Sauder School of Business launches new Certificate in Entrepreneurial Business Management

Vancouver - Sauder School of Business is launching a new certificate program to address the growing need for management executives who understand the unique challenges of growing entrepreneurial businesses.

The Certificate in Entrepreneurial Business Management, which launches September 23, 2004, is designed to provide entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial teams with the management knowledge and skills they need to successfully grow their businesses.

"This program provides entrepreneurs and those managing growth businesses with an opportunity to develop essential skills in leadership, strategic planning and managing organizational growth, that will help them navigate the road to business success," says Daniel Muzyka, Dean of the Sauder School of Business, and RBC Financial Group Professor in Entrepreneurship.

Research, conducted by the Sauder School of Business, and published in the Premier's Technology Council of B.C. report found that "BC lacks a sufficient number of entrepreneurial executive managers capable of performing critical tasks required to grow ventures."

"With limited pools of available capital, it is increasingly important for entrepreneurs to continually develop their management expertise," says Harry Jaako, Chairman and co-CEO of Discovery Capital, manager of B.C. Discovery Fund (VCC) Inc. "This will help to ensure that as their business grows, they have the knowledge and ability to successfully coordinate business activities with a variety of stakeholders, including financiers."

Sauder School of Business's award winning faculty and senior business people, lead the certificate modules, which focus on topics ranging from developing strategies for growth, building strategic alliances and financial management. This in-class learning is followed by implementation workshops and peer mentoring/coaching sessions.

The first networking session is on Thursday, September 23, 2004 followed by the first in-class session on Friday, September 24. The content of this 10 module program was developed in consultation with leading British Columbia Venture Capital firms, including Ventures West and Discovery Capital.

For more information on the certificate program, or to register, visit http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/exec_ed/.