a variety of industries and ages – our youngest EiR is 21 years old! Programmes such as our EiR provide students with the benefit of perspective from the frontline of business, which enhances theory taught in the classroom. It also gives them access to real- world issues from individuals that are representative of their own demographic. For example, our EiRs serve as engaged mentors for our MBA cohort, some of whom go on to start their own enterprises on graduation. LUMS was recognised in our Small Business Charter reaccreditation in 2020 as an exemplar for involving small business leaders in developing and delivering high-quality higher education programmes. Our EiR programme is also being expanded onto an international stage through a project with Global Business School Network (GBSN), which will see students from different GBSN Schools work with international EiRs on six-week programmes. This sort of programme isn’t common at every School, but certainly make a difference.
There has been a huge amount of research into leadership and management within a global corporation context – far less so in the context of smaller businesses. As business educators, we should keep in mind the unique elements that often constitute small firms that set them apart from global giants. SMEs tend to have close identification with their founder, who sets the tone of the firm. When starting out, entrepreneurs have the chance to set something up from scratch; a fresh outlook and the opportunity to create a positive vibe and ethos for a firm’s future. This sort of blank canvas is a huge opportunity. However, they’re more vulnerable to shocks than their larger counterparts. And entrepreneurs who don’t come through a Business School route perhaps won’t have the experience of management which may be required as an organisation grows – small businesses don’t always stay small for long. Business education has a large role to play here, as time and resource pressures tend to grow in parallel with a business
– and with often fewer people at the top, there’s more room for error. Business education programmes, such as the MBA , offer the perfect opportunity to exchange perspectives, theories and frameworks to shape tomorrow’s entrepreneurs. MBAs care about sustainability and climate change. How important do you think sustainability is, and in what ways have Business Schools adapted this into their programmes? In Lancaster’s MBA, responsibility, sustainability, and inclusion are embedded in all dimensions of the programme. Focused on tomorrow’s leaders and managers, our MBA centres on the issues that future CEOs, leadership boards, and trustees could potentially lose sleep over. This goes beyond climate change – which
is, of course, absolutely crucial. Put simply, it’s about thinking
differently and becoming more resilient. This could be considering the future use of your physical estate and repurposing buildings, for example. Many of our MBA students are international, and may have
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Ambition | BE IN BRILLIANT COMPANY
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