How would you start to build a world-class program in entrepreneurship?

Dr. Jeff Cornwall is the Jack C. Massey Chair in Entrepreneurship at Belmont University in Nashville, Tn. Jeff has business as well as academic credibility.  In the late 1980's, Jeff was Co-founder and President/CEO of Atlantic Behavioral Health Systems, headquartered in Raleigh, NC.  The company operated a variety of health care facilities and programs and employed over 300 people. After nine years of rapid growth, the company was sold and Jeff chose to return to academics.  The entrepreneurship program Jeff developed is a top ten program.  Jeff can relate to John Carroll, because Belmont and John Carroll are roughly the same size.

Jeff described entrepreneurship as a way of thinking, rather than a set of skills, and therefore, not only can it can be taught, but it has application in every discipline.

Jeff also said that the old bromide that 80% of new businesses fail in the first five years is interesting, but there is no research that supports that contention.  Jeff talked about the ingredients for success and, you will not be shocked by this, the key indicator is getting to positive cash flow as soon as possible!

Dr. Donald Kuratko, a John Carroll graduate, is the Jack M. Gill Chair of Entrepreneurship at Indiana University. Indiana was recently selected as having the #1 entrepreneurship program in a public University.

Both Jeff and Don, who have built their programs from the ground up, were highly complimentary of the association which they see as a significant asset to the development of a top program. As the John Carroll program has been developing, both of these top educators have been providing assistance to Dr. Jack Soper, the Kahl Chair in Entrepreneurship. They understand the challenges as well as the opportunity for entrepreneurship teaching ahead at John Carroll.

From left to right: Dr. Jeff Cornwall; Dr. Karen Schuele, Dean of the Boler School; Dr. Don Kuratko; Dr. Jack Soper, the Kahl Chair in Entrepreneurship.