Daring Students to Take Intellectual Risks
“I learned that answering an open-ended question can lead to a whole new perspective,” said Dang, Class of 2023. “It encouraged me to speak more and get my mind to open up and think beyond what I was used to.”
The curriculum was created for students to consider the connection between creativity, entrepreneurship and developing a high-performance culture within an organization. Students explore the importance of values, risk taking, and problem solving, and then apply their findings in scenarios, including forming a virtual company and product.
Unique perspectives
The mastermind behind The Entrepreneur’s Cocktail is Professor Stephan Thieringer of the Sawyer Business School.
“My course is really an invitation to think about who you are and what’s aligned between your gut, your heart, and your brain,” he said. “I believe in the inherent beauty of human beings and that everybody has something unique about the way they think and express themselves.”
According to Thieringer, The Entrepreneur’s Cocktail is a mix of human innovation, creativity, and hard work, which he said “are the principles of entrepreneurship.”
Letting go
“The class dove into innovation within procedures, production, and ultimately ourselves,” said Peter Cole Stucz, an entrepreneurship major who found the class “exhilarating.”
Stucz was in charge of managing his group’s final project and found himself trying to micromanage team members. He was uncomfortable playing this role and soon decided that he had to trust others to do their jobs.
“I learned that my control habit just suppressed my team and the amazing things they could do,” said Stucz, Class of 2022. “This was revolutionary for me, because it really became obvious that if I continued this bad habit, it would not hold up when I am the CEO of my own company.”
Building confidence
Dang, a marketing major, said she is glad the course came so early in her college experience because it gave her confidence to express herself.
“I got comfortable with my thoughts and was less restrictive with how others may have seen me based on what I said or thought,” she said. “This is not a typical college course. I’ve learned valuable skills and concepts that are not only applicable in business, but in everyday life.”
Business simulation
The most challenging part of the course for Dang was the final exam, which she described as “a scarily realistic simulation of what work might look like in the real world.”
Working in small groups, students are asked to form their own companies, including departments such as marketing, branding, and sales. Each team then has to create a new product to be launched and pitched to everyone in class as part of their final project presentation.
This collaborative effort forced students to step out of their comfort zones and discover a lot about themselves. “I learned that it’s OK to ask for help and that nobody needs to be perfect and do everything themselves,” said Dang.
“I definitely had a problem asserting myself when I started college. But already, within my first semester, I’ve grown so much with that. I’m now more confident in voicing my opinion, communicating with others, and managing my time.”
Taking risks
There are no right and wrong answers in Thieringer’s class. Instead, he motivates and guides students to learn by sharing ideas and topics in an environment that balances structure and flexibility.
Thieringer’s goal is to show students that learning can be fun when you have an open thought process. He also encourages them to follow their dreams and reach their full potential.
“I want them to walk out of my class and say: ‘You know what? I can do whatever I put my mind to.’”
Contact
Tony Ferullo
Office of Public Affairs
617-573-8448
Greg Gatlin
Office of Public Affairs
617-573-8428