Stanford Business Essentials

Set yourself up for success and unlock your potential with Stanford Business Essentials.

Stanford Business Essentials (SBE) gives you the business knowledge and confidence to take control of your career. Employers look for employees who can deliver results right away by understanding the essentials – SBE helps you stand out from the crowd.

SBE is a straightforward, high-impact online program from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Learn from world-class faculty who have taught programs for CEOs, Silicon Valley startups, and Fortune 500 leaders, while gaining practical, real-world concepts through four foundational courses:

Economics and Strategy
Data and Decision-Making
Finance and Accounting
Communication and Influence

Key Benefits

SBE equips you with the strategic, financial, analytical, and communication knowledge needed to accelerate your career growth. Upon completion of this program, you will impress employers by gaining:

Stronger business acumen

Build a solid foundation in core business concepts that drive organizational success.
Greater confidence and clarity at work

Navigate your organization with a clearer understanding of the business landscape, internal dynamics, and strategic priorities.
Improved decision-making

Make smarter, more informed decisions with a practical toolkit grounded in data and business fundamentals.
Financial fluency

Develop the ability to interpret financial reports, evaluate trade-offs, and make resource-savvy decisions that support long-term business growth.
Enhanced communication and collaboration

Strengthen your interpersonal skills to communicate clearly, build relationships, and work more effectively across teams and functions.
Recognition of readiness

Earn a prestigious certificate that signals your commitment, capabilities, and potential – whether you’re seeking a new role, more responsibility, or a promotion.

Who Should Attend?

SBE is designed for those who are actively searching for their first role or are currently an individual contributor ready to expand their skills and advance their career. This includes:

Early career professionals with 0-5 years of professional experience in any industry looking to build a strong foundation in business fundamentals
Recent graduates interested in gaining confidence in their core competencies in business
Non-business majors who want to enhance their business acumen and decision-making skills
Any ambitious individual who would benefit from learning key business fundamentals