Entrepreneurship and Leadership

Instructor-directed workshops

• Assessment of Commercial Potential of New Technologies

  This workshop will provide students with rudimentary tools to evaluate if an invention or creation is likely to have commercial potential, or if there is likely to be demand for the related product in the market. An overview of relevant traditional business theory, such as Porter’s five forces and competitive analysis, will be provided to stimulate assessment of the need for the new product in the existing marketplace. An outline of other factors that impact the demand for products, such as buying cycles, industry stage and economic cycles, will also be provided. Emphasis will be placed on where to find resources so that you can begin to perform your own assessment of new inventions.

  Learning outcomes:

  • Understand the concept of product competitive advantage.
  • Research market factors that have an impact on the demand for new inventions.
  • Identify environment factors that affect valuation of emerging businesses.
• Building Businesses with Intellectual Property

  In this workshop, an overview of the common types of intellectual property, patents, copyright, trademarks and trade secrets will be given. Each type of intellectual property will be defined and described from a functional perspective. Then, discussion will turn to the strategic uses of each type of intellectual property as the foundation for competitive advantage in a business or other enterprise. A context for this as one of the critical components for building a business from an innovative idea or prototype will be provided.

  Learning outcomes:

  • Identify the common types of intellectual property, patents, copyright, trademarks and trade secrets.
  • Discuss the strategic uses of each type of intellectual property as the foundation for competitive advantage in a business or other enterprise.
• Entrepreneurship

  This workshop will provide an introduction to the requirements for starting and developing a business. It will include segments on the four key areas required to build a successful business:

  • Opportunity and solution – How will your product or services solve a problem for potential buyers (and why is this important)?
  • Market and strategic plan – Who is going to buy your product and how are you going to get it to them?
  • The business team – What kind of skills and abilities do you need to grow the company?
  • Resources and finance

  Learning outcomes:

  • Assess the viability and value of new business ideas by applying principles of entrepreneurship.
  • Understand a model for creating a simple business plan.
  • Have a starting point for creating a new business with the understanding of the fundamental components that must be present.
• No Mind Left Behind: Collaborative Leadership

  Better understand the implication of style diversity and its impact on leadership. Gain an understanding of your own leadership style and your specific leadership strengths and blind spots. This workshop will end with a team-building activity to help highlight your specific leadership style and briefly explore situational leadership impacts on team dynamics.

  Learning outcomes:

  • Identify your personal leadership style using True Colours.
  • Compare and contrast your personal leadership style with other workshop participants.
  • Discuss the importance of teamwork and failure in the academic world.
  • Describe the impact of leadership style on team dynamics and team performance.
• Project Management Overview

  This workshop is aimed at a multidisciplinary audience of graduate students. The workshop will be based on the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) with relevant examples from technical fields.

  Learning outcomes:

  • Be familiar with concepts of effective application of project management.
  • Discuss and apply Project Management Institute’s PMBOK with relevant examples from technical fields.
• Understanding Your Leadership Style and Skills

  This workshop will help you understand and develop your leadership skills. You will engage in a fun and interactive self-reflection exercise to help you explore how your interests, abilities and values align with potential career areas and to the world of work. Insights will be recorded on a worksheet and developed throughout the workshop for you to use to help develop your career goals.

  Learning outcomes:

  • Learn, understand and assess your leadership style.
  • Learn at least one skill, interest and value.
  • Learn at least one resource to help with researching a career area.