By Bryan Doan, March 5, 2024
University Business rated Cal Poly Pomona as No. 7 of the top schools for cultivating homegrown entrepreneurs.
CPP rankings were determined by University Business through data provided by LinkedIn and crunchbase.org. It aimed to identify the top 250 colleges with the highest number of founders. Additionally, the study tracked founders who launched businesses within the same city or state to gain insight into the entrepreneurial landscape of higher education institutions.
CPP’s College of Business Administration provides a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs. The college’s blend of firsthand experiences, faculty insights and practical learning creates an environment where students can turn their ideas into tangible ventures.
While students navigate the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship, faculty members at the College of Business Administration provide insight into the educational approach and philosophy behind preparing students for success in becoming entrepreneurs.
Iman Hemmatian, an assistant professor in the business administration department, highlighted a unique program within the College of Business Administration, emphasizing its influence on students looking to become entrepreneurs.
“We have a week called Professor for a Day, so we ask for alumni or entrepreneurs or graduates to come to our classes,” Hemmatian said. “Basically, teach them a lesson or concepts that they learn from courses, and they could connect to the businesses or industry. These are all the pinpoints that kind of help the students practice the concepts at the practical level in the classes have a realistic project that are actually useful.”
Hemmatian suggested broadening the events like Professor for a Day to encompass all colleges at CPP, which could positively influence students’ entrepreneurial aspirations. By offering opportunities for students to engage with entrepreneurial concepts regardless of their field of study, the university could cultivate more homegrown entrepreneurs.
Trayan Kushev, an associate professor in the business administration department, shared the common challenges faced by students going into entrepreneurship.
“Entrepreneurship is often kind of like shooting in the dark; it’s a lot more unstructured, and you need the mental side of thing in terms of organizing yourself,” Kushev said. “Being able to function in chaos.”
The essence of entrepreneurship acknowledges the inherent risks involved but also highlights the immense potential for success for those who strive to become entrepreneurs. To help with both, according to Kushev, the College of Business Administration integrates simulation games into its curriculum to provide students with practical experience in entrepreneurship. These simulations immerse students in real-world scenarios, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations and develop essential decision-making skills.
Hemmatian ensured students leave his classes with practical skills and a clear understanding of how to apply them in the future, reflecting the motto.
“In the College of Business, we really embody the learning by doing, so all of the practices, all of the quizzes, all the projects that we have is something borrowed from the industry and from the businesses,” said Hemmatian. “It helps the students to connect with the concept on a deeper level but at the same time, to know what the takeaway from this course is after I’m done, how can I use it in the future? So this is something that I emphasize in my classes heavily.”
Hemmatian also emphasized the importance of having the mindset of an entrepreneur and being able to nurture ideas into businesses.
“The most important thing is the entrepreneur mindset, so think like an entrepreneur,” said Hemmatian. “Often times, we come up with something that might have a future but if you don’t plan on it, polish it and come up basically with something that is tangible, soon you’re going to abandon it.”
Apart from traditional coursework, CPP offers opportunities for students to expand their entrepreneurial skills beyond the classroom. Kushev highlighted the importance of active involvement in networking and extracurricular activities and student clubs like the collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization.
“Get involved because even if it’s not college or university resources, when you get involved in networking, becoming part of the student clubs like CEO, you meet people, and they are resources,” Kushev said.
These extracurricular activities not only provide students with a space to connect with like-minded peers but also offer access to workshops and valuable resources as well as help students grow their self-confidence, which Kushev said is fundamental for any aspiring innovators looking to be involved in the entrepreneurial journey.
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Kushev said. “If you do the hard work, if you have an obviously good idea and if you develop it the right way, it will happen.”
For marketing student Lauren Revilla, the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic sparked her interest in entrepreneurship.
“In 2020 during COVID, I was unemployed, so I decided to open an Etsy Shop,” Revilla said. “I created gold jewelry and keychains and sold those. I achieved about 150 sales, and I learned how to promote my products as well, using Instagram’s advertising features like Facebook ads and Instagram ads.”
Harrison Gan, a marketing student, also shared his motivations for pursuing entrepreneurship and how he envisions using his skills to make a positive impact.
“I love to do business, and I love to help other people,” Gan said. “I thought that maybe, hey, if I can use my marketing skills and perhaps my networking skills, maybe I can make something of that, maybe I can create a product or service that not only will maybe help the community around me but also might be able to change the world as well.”
Feature image courtesy of Bryan Doan
