and easier. By using this website you consent to our use of cookies. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.