Creative Business Leadership (LEAD)

Leading the design and management of dynamic creative and cultural enterprises takes a thorough understanding of organizational processes and management techniques. Through a survey of historic organizational strategies, students are introduced to the innovative tools, necessary to develop their own enterprise or lead within an existing organization. Students focus on enterprise analysis, organizational structures, strategic planning, management techniques and incorporation.

Great minds have shaped the world we live in today. While exploring innovative methods of leadership throughout history, students learn the legacies created by the most prominent leaders of government, military, religion, art, business, design, science, philosophy and technology. Guided by knowledge gained in this course, students adapt and develop their own strategies of decision-making and direction as leaders.

Sustaining a competitive advantage and providing a superior financial return requires leaders to analyze business strategies using historical constructs, quantitative reasoning and risk mitigation. Students develop scenario-based financial projections through divergent and convergent design thinking principles while applying both analytics and intuition to design opportunities.

Transformative leaders have two common characteristics: resourcefulness and grit. In this course, students learn analytical thinking techniques and methods of managing complex, human-related problems through systems analysis tools to become positive leaders of business. Students also establish a deep understanding of emotional intelligence to develop their capabilities to manage and work in complex organizational structures. Informed by research, inquiry and discussion, students develop and execute strategies, and design high-performing organizations that deliver results.

Entrepreneurs in creative industries face unique economic opportunities and challenges. Through evaluation of business opportunities, understanding funding alternatives, navigating risk, effective negotiation and financial analyses, students explore key tenets of entrepreneurial finance. Students learn applied skills, enabling them to successfully conduct valuations, strategically select funding alternatives and generate financial information and returns required by investors or lenders.

In the highly competitive arena of new art and design ventures, effective application of marketing strategy is critical to generating and sustaining customer value and enterprise success. Students investigate the functions and foundations of marketing, learning to use market research, and consumer behavior analysis to guide development and implementation of marketing strategies. Students learn to develop marketing tactics and strategy as a key component of business decision making.

The unprecedented pace of innovation and entrepreneurial activity offers exceptional opportunities for students to design their own enterprises. Students develop a new venture idea, assess their concept’s viability, manage its evolution and strategically plan for its execution. Emphasis is placed on students’ application of emerging entrepreneurial thought and state-of-the-art strategy tools.

This course empowers students to articulate design needs through comprehensive project proposals, including design briefs, marketing plans, and forecasting models. They skillfully gather and organize data crucial for planning, tracking, and executing design projects. Students master design planning methods, phased deliverables, and audience implications, showcasing advanced skills. Through proposing innovative ideas, they demonstrate master's-level leadership and entrepreneurial qualities. The course hones persuasive presentation skills, ensuring clear, concise, and engaging communication of groundbreaking concepts. Additionally, students seamlessly integrate conceptualization, implementation, and management of rapid-paced projects, meticulously documenting and interpreting each phase.

This advanced course provides students with practical knowledge and skills in conducting research and gaining valuable insights to foster innovation in a business environment. This course combines theoretical frameworks with hands-on experiential learning to develop a comprehensive understanding of the research process and its application to driving innovation. Students explore various research methodologies, techniques, and tools used to gather, analyze, and interpret data. They identify key research questions, develop research designs, and implement data collection methods and analyses to generate actionable insights for business innovation. The Business Innovation Lab component of the course provides students with a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment to work on real-world business challenges. Through the development of feasible, high-value projects, students applying research skills and insights to propose innovative solutions and develop viable business strategies. Students emerge as proficient researchers and innovative thinkers and problem solvers, shaping sustainable business practices that are not only innovative but also ethically sound in any business environment.

Students in this course undertake a field assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

The masters in business innovation program focuses on strategy formulation and its profound impact on organizations. Students apply cutting-edge approaches to identify, develop, and implement innovative business models, disruptive technologies, and market-driven strategies in delivering a high-value final project. Using a combination of frameworks, case studies, and hands-on projects, participants enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They evaluate the strategic and ethical implications of innovation on organizational growth, sustainability, revenue streams, and societal impact. By the culmination of the program, students possess the mindset, knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to drive innovation, enhance competitiveness, and effectively manage change within diverse business environments.