Entrepreneurship and Leadership

Abstract: Entrepreneurship is part of the American dream. According to the Appalachian Regional Commission, the best hope for stabilizing and diversifying Appalachia's economy lies in the creation and expansion of businesses that provide jobs, build local wealth, and contribute broadly to economic and community development. The need to expand and support entrepreneurial activity as a means for revitalizing Appalachian communities led to the creation of Berea College's Entrepreneurship for the Public Good (EPG) program. By developing leadership skills and business skills, students will be empowered with the tools necessary to make a difference within communities. There is a need for entrepreneurs with creative business concepts and the courage to turn these concepts into sustainable enterprises that create jobs and create value for customers. The goal of the EPG program is to create service-oriented leaders for Appalachia and beyond. The course is organized into three major components pursued in parallel with one another. Students will be exposed to the Appalachian region through the communities we will be working with during the summer to gain an understanding of the region and the needs of communities. In the second phase, students will be exposed to entrepreneurship and work to develop their own "entrepreneurial mindset." According to Ian MacMillian, the entrepreneurial mindset is "a powerful way to stop thinking and acting by the old rules and start thinking with the discipline of a habitual entrepreneur." Whether a student pursues a career in a nonprofit organization, for-profit business, or starts their own venture, the entrepreneurial mindset is a valuable tool to empower you to create change. The final phase is for students to build their own leadership skills by applying what they learn in the program in a community partner project. The teams will meet regularly with each organization and move through an evolving series of steps, which will culminate in a value-creating final project for the community partner organization. To help facilitate students' learning, the EPG program has teamed with a number of faculty members from Berea College and leading institutions around the country to help teach the components of entrepreneurship, leadership, and community development. In addition, community partners, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and economic development experts will serve as instructors in the course. The end result is to create an active learning environment where we can share our own experiences and learn from the experience of others.

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