The programme to boost entrepreneurial dynamism.
Stanford Seed, a Stanford University initiative led by Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), is launching its business leader training programme in India this August.
Building on its success in Africa, Seed is expanding the program into India through its new location in Chennai, which will serve entrepreneurs from across the country.
The first annual program will run from August 2017 to August 2018 and will be held at the state-of-the-art Infosys corporate campus.
The application period is now open for the Seed Transformation Program, with applications in India due May 26, and applications in East and West Africa due June 30.
The Initiative aims to build upon the success it has achieved since its inception in 2011. Core to this success has been the Seed Transformation Program – which first launched in West Africa in 2013 and subsequently expanded to East Africa in 2016 – through which faculty, staff and coaches have trained more than 500 business leaders with the goal of promoting prosperity in these regions.
“The impact of Seed in West and East Africa has been astounding, with nearly two-thirds of participants reporting increased revenue and job creation,” said Jesper Sørensen, the Robert A. and Elizabeth R. Jeffe Professor of Organizational Behavior at the GSB and executive director of Seed.
“We are five years into our journey, and just getting started. We believe – and have seen firsthand – that this unique model can help some of the most dynamic business leaders in these regions drive the kinds of firm growth that underlies sustainable regional prosperity. We are very eager to see its impact in India,” said Sørensen.
Seed consists of three distinct yet complementary programs: the Seed Transformation Program, a year-long, on-the-ground leadership program for the founders and leaders of small and medium-sized enterprises; Seed Student Programs, providing educational opportunities and summer internships at participating companies; and Seed Research, which provides funding for critical research to discover breakthrough solutions to promote prosperity throughout the developing world.
The Seed Transformation Program provides unique value for participants by combining immersive class sessions in each region, taught by Stanford GSB faculty, with ongoing support and leadership development delivered by trained local Seed staff.
Participants engage in four intensive, week-long sessions over the course of nine months on topics such as leadership, strategy, business ethics, accounting, marketing and value chain innovations.
In the intervening weeks, skilled facilitators assist participants in applying insights from the classroom, developing their leadership teams and formulating a detailed plan for organizational transformation and growth.
In addition, Seed facilitators work with participants in carefully constructed leadership peer groups, offering networking opportunities, resources and ideas to help implement the participants’ transformation plans.
Following completion of the Seed Transformation Program, participants may apply to receive high-touch coaching as well as access to Stanford student interns and Seed consultants.
Seed Executive Director Sørensen is excited about the program’s expansion to India.
“India is the world’s second-most populous country, known for its entrepreneurial dynamism. We know from experience, however, that starting a company is different from making it grow, and that sustainable economic growth depends on firms solving the puzzle of scaling,” he said.
The Seed Transformation Program leverages Stanford’s deep insights into the leadership of rapidly growing enterprises. We believe that by transforming leaders and companies through this program we can contribute to increased prosperity for the companies and, more importantly, their communities,” said Sørensen. fii-news.com
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