Track Journey: Founder / Startup Operator / Innovation Lead
What this track is about
The Entrepreneurship track is for students who want to build something new, whether that means launching a startup or driving innovation within an existing organization. This pathway focuses on turning ideas into action through customer discovery, rapid experimentation, and learning by doing.
Students in this track learn how to move from concept to execution while navigating uncertainty, risk, and real-world constraints.
The role this track prepares you for
This track is commonly aligned with roles such as Founder, Startup Operator, Product or Operations Lead at an early-stage company, or Intrapreneur within a larger organization.
In these roles, professionals are responsible for shaping ideas, validating demand, and building solutions that can grow and scale.
What this role looks like in real life
Someone working in entrepreneurship or innovation roles typically spends their time doing the following:
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Talking directly with customers to understand unmet needs
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Testing and refining ideas through rapid prototyping and feedback
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Building early versions of products or services
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Developing business models and go-to-market strategies
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Pitching ideas to investors, partners, or internal leadership
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Iterating quickly based on results and real-world signals
This role requires comfort with ambiguity, resilience, and a strong bias toward action.
Skills you use every day in this role
Professionals in entrepreneurial roles rely on a core set of skills:
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Customer discovery and validation to test assumptions early
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Design thinking and experimentation to refine ideas quickly
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Business model development to understand viability and growth
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Storytelling and pitching to secure buy-in and resources
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Execution under uncertainty to make progress without perfect information
How this track builds those skills
The courses and experiences in this track are designed to mirror startup and innovation environments.
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Design thinking and innovation courses focus on ideation, prototyping, and user-centered development.
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Entrepreneurship-focused electives explore venture creation, funding, and scaling.
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Applied projects, competitions, and practicums provide hands-on experience working on real ideas with real constraints.
Together, these experiences encourage learning through action rather than theory alone.
Course offerings in this track
Students following this pathway often take a combination of the following courses:
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EGRMGMT 576: Design Thinking and Innovation
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EGRMGMT 577: Challenges and Strategies for the Design Thinker and Innovator
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EGRMGMT 556: Consulting or Industrial Practicum
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Selected entrepreneurship and innovation electives
Course selection may vary based on individual goals and prior experience.
Where graduates go after MEM
Graduates from this track go on to:
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Launch startups
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Join early-stage or growth-stage companies
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Work in corporate innovation or venture teams
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Build ventures within family businesses or existing organizations
While outcomes vary, the entrepreneurial mindset developed through this track is widely applicable.
