Here’s how the MS in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship at USD will help you think like an entrepreneur, learn to innovate, and better understand the technology landscape.
Entrepreneurs aren’t superheroes. They aren’t expected to have the skills to be able to do everything themselves. In reality, the most successful entrepreneurs are those with a persevering attitude and who surround themselves with the right people.
That’s one of the principles underpinning the Master of Science in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (MITE) at the University of San Diego (USD) in the United States. According to faculty member Michael Lawless, the program is all about unlocking your inner entrepreneur.
“MITE helps develop students who have an inspiration to be an entrepreneur,” he says. “Our job is to help them with the tools and the way of thinking that they need to let them do that.” (00:15)
Venkat Shastri, who is the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at USD, agrees that having the right mindset is vital for entrepreneurs. “The Master of Science in Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship should be the beginning and the end of your search for you to develop a mindset about what you naturally have, which is, you can scale your business in a confident way,” he says. (02:17)
Yet having the mindset to start and grow a business is only the first step of your entrepreneurial journey. This is how the program’s mix of modules provides students with the tools they need to light that entrepreneurial spark.
The MITE (pronounced “mighty”) curriculum features a 50/50 split of business and technology modules. The business modules cover topics such as leadership, finance, and entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, the technology-centered modules teach students about concepts such as the Internet of Things (IOT), Big Data, and cloud computing.
Although the master’s program features a blend of business and technology modules, it remains a business-centered degree at heart. That’s according to the Academic Director Jeff Teza, who says that being able to understand the technical side of a business is vital.
“We’re not trying to create a master’s of science and electrical engineering,” he explains. “But you should be able to sit in a room with the electrical engineers and the computer sciences and know what the core issues are that they’re wrestling with.” (00:58)
In essence, the MITE program is all about connectivity. Connectivity between the different people, and connectivity between the different parts of a business. As it stands, San Diego is a great place for connecting people and businesses.
San Diego has a burgeoning startup culture, making it an ideal location for budding entrepreneurs. The city’s startup ecosystem is supported by a range of accelerators, incubators, and coworking spaces, which can be valuable resources for those looking to start their own ventures.
It’s worth remembering that entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes. Even if you’re not looking to start a business yourself, the MITE program can still help you build innovative ideas and bring them to market. Therefore, perhaps the real focus of this program is not on developing entrepreneurs, but on developing your entrepreneurial spirit.
Understandably, the program is not exclusive to those aiming to start their own businesses. A fresh engineering graduate with a drive to understand the business aspects of technology could benefit from this program. Nonprofit leaders looking to incorporate more technology-driven strategies might also find this valuable. The program’s flexibility and focus on innovation make it an attractive prospect for anyone looking to bolster their understanding of business and technology.
Students will be able to apply the skills they learn during the program in a range of projects. These capstone experiences are connected to the different phases of starting and running a business. For instance, students may work in teams to develop a business idea and assess the market.
What’s more, Jeff Teza believes that these skills will stay with you in the long term. “Students will not only be able to use it to further their career right after they graduate, but I think it’s going to benefit them over the rest of their careers.” (01:27)
The ability to innovate, think like an entrepreneur, and understand the technology landscape are valuable skills for any organization. So you can see why Jeff and his team are keen to stress that this program is for more than just startup founders. If you want to unlock your inner entrepreneur, this degree could help you do it.
Reach out to students studying similar master’s degrees from the Ambassadors page.
