“The contribution of the GEMBA students has been to force us to crystallise our messaging and the direction we’re taking the business in”, says Jacqui Broadhurst, Co-Founder and MD of Codesafe.
One of the three women business founders whose companies were the live case studies for the Global Executive MBA Entrepreneurship course, Jacqui is enthusiastic about the market analysis and the strategic proposals the students developed following a series of meetings and workshops.
Adam Ryan, veteran entrepreneur and professor of practice at Monash Business school, says that students who immerse themselves in applied projects in ambiguous environments get invaluable insights into the founder’s experience. He points out that “Founders face challenges that even experienced managers in established businesses don’t always appreciate or understand.”
Entrepreneurship in the Monash Global Executive MBA program is built on highly-applied learning. Students work directly with venture founders to explore critical issues including startup support, funding, investor relations and the challenges of building the right team to scale effectively.
“This kind of practice-based approach is exactly how experienced managers learn best”, according to Professor Patrick Butler, GEMBA Director. “At this stage in their careers, GEMBA students are particularly interested in what it takes to scale up a new venture; how the founder can work with the investors and professional managers who can help take the business to the next growth phase. These involve different strategy questions from the startup phase”.
CFO Clayton Hatch, another GEMBA class member, noted that while investment funding remains a critical issue for new businesses, the live casework with the entrepreneurs and their businesses really elevated the key element of timing in successful strategy.
“Entrepreneurs often have to pave new paths themselves; there isn’t always a clear route to success”, says GEMBA student Candice Maliko following her interactions with new businesses on the program, “and that requires both creativity and courage”.
Helen Jarman, CEO of Activ Group and Nicole Clark, Co-Founder of Shazamme also contributed to the GEMBA program and shared their vast experience with the students on the Entrepreneurship course.
About the Author
Adam Ryan is a Professor of Practice (Adjunct Professor) at Monash University and is a principal at Watkins Bay. Adam has over twenty years of start-up experience in Australia and the USA. An expert in Company Structuring for Innovation, Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Capital for early and growth-stage businesses.
Contact Details
Australia +61 (0) 418 325 387
USA + 1 (858) 252-0954
Email adam@watkinsbay.com
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