Winning the Story Wars. The Undercover Economist. Blue Ocean Strategy. The
Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of. War. Made to Stick. The Tipping Point.
Hawken Entrepreneurship What is entrepreneurship? Entrepreneurship is the relentless pursuit of opportunity without becoming deterred by resources currently being controlled. What does that mean? It means that in a world in which resources are limited, an entrepreneur still finds a way to turn an idea into reality. To accomplish this, entrepreneurs develop a specific mindset—a way of thinking that allows them to identify opportunities where most people only see problems or reasons to quit. One of the most powerful tools an entrepreneur develops is GRIT. Grit entails working strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years, despite failure and adversity. When you’re gritty, you approach achievement as a marathon; your advantage over others is stamina. In today’s competitive world, it is grit, not luck that creates opportunity. Entrepreneurship is about increasing your grit, so that you become more successful in each of your future endeavors, no matter what field or profession you choose. What do we do in class? In Hawken’s first-ever semester course held at the Gries Center, in University Circle, you’ll identify elements of an entrepreneurial mindset and work to develop them in yourself. In an interdisciplinary curriculum drawn from Stanford University, University of Virginia, The National Science Foundation and beyond, you’ll experience the real life entrepreneurship roller coaster as you consult to Cleveland entrepreneurs, who enlist your help in solving their company’s real problems. What is the pace of class like? An Honor’s course, entrepreneurship covers a substantial amount of material drawn from many disciplines and class moves quickly. Because you’ll work alongside real entrepreneurs, a high level of productivity and output is demanded. A large amount of high-quality original work completed under tight deadlines is the norm. You can expect to make a time commitment equal to that of three honors courses, as you will be earning three honors credits for the course, one honors credit each in English, history and finance. What are assignments like? An entrepreneur is constantly asked to master material and skills with which s/he has no prior experience. You will be asked to do the same, including: • Read and analyze textbooks, novels, case studies, and relevant articles • Complete informal writing assignments and author original case studies • Consume and produce new media (including video and social media) • Identify and utilize resources in and around Cleveland and the world beyond • Make formal presentations before a live and/or remote audience Do I have the skills and tools needed to succeed in this class? Entrepreneurship is interdisciplinary. While the course content will be completely new, you’ll utilize skills you’ve already developed in other Hawken classes, including: • • •
Creating and testing hypotheses Data Collection/Analysis Storytelling and Writing
• • •
Collaboration and Communication Presenting and Designing Interviewing for empathy
I always thought you had to have a great idea in order to be a successful entrepreneur. I don’t have an idea like that. Can I still enroll? Being an entrepreneur is a lot like being an Iron Chef. Iron Chefs don’t have any idea what they will make in the kitchen until they get in there and identify the ingredients. Then, under a tight deadline in a hot kitchen, they produce an amazing culinary sensation. That’s what it’s like being an Entrepreneur. Like the Iron Chef, if you’re willing to work hard, get dirty, try something new, have a sense of adventure and you can stand the heat of the kitchen, you’re perfect for this class. Enroll now. Who teaches Entrepreneurship at Hawken? Natasha Chornesky, Ed.M. teaches the class. Natasha, who has eleven years experience in independent schools, successfully launched a small vanity publishing business. Natasha holds a B.A. in English, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; a M.A in American Studies, from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; and an Ed.M. in Administration & Social Policy from Harvard University, in Cambridge, MA. Why is Entrepreneurship taught at the Gries Center? University Circle is the hub of Cleveland’s intellectual community and redevelopment efforts. The Gries Center is located in the heart of University Circle, with easy access to the resources of Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Clinic, and downtown Cleveland. The majority of your work as an entrepreneur will take place outside of Hawken. Using the Gries Center as our world headquarters allows you easy and quick access to entrepreneurs, customers, experts in the field and other resources you will need on a daily basis. I heard we work with real entrepreneurs. What does that mean? You and your classmates are consultants to real entrepreneurs with real problems. Entrepreneurs will present their problem, the scope of work and a deliverable to you and your team. Using the skills and resources you acquire through your growing experience throughout the year, you’ll inventory your team member skills; utilize project management tools to organize timelines, milestones and deliverables; create and test hypotheses; conduct interviews and collect/analyze data, all in preparation to present your results to an entrepreneur who will make real-time business decisions based on your recommendations. These entrepreneurs also provide paid internships and employment for students enrolled in the entrepreneurship program. In addition to all the work we do with entrepreneurs and in the field, what texts form the backbone of our class? These three books form the spine of our class: The Startup Owner’s Manual, Business Model Generation, Effectual Entrepreneurship. These are the same books used in the MBA programs at Stanford University, Berkeley, Columbia University and University of Virginia. Additional texts or excerpts include: Endurance Founders at Work On Writing Well If You Want to Write The Lean Startup Art of War The Ascent of Money The Little Book of Economics Travels of a Tee Shirt The Undercover Economist
Winning the Story Wars The Undercover Economist Blue Ocean Strategy The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War Made to Stick The Tipping Point Additional relevant articles from HBR, Inc., Fast Company, NYT, WSJ and others
Explore the benefits of Entrepreneurship. Contact Natasha Chornesky, Ed.M. for additional information.
[email protected] 216-385-4199
Hawken Entrepreneurship Enrollment Details
Our current schedule enables the implementation of experiential programs such as Hawken’s Entrepreneurship course. This course is our first semester-length course to be held at the Gries Center, situated among the many University Circle institutions, adjacent to resources located in downtown Cleveland. Long periods of time within individual days and entire days throughout the semester facilitate students’ full engagement in the program. At the same time, our innovative schedule enables Entrepreneurship students to fully participate in extra-curricular and inschool activities. The Entrepreneurship program provides the academic advantages of a semester-away program, coupled with the convenience and consistency of remaining connected to the Gates Mills campus. Scheduling works as follows: 1. Students enrolled in Entrepreneurship, in either the spring or fall, are scheduled for two additional classes in backto-back blocks at the Gates Mills campus. During each six-day rotation, these two classes meet twice in the mornings and twice in the afternoons, leaving the other two days for the Entrepreneurship class. 2. Qualified students may enroll in up two AP courses, alongside the Entrepreneurship class. 3. Some students may enroll in up to a third AP course by utilizing the fall intensive for the first half of that AP. 4. In the rotation either after or before an Entrepreneurship semester, students continue in the two aforementioned courses and three others, one of which is English. 5. All students enrolled in Entrepreneurship may complete the year with up to 6.5 credits. Additionally, Entrepreneurship students will meet all Hawken and State of Ohio graduation requirements. Enrollment Process: ü
Enrollment in Entrepreneurship is by application and the number of available spots is limited.
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In March, juniors and seniors will indicate their interest in Entrepreneurship and other courses to determine feasibility.
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Upon completion of the course, students will receive a total of three honors course credits for Entrepreneurship, with one each in English, history, and finance.
The selection process will be based on: ü
A student’s academic record;
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A student’s readiness to thrive in an experiential program;
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Input from parents, teachers, advisor and class dean;
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The best interest of the student with regard to their scheduling needs as well as their overall academic and personal goals, given that scheduling Entrepreneurship may result, for some students, in having to make a choice.
Students interested in Entrepreneurship are encouraged to discuss their choices with their parents and advisors.
Dr. Doug Smith Associate Director of Upper School
Rotation Schedule with Semester Program 8:00 a 8:15 a 8:30 a 8:45 a 9:00 a 9:15 a 9:30 a 9:45 a 10:00 a 10:15 a 10:30 a 10:45 a 11:00 a 11:15 a 11:30 a 11:45 a 12:00 p 12:15 p 12:30 p 12:45 p 1:00 p 1:15 p 1:30 p 1:45 p 2:00 p 2:15 p 2:30 p 2:45 p 3:00 p 3:15 p
Morning Meeting
Morning Meeting
A
B
Flex Time
Flex Time
EP
EP
B
EP
A
A EP
EP
Arts Period
B
B EP
EP
Arts Period
A
EP
8:00 a 8:15 a 8:30 a 8:45 a 9:00 a 9:15 a 9:30 a 9:45 a 10:00 a 10:15 a 10:30 a 10:45 a 11:00 a 11:15 a 11:30 a 11:45 a 12:00 p 12:15 p 12:30 p 12:45 p 1:00 p 1:15 p 1:30 p 1:45 p 2:00 p 2:15 p 2:30 p 2:45 p 3:00 p 3:15 p
8:30 to 9:40, 70 mins 9:40 to 10:20
10:20 to 12:15, 85 mins + lunch
12:15 to 1:25, 70 mins
1:25 to 2:15 2:15 to 3:15, 60 mins
