Course in Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Era of Change

In today’s rapidly shifting world, entrepreneurship and innovation have become vital pillars for driving sustainable growth and staying ahead of disruption. Business leaders and entrepreneurs must rethink traditional models, adopt agile mindsets, and spark innovation to thrive in a volatile and complex environment.
The program "Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Era of Change", delivered by Geneva Institute of Business Management, offers a strategic and forward-looking approach to empower participants with the knowledge, mindset, and tools needed to lead innovation and entrepreneurship successfully.

Target Audience

• Entrepreneurs aiming to develop innovative and scalable business models.

• Business executives and managers responsible for strategic growth initiatives.

• Innovation leaders and R&D professionals across industries.

• Professionals seeking to launch startups or entrepreneurial ventures.

• Consultants and advisors supporting innovation and transformation projects.

• Academics or students interested in real-world applications of innovation theory.

Objectives

• Understand the core principles of innovation and entrepreneurship in turbulent environments.

• Learn how to design business models and strategies that align with changing market dynamics.

• Identify and leverage opportunities through creative thinking and innovation frameworks.

• Explore tools for strategic decision-making in uncertain and competitive contexts.

• Gain insight into leadership styles that foster innovation and drive entrepreneurial teams.

• Build capabilities to launch and scale new ventures or internal innovation initiatives.

Course Outline

• Foundations of Entrepreneurship in Modern Economies

  • Evolution of entrepreneurship in the global context

  • Key drivers of entrepreneurial success

  • Understanding value creation and market gaps

  • Role of entrepreneurial ecosystems and networks

• The Innovation Imperative

  • Why innovation is essential in the 21st century

  • Disruptive vs. incremental innovation

  • Innovation life cycles and timing

  • Innovation as a source of competitive advantage

• Opportunity Recognition and Validation

  • Identifying unmet needs and emerging trends

  • Customer-centric opportunity design

  • Market feasibility assessment techniques

  • Risk factors in early-stage ventures

• Business Model Innovation

  • Introduction to business model frameworks

  • Redesigning value propositions for new realities

  • Revenue, cost, and growth model considerations

  • Case applications of successful business model shifts

• Design Thinking and Creative Problem Solving

  • Principles of design thinking

  • Stages: empathize, define, ideate, prototype

  • Tools to enhance creativity and innovation

  • Applying design thinking to product and service innovation

• Agile and Lean Startup Methodologies

  • Differences between traditional and agile approaches

  • Building minimum viable products (MVPs)

  • Iterative testing and feedback cycles

  • Pivoting and continuous improvement

• Strategic Planning in Entrepreneurial Contexts

  • Setting innovation goals and metrics

  • Aligning innovation with organizational strategy

  • Scenario planning and adaptability

  • Building an innovation roadmap

• Leadership and Culture for Innovation

  • Leading with an entrepreneurial mindset

  • Building high-trust, high-collaboration cultures

  • Motivating and managing innovative teams

  • Overcoming resistance to change

• Financing Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ventures

  • Funding options: angel investors, venture capital, bootstrapping

  • Creating compelling investor pitches

  • Valuation basics and financial projections

  • Managing financial risk in innovation projects

• Scaling Innovation and Sustaining Growth

  • Strategies for scaling products and services

  • Expanding to new markets and segments

  • Institutionalizing innovation practices

  • Balancing innovation with operational excellence