About the LEADER Project
Local Program, Global Reach
What
The LEADER Project provides existing and aspiring entrepreneurs with the analytical tools, thought processes, and decision-making skills to tackle complex business challenges. LEADERite Instructors use a combination of lectures and the Ivey Business School’s case method philosophy to teach foundational business principles and also dedicate time for 1-on-1 coaching.
Classroom, North Macedonia, 2023How
LEADER Instructors deliver a two-week intensive program of cases, lectures, and 1-on-1 coaching. Cases simulate a real situation confronted by business leaders and empower participants to learn by doing and making confident decisions in the face of uncertainty. Case method teaching is complemented by lectures that provide analytical tools for envisioning, launching, and scaling new ventures.
Current key topics in the LEADER Project curriculum include:
Case Studies
Each subject is paired with an Ivey case, situating entrepreneurs in real-life contexts to apply the concepts they've learned to actual business decisions.
Workshops
Supplemental workshops build on core content, covering Entrepreneurial Leadership, Introduction to Excel, Digital Marketing, Pitching and Communication, and CSR and Ethics.
New Venture Creation
An introduction to the 9 steps of venture creation, guiding you from problem statement brainstorming to discovering your go-to-market pathway.
Strategy
An introduction of core strategy frameworks, how to apply them to analyze potential venture ideas, and how to create and capture value.
Financials
An introduction of the income statement and balance sheet, definitions of fixed and variable costs, and criteria for investment decision making.
Operations
An introduction to managing operations and aligning the operations and strategy of the business to create a competitive advantage.
Marketing
An introduction to creating an effective marketing strategy, covering market analysis, segmentation, and crafting value proposition and positioning statements.
Cash Budgeting
An introduction to cash flow management, including forecasting of cash inflows and outflows, calculating monthly cash balances, and strategies to improve cash flow.
Go-To-Market
A comprehensive class, integrating the concepts from the past two weeks, inspiring students to launch and grow their businesses.
On Site, Serbia, 2023
Impact
Site Partners play a key role in enabling the LEADER Project to remain relevant and to better meet the needs of the changing local economic conditions within the countries where we operate. Whether the entrepreneurs we work with are looking to start a new business or grow their existing business, LEADER Project will help bring them much closer to the realization of their goals.
Please download our 2020 Impact Report here to learn more about how the LEADER Project is making a lasting and measurable impact.