Silicon Valley is essential to educate the new era of MBAs
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Silicon Valley, the land where disruption is celebrated and failure considered a rite of passage, a small 1,800 square mile southeast of San Francisco Bay, is ranking as one of the world’s 50 largest economies nowadays. The valley has numerous cutting edge companies who are now luring in MBA talent from all the world. It has become an economic and innovation powerhouse creating new markets and disrupting a wide range of industries.
As companies everywhere in the world are racing ahead to stay ahead of the digital revolution, the payoff from engaging with Silicon Valley can be substantial and an immersion trip to Silicon Valley is essential to educate the new era of digital MBAs.
A lot of large corporates have set up small outposts in a quest to network with VC funds and promising entrepreneurs, trying to benefit from the digital ideas. However, even if employees in these offices can identify winning ideas and stay close to entrepreneurs, most often these are set adrift up the chain of command back to the corporate headquarters. For many large companies looking in from the outside, creating a fund arm or an outpost is a difficult way to channel the Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit and generate fresh ideas.
The Legacy Ventures innovation immersion week
A trip to Silicon Valley can be an invaluable means to immerse executive MBAs in the Valley’s entrepreneurial approach and learn about the latest technology trends which will disrupt their company’s business model or affect their industry.
Yet, perhaps the most valuable trait that MBAs gain from this learning experience is getting to understand the culture of innovation which cannot be taught in an auditorium or through an online video.
The experience of immersing in the Bay Area’s ecosystem and talking face-to face with tech leaders provides an important mental shift for the MBAs in galvanizing their entrepreneurial spirit and motivating them to embrace transformation in their own company.
What does a typical day look like?
Here’s a recent example of an immersion week day:
- 8am: Breakfast briefing and orientation in Silicon Valley
- 9:30-11:00am: Workshop on customer experience and design thinking
- 11:30-12:30am: Presentation on future innovation trends affecting main industries
- 1-2pm: Networking lunch
- 2pm-3pm: Visit to unicorn startup company and fireside chat with CEO
- 3:30-4.30pm: Interactive talk with leading venture capitalists on Sand Hill Road
- 5-6:30pm: Drive to San Francisco and lively discussion in the bus en route
- 7-9pm: Dinner and debrief
