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Center for Entrepreneurial Studies

 

Past Events

2008

2008 Entpreneurship Conference

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Entrepreneurship Week 2008
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2008 Alumni Entrepreneur Reunion
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2007

2007 Alumni Entrepreneur Reunion

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Entrepreneurship in China 101

February 2007
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Entrepreneurial Careers
February 2007
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Entrepreneurship Week 2007

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2007 Entrepreneurship Conference

Once again the Stanford Graduate School of Business held on January 31st its annual Entrepreneurship Conference – "It's in You" – one of the most successful events of its kind at Stanford University.

From Prominence to Prison: A Personal Case-Study in White-Collar Crime

How are smart and educated leaders capable of making poor ethical decisions? How do you insulate yourself from the ethical slippery slope? After spending four years in prison, Patrick Kuhse talked openly about his experience with white-collar crime and how seemingly unimportant decisions changed his life forever.

Brought to you by the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, the Center for Leadership Development and Research and the Center for Social Innovation.

 

2006

CES 10th Anniversary Celebration

The CES 10th Anniversary Celebration was held on May 9th.

2006 Entrepreneurship Conference: From Ideas to Action

Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2006


2005

2005 Entrepreneurship Conference: Taking on the Challenge

Date: Saturday, February 12, 2005

Through a series of panels, interactive workshops, and informalnetworking opportunities, this one-day conference brings togetherover 500 students, alumni, investors, and community members toexplore how to succeed as an entrepreneur in today's environment.

We are proud to announce that this year's featured keynote speakers were: Jeffrey Bezos (President, CEO, and Chairman of Amazon.com) and Donna Dubinsky (Co-Founder, former CEO of Handspring).

In addition to our two featured speakers, at the heart of the conference, was a series of 17 panels and workshops that help entrepreneurs develop business ideas, build up their businesses, and learn lessons from those who have gone before. We trust that regardless of where you are in the entrepreneurial process you will find a subset of panels that speak directly to your needs.

 

Legal Workshop Series for Entrepreneurs: The Nuts & Bolts
 
Session I

Date: Thursday, January 20, 2005

This was the first session of a 3-part workshop led by Allison Leopold Tilley of Pillsbury Winthrop, LLC. Allison presented the nuts and bolts of the the legal issues you are likely to face as a budding entrepreneur. Session I covered: When, how and where to form a company; Founders Stock Purchase Agreements; Allocation of stock to employees; Offer Letters and General Employment issues; Officers and Directors & Advisory Board; and an overview of a first meeting with attorney and how to leverage your law firm. Attached are the two handouts from Session I.

Session II

Date: Thursday, February 24, 2005

The second session covered the basics of private financings, bridge financings and understanding term sheets. It also covered an overview of options and option plans.

Session III

Date: Thursday, April 7, 2005

The third and final session covered IP issues such as NDA basics, an overview of patents, trademarks and licensing.

 

Why Employee Ownership is Good for Business

Date: Thursday, October 27, 2005

Dr Corey Rosen, co-founder and executive Director of the National Center for Employee Ownership discusses best practices for employee ownership. This event was organized by the GSB Entrepreneur Club.

Leadership Perspectives Series: How Smart People Make Bad Decisions

Date: Thursday, January 13, 2005

Do you wonder how smart and educated business leaders are capable of making such poor ethical decisions? Are you interested in insulating yourself from the ethical slippery slope? After spending four years in prison, Patrick Kuhse now speaks publicly about his experience with white-collar crime. Hear how seemingly unimportant decisions changed his life forever.

"Avoiding the Traps of Success"

Date: Thursday, March 31, 2005

Why is it that most white-collar crime is committed by people who have already amassed significant fortunes, power, and prestige? Drawing on 20+ years of research and counseling corporate executives, Dr. Berglas discusses the psychological factors that explain why so many accomplished leaders lose their way while climbing the corporate ladder. Learn how successful individuals undermine their own success and how you can recognize symptoms and adopt healthy coping strategies in your own life.

 

2004

Search Fund Panel: The legal aspects of starting a fund and acquiring a company

Date: Monday, November 8, 2004

Janet Dunlap of Goodwin Procter, one of THE leading attorneys working with search funds, and a panel of search funders and investors talked about the legal issues surrounding search funds and company acquisitions as well as other hot topics around this intriguing path to running a company.

2004 Entrepreneurship Conference: Building for the Long Run

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2004

Visit the GSB Lifelong Learning Web site to view video coverage of the 2004 Entrepreneurship Conference, "Building for the Long Run." Log in required, for GSB alumni, students, faculty, and staff only.

Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship Panel

Date: Thursday, January 29, 2004

In today's challenging business environment, creating and sustaining a successful business requires effective differentiation from competitors. This panel focuses on new, successful companies that are working to make social impact a primary driver of success. These innovative approaches create differentiation, compliment traditional initiatives focused on customers, products, and operations, and provide methods for success to for-profits interested in social issues. It will also address the funding issues these companies face, and how they have adapted historical entrepreneurial techniques to the new area of for-profit social entrepreneurship.

Franchising as an Entrepreneurial Option 

Date: Thursday, January 15, 2004

Franchised businesses are an every day part of life and also an exciting business opportunity. The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies organized a session highlighting franchise opportunities as an entrepreneurial option. Franchise owners Gregory Flynn, MBA '94 (Applebee's); Jim Yang, MBA '97 (Cold Stone Creamery); John Zoglin, MBA '84 (Sylvan Learning Centers) discuss the issues of running a franchise.


2003

 
The "Non-funded" Search

Date: Friday, May 2, 2003

Three alumni discussed their process of searching for and buying a company without using a search fund model. Julie Ha, MBA '02, Dan Buckstaff, MBA '93, and Michael Sanabria, MBA '93, addressed topics ranging from partnering closely with a private equity company interested in the industry they were searching to partnering closely with an attorney to do a geographically driven search in Phoenix.

2003 Search Fund Panel Discussion

Date: Thursday, November 6, 2003

Three alumni search funder's and search fund investor, Professor Joel Peterson, discussed their process of raising a search fund, choosing an industry or other approach, searching for and buying a company, and lessons learned. Josh Greenberg, MBA '00, Brent Hutchings, MBA '91, and David Kennedy, MBA '98 completed the panel along with Professor Peterson. Professor Irv Grousbeck moderated the event. Topics addressed include deciding to raise a fund, partnering or going it alone, strategies for raising a fund, conducting negotiations with prospect companies, managing the due diligence process and more.

All About Franchising

Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2003

Do you like Krispy Kreme doughnuts? Ever craved a Subway sandwich at lunch? Ever fallen asleep in a luxurious bed at a Hilton Hotel? Franchised businesses are an everyday part of life and also an exciting business opportunity. The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies organized an overview session on the franchise industry for GSB students, faculty and alumni. Two experts on the franchise industry Thomas Keltner, GSB '74, EVP of Franchising at Hilton Hotels Worldwide, and Robin Day Glenn, Managing Partner of Franchise Law Team addressed this topic. Thomas and Robin provided an overview of the basics of the franchise industry, discussed the current trends in the industry, and answered questions regarding career opportunities in franchising. 

 

Too Many Skills and Nowhere To Go
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2003

This program covered GSB alumni who have left the entrepreneurial venture that they started (or where they held a senior position) and sought employment with an established company. This subset of job seekers had a unique set of issues related to the job search. Some of the issues covered include convincing yourself that you want to (or even can) work for someone else. Another set of issues revolved around packaging your experiences and resume so that you are attractive for someone else to hire. The high level strategic skills of being a CEO don't easily map to some of the more functional positions of an established company. Additionally, the once-CEO must respond to the question "and why don't you want to run the show?" And if you want to do an industry change, are you willing to do what it takes to learn a new industry?

Included a panel discussion from several folks who have been through this transition and have found an acceptable place to call home, as well as coaching advise for individuals making the transition.

  • Andy Chan MBA '88, Director of the CMC at the GSB
  • Soon Yu MBA '93, Founder of Gazoontite, now VP of Marketing at Adspace Networks
  • Ed Schaeffer MBA '97, Founder of Semiotica, now at Intuit
  • David Zinman MBA '95, Founder of AdKnowledge now VP of Marketing at Banter
  • Too Many Skills And Nowhere To Go Video Panel Discussion Video, 26:01 Minutes
  • Too Many Skills and Nowhere To Go Q and A Video Q&A Video, 24:01 Minutes
 

2002

Buying a Business With a Search Fund

Date: November 18, 2002

Get a perspective on search funds from search funders, operators, and investors involved in this "mini-LBO" model of becoming an entrepreneur.