I will complete the required coursework in December and earn a master’s degree from Western Carolina University’s Master of Innovation Leadership and Entrepreneurship program. Over the course of my graduate work, I have been asked many times if a master’s degree is worth the money, if I really needed a master’s degree to be an entrepreneur, what prompted me to continue my education, and why I chose a Master of Entrepreneurship degree over an MBA.
As I wind down the program, I wanted to share my perspectives on these questions and offer other thoughts on entrepreneurial education.
My motivation for pursuing a graduate degree.
When I started the program in January 2017, my primary purpose was to earn the credentials to teach courses as an adjunct in higher education. My goal was to teach the basics of licensing and intellectual property protection to those students, like my summer interns from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), who were on a path to creative careers but seemed to have little knowledge and understanding of licensing options for generating revenue and the importance of aggressively protecting their creations.
It was apparent to me that those with aspirations for careers in the creative arts are missing education in the business fundamentals necessary to support themselves in those careers. I saw this in my student interns and my interactions with working artists and creators, some of whom have been out of school for many years. I wanted to teach students how to establish a better business foundation for extracting long-term value from their future creative careers.
Two years later, my desire remains fundamentally the same; however, my vision differs. The coursework for the master’s program led me to think more broadly. We live in a world where corporate loyalty to employees is virtually nonexistent, and many individuals are pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors—some out of desire, others out of necessity. Moreover, the Internet enables everyone who wants to start a business a way to find an audience, sell a product or service, and facilitate the delivery of the creation—whether it’s artwork, a book of ideas, a piece of furniture, or a service.
Most of us are educated and trained to work for others. Very few of us understand how to be self-employed or have a basic understanding of building a business that employs others. This lack of entrepreneurial education and training must change, or the long-term impact may devastate the economy and the culture.
At the end of my program, I still see the significance of helping students extract long-term value from their future creative careers, but I now understand the necessity and importance of embedding entrepreneurial thinking and approaches in our post-industrial culture. I want to prepare future generations to think differently, to help them develop skills to identify opportunities and to teach them the building blocks that create products and services on which viable businesses can be built and thrive.
Why a Master of Entrepreneurship (ME) instead of an MBA?
I chose the Master of Entrepreneurship program because I liked the idea of exploring the foundational theories for business management within the context of innovation leadership and entrepreneurial action. Plus, I already hold a Bachelor of Business Administration and have significant hands-on experience in running and managing businesses, a core component of an MBA program. I found little additional value in earning a master’s degree in the same discipline.
While I suspect the curriculum may differ from university to university, I believe, based on my research and experience, the MBA curriculum primarily prepares students to run and manage the businesses of others, whereas the graduate curriculum in entrepreneurship teaches students to identify and develop opportunities that can grow into businesses. While there may be some similarities between the ME and MBA programs, the business focus is often different. The curriculum differences would also seem to suggest some variances in the level of risk tolerance between graduates of the two programs, with the MBA leaning more toward risk avoidance and the ME leaning more toward risk acceptance.
A high level of risk tolerance is essential for innovation and is the cornerstone of most entrepreneurial education. Let me be clear: I am not saying MBAs cannot innovate—many do—although the curriculum for MBA programs and my experience with many MBA-trained executives in my career would suggest the educational foundation stresses an over-reliance on existing data and information in decision-making. Innovation stems from chasing the unknown, which is hard to do when no hard data supports the chosen direction. Entrepreneurs know this, and graduate-level education in entrepreneurship soundly reinforces the concept of decision-making under uncertainty. For me, such a curriculum provided greater support and balance for my tendencies toward research and data.
Contrary to what some might think, a Master of Entrepreneurship degree doesn’t just teach you to start your own business—you don’t need a graduate degree, or any degree, to be an entrepreneur, but some entrepreneurial education does help your long-term success rate. Many, including the degree program I participated in, teach entrepreneurial concepts applicable to existing organizations and startups. By focusing on those skills necessary to identify and drive innovation, a Master of Entrepreneurship degree provides a foundation that students can deploy for the benefit of any organization—from their own startup to small businesses, large corporations, third-sector organizations, nonprofit organizations, and everything in between.
As with many decisions of this nature, there’s no right or wrong answer. The choice depends on personality, background, experience, personal goals, and aspirations. There are indeed many individuals with an MBA who are successful entrepreneurs. The MBA path was not the path for me.
Is a master’s degree worth it?
For me, this Master of Entrepreneurship degree is worth the time and expense because it helps put my future goals in motion. My payback period should be short; I have learned a few new things, met some great people, and earned a necessary credential for my next career step.
Lifelong learning is important to me, and the Master of Entrepreneurship degree demonstrates my commitment to that concept. I didn’t pursue a graduate degree at this stage, hoping to increase my earning potential significantly. I chose the degree to update my foundational knowledge and learn new techniques and approaches to business and entrepreneurship, upon which I can form new insights and hopefully contribute knowledge to future generations.
Of course, everyone must weigh the pros and cons of a graduate degree themselves. In some fields, I would imagine it’s worth the time and expense; in others, perhaps not as much. I do think many hiring managers consider a master’s degree to signify a certain level of knowledge and commitment that a bachelor’s degree once suggested.
My commitment.
Too many entrepreneurs are flying by choice or necessity by the seat of their pants, throwing things against the wall and hoping they will stick. I know because I’ve been one of them and I have worked with many others. What I have learned through experience and formal entrepreneurial education is there is no magic formula that will breed successful ventures, but there is a framework for innovative leadership that will improve the chances of entrepreneurial success. And it’s time to give back.
I value the power and impact of entrepreneurial activity on the broader economy, yet my greater interest is in entrepreneurship as a solution for unemployment and economic growth in distressed communities. More specifically, I am interested in those communities where changing demographics, cultural and societal shifts, corporate closures, and access to education create barriers to employment and economic growth and how to spur innovation and entrepreneurial activity to break down these barriers.
To this end, I rebooted my strategy consulting practice earlier this year. I have incorporated a coaching component for startup founders and entrepreneurs as my first step in giving back. I am also looking for opportunities within academia and select organizations where I believe I can leverage my education, experience, skills, and abilities for the next generation.
Finally, I am exploring doctoral programs so that I might continue researching, working, and teaching how innovative leadership and successful entrepreneurial activity can be a positive force in cultural change.
If I can assist you in your pursuit of entrepreneurial activity, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Afterward (2022)
After completing the Master of Entrepreneurship in 2018, I went on to earn a Doctorate in Organization Development and Change (OD & C) from Bowling Green State University in August 2022. Finding this program gave me clarity on my purpose and allowed me to integrate my love of entrepreneurship, social good, and the methods and principles of Organization Development to have, what I hope to be, a greater impact in the world.
David Harkins
Home » Blog » Education » Thoughts on Entrepreneurial Education
Thoughts on Entrepreneurial Education
I will complete the required coursework in December and earn a master’s degree from Western Carolina University’s Master of Innovation Leadership and Entrepreneurship program. Over the course of my graduate work, I have been asked many times if a master’s degree is worth the money, if I really needed a master’s degree to be an entrepreneur, what prompted me to continue my education, and why I chose a Master of Entrepreneurship degree over an MBA.
As I wind down the program, I wanted to share my perspectives on these questions and offer other thoughts on entrepreneurial education.
My motivation for pursuing a graduate degree.
When I started the program in January 2017, my primary purpose was to earn the credentials to teach courses as an adjunct in higher education. My goal was to teach the basics of licensing and intellectual property protection to those students, like my summer interns from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), who were on a path to creative careers but seemed to have little knowledge and understanding of licensing options for generating revenue and the importance of aggressively protecting their creations.
It was apparent to me that those with aspirations for careers in the creative arts are missing education in the business fundamentals necessary to support themselves in those careers. I saw this in my student interns and my interactions with working artists and creators, some of whom have been out of school for many years. I wanted to teach students how to establish a better business foundation for extracting long-term value from their future creative careers.
Two years later, my desire remains fundamentally the same; however, my vision differs. The coursework for the master’s program led me to think more broadly. We live in a world where corporate loyalty to employees is virtually nonexistent, and many individuals are pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors—some out of desire, others out of necessity. Moreover, the Internet enables everyone who wants to start a business a way to find an audience, sell a product or service, and facilitate the delivery of the creation—whether it’s artwork, a book of ideas, a piece of furniture, or a service.
Most of us are educated and trained to work for others. Very few of us understand how to be self-employed or have a basic understanding of building a business that employs others. This lack of entrepreneurial education and training must change, or the long-term impact may devastate the economy and the culture.
At the end of my program, I still see the significance of helping students extract long-term value from their future creative careers, but I now understand the necessity and importance of embedding entrepreneurial thinking and approaches in our post-industrial culture. I want to prepare future generations to think differently, to help them develop skills to identify opportunities and to teach them the building blocks that create products and services on which viable businesses can be built and thrive.
Why a Master of Entrepreneurship (ME) instead of an MBA?
I chose the Master of Entrepreneurship program because I liked the idea of exploring the foundational theories for business management within the context of innovation leadership and entrepreneurial action. Plus, I already hold a Bachelor of Business Administration and have significant hands-on experience in running and managing businesses, a core component of an MBA program. I found little additional value in earning a master’s degree in the same discipline.
While I suspect the curriculum may differ from university to university, I believe, based on my research and experience, the MBA curriculum primarily prepares students to run and manage the businesses of others, whereas the graduate curriculum in entrepreneurship teaches students to identify and develop opportunities that can grow into businesses. While there may be some similarities between the ME and MBA programs, the business focus is often different. The curriculum differences would also seem to suggest some variances in the level of risk tolerance between graduates of the two programs, with the MBA leaning more toward risk avoidance and the ME leaning more toward risk acceptance.
A high level of risk tolerance is essential for innovation and is the cornerstone of most entrepreneurial education. Let me be clear: I am not saying MBAs cannot innovate—many do—although the curriculum for MBA programs and my experience with many MBA-trained executives in my career would suggest the educational foundation stresses an over-reliance on existing data and information in decision-making. Innovation stems from chasing the unknown, which is hard to do when no hard data supports the chosen direction. Entrepreneurs know this, and graduate-level education in entrepreneurship soundly reinforces the concept of decision-making under uncertainty. For me, such a curriculum provided greater support and balance for my tendencies toward research and data.
Contrary to what some might think, a Master of Entrepreneurship degree doesn’t just teach you to start your own business—you don’t need a graduate degree, or any degree, to be an entrepreneur, but some entrepreneurial education does help your long-term success rate. Many, including the degree program I participated in, teach entrepreneurial concepts applicable to existing organizations and startups. By focusing on those skills necessary to identify and drive innovation, a Master of Entrepreneurship degree provides a foundation that students can deploy for the benefit of any organization—from their own startup to small businesses, large corporations, third-sector organizations, nonprofit organizations, and everything in between.
As with many decisions of this nature, there’s no right or wrong answer. The choice depends on personality, background, experience, personal goals, and aspirations. There are indeed many individuals with an MBA who are successful entrepreneurs. The MBA path was not the path for me.
Is a master’s degree worth it?
For me, this Master of Entrepreneurship degree is worth the time and expense because it helps put my future goals in motion. My payback period should be short; I have learned a few new things, met some great people, and earned a necessary credential for my next career step.
Lifelong learning is important to me, and the Master of Entrepreneurship degree demonstrates my commitment to that concept. I didn’t pursue a graduate degree at this stage, hoping to increase my earning potential significantly. I chose the degree to update my foundational knowledge and learn new techniques and approaches to business and entrepreneurship, upon which I can form new insights and hopefully contribute knowledge to future generations.
Of course, everyone must weigh the pros and cons of a graduate degree themselves. In some fields, I would imagine it’s worth the time and expense; in others, perhaps not as much. I do think many hiring managers consider a master’s degree to signify a certain level of knowledge and commitment that a bachelor’s degree once suggested.
My commitment.
Too many entrepreneurs are flying by choice or necessity by the seat of their pants, throwing things against the wall and hoping they will stick. I know because I’ve been one of them and I have worked with many others. What I have learned through experience and formal entrepreneurial education is there is no magic formula that will breed successful ventures, but there is a framework for innovative leadership that will improve the chances of entrepreneurial success. And it’s time to give back.
I value the power and impact of entrepreneurial activity on the broader economy, yet my greater interest is in entrepreneurship as a solution for unemployment and economic growth in distressed communities. More specifically, I am interested in those communities where changing demographics, cultural and societal shifts, corporate closures, and access to education create barriers to employment and economic growth and how to spur innovation and entrepreneurial activity to break down these barriers.
To this end, I rebooted my strategy consulting practice earlier this year. I have incorporated a coaching component for startup founders and entrepreneurs as my first step in giving back. I am also looking for opportunities within academia and select organizations where I believe I can leverage my education, experience, skills, and abilities for the next generation.
Finally, I am exploring doctoral programs so that I might continue researching, working, and teaching how innovative leadership and successful entrepreneurial activity can be a positive force in cultural change.
If I can assist you in your pursuit of entrepreneurial activity, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Afterward (2022)
After completing the Master of Entrepreneurship in 2018, I went on to earn a Doctorate in Organization Development and Change (OD & C) from Bowling Green State University in August 2022. Finding this program gave me clarity on my purpose and allowed me to integrate my love of entrepreneurship, social good, and the methods and principles of Organization Development to have, what I hope to be, a greater impact in the world.
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