In this special edition of The Business Corner, we are going to discuss specific options to continue your education as an entrepreneur. As business owners, it is critical to take advantage of opportunities to further develop your skills as you build your business.
Here are some of the options that I have found useful:
Coursera offers more than 2,000 free courses on successful negotiation, private equity and venture capital, user experience design, brand management, organizational analysis, and other valuable topics from universities such as Stanford, Yale, University of Michigan, University of London, and Duke University. Learn more at coursera.org
Wharton offers Executive Education classes with both in-person and online options. This school offers the University and Pennsylvania and Wharton brands, along with some of the most knowledgeable business professors in the Philadelphia region. Also, the networking opportunities in these courses could open pathways to additional clients and growth paths for your business. Learn more at executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu
Check out the Center for Executive Education at Temple University, which is part of the Fox School of Business. They offer a range of classes on topics such as marketing, strategy, and leadership. Learn more at www.fox.temple.edu
Stanford University
On June 19-21, 2022, they will hold the 27th Annual Stanford Directors’ College, which is an executive education program for directors and senior executives that are interested in serving on boards of publicly traded companies. Learn about the types of issues facing boards of directors today, dealing with compensation, engaging shareholders, and crisis management.
edX
This site offers free online business administration courses to build your skills, including classes on Leadership and Communication, Business Strategy: Competitive Advantage, Entrepreneurship in Emerging Countries, People Management, and Venture Capital from schools such as Harvard University, Wharton, the University of Queensland (Australia), and The University of British Columbia. Learn more at edx.org
YouTube
There is so much valuable knowledge in the various free training, seminars, business podcasts, and tutorials available in an easy-to-learn video format. Subscribe to pages such as selfLearn-en, which has popular courses including “Marketing 101, understanding marketing basics, and fundamentals” (1.5 hours). That training alone has been viewed more than 480,000 times in the past three years.
DiverseForce operated a training program for mid-to-senior level professionals seeking to become a member of a Board of Directors for a non-profit organization. This organization is working with over 300 nonprofit partners for possible board service after completing their program. Learn more at diverseforce.com
Harvard Business Review
This magazine covers nearly all business topics, including sales, marketing, customer experience, and growth while offering case studies showing how other businesses were able to overcome challenges and successfully reach their goals. Learn more at hbr.org
Education has been an important foundation in building my business. As we continue to grow, continued education is vitally important not only for company leaders but also to develop and retain talent.
I hope these tools help you as you continue your path to business and financial success.
Teresa M. Lundy is the principal and founder of TML Communications, the award-winning strategic public relations, crisis communications, and community engagement firm serving corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Follow Teresa on Twitter @TeresaMLundy.
