The Ivey LEADER Project (LEADER) is a student-led global endeavour to connect Ivey students with aspiring entrepreneurs in developing parts of the world. It was established in 1991 by Ivey MBA students that recognized the need for entrepreneurial education in the former Soviet Union. The solution was “Project USSR,” now known as the LEADER Project. The goal was to introduce marketing, finance, accounting, and management skills to aspiring business owners in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Over the past 32 years, LEADER has provided a platform for 850 Ivey students and alumni to coach and guide around 9,000 aspiring entrepreneurs in more than 20 countries. Students have travelled to a variety of sites in recent years including Bosnia & Herzegovina, India, North Macedonia, Nepal, Serbia, and Vietnam.
LEADER's mission
LEADER’s goal is to connect Ivey students with economies around the world and help aspiring entrepreneurs plan and develop their ventures. Instructors from the LEADER Project, or LEADERites, teach the skills they learned at Ivey and introduce its case-method education to local business owners globally. This endeavour builds foundations that help entrepreneurs establish their businesses and succeed in their economies.
The program provides Ivey students with the chance to apply and exchange their knowledge with the global community while gaining insights into the culture and economy of the places they travel to. This year’s LEADER Project returned to full in-person sessions, allowing LEADERites to teach on-site and expand the Ivey brand worldwide. This year, LEADERites travelled to Nepal, India, Vietnam, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Learn about their experiences below.
Why did you join the LEADER Project?
“There was an opportunity to immerse myself in another country and culture while applying the skills and concepts I had learned at Ivey in the role of a teacher. To be part of a group of students, both HBA and MBA, who are passionate about learning and entrepreneurship is immensely inspiring.” – Julia Kilpatrick | HBA2 LEADERite Kathmandu, Nepal
What did you learn while on this trip?
“During my two weeks in Bengaluru, I learned a lot about the city’s hospitality, vibrance, and increasing status as a global entrepreneurship hub. As they say, every good teacher is a better learner. I may have gone to Bengaluru to teach a business foundations course, but I left being inspired by amazing people, as well as experiencing a new culture, and feeling grateful that this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is something I got to partake in.” – Tyron Telang | MBA LEADERite Bengaluru, India
“Although I was a bit nervous to step into the teacher role, I learned a lot about how to present ideas, deliver content to people of all backgrounds and ages, and support the participants. For example, I was asked how you might calculate the value of a living asset, such as a cow, while teaching the financial statements lecture. This required a different perspective than we use at Ivey, but our team members were able to put our heads together and work through which methods we may use to depreciate or account for a biological asset.” – Julia Kilpatrick | HBA2 LEADERite Kathmandu, Nepal
How does LEADER help in the participating sites?
LEADERites provide a two-week program taught to entrepreneurs and students, modelled after Ivey’s own case modules. The program uses simulated scenarios to encourage students to learn through first-hand experience and make difficult decisions about problems faced by real businesses. These cases are paired with lectures that provide the fundamentals of strategy, marketing, operations, finances, and management.
“As I grew up, I watched my father try and fail to launch businesses on dozens of occasions. His lack of formal education in business and entrepreneurship posed a barrier to achieving his goals. LEADER aims to empower budding entrepreneurs in emerging markets to launch and scale ventures that create opportunities for both them and the communities in which they reside. Witnessing my father’s entrepreneurship journey has taught me how valuable the formal business education that LEADER imparts to entrepreneurs is; this knowledge tackles the barriers that so many high-potential entrepreneurs face in pursuing their goals and democratizes entrepreneurial success in emerging markets.” – Miren Vijay | HBA1 LEADERite Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Would you recommend LEADER?
“LEADER was easily one of the most memorable experiences I had during my time at Ivey. For others who are excited about entrepreneurship, international development, and education, the LEADER Project is a must-experience opportunity. My decision to pursue an MBA at Ivey was predicated on several goals: to achieve personal growth, expand my horizons, develop leadership and character, and have a positive impact on the communities around me. The LEADER Project played an important role in helping me achieve these goals and so much more.” – Tyron Telang | MBA LEADERite Bengaluru, India
“The two weeks turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life, consistently pushing me outside my comfort zone and teaching me to be flexible in the face of a foreign environment. The significant personal development that I was able to achieve is why I wholeheartedly recommend LEADER to anyone who may be interested. LEADER is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and as a result, I am so much more comfortable with being uncomfortable.” – Miren Vijay | HBA1 LEADERite Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
What were some of the highlights of your trip?
“Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs, our site partner, made sure we all felt at home in Kathmandu. We were gifted with Khata, a traditional scarf that represents welcome, inscribed with mantras. They organized excursions for us to learn about the history and culture of Nepal, one of which was for us to visit Bhaktapur, a well-preserved ancient city in the Kathmandu Valley. Here we experienced Durbar Square, made pottery, and ate traditional food. Everyone on my team can tell you about the amazing food we ate in Nepal, and in Bhaktapur, we had the opportunity to try Newari food. We had their variation of Thali, drank Chhyang, and tried buffalo spine.” – Julia Kilpatrick | HBA2 LEADERite Kathmandu, Nepal
“One of the many highlights of my LEADER experience was the last day of the program. The LEADER Project participants pitched their business ideas and received valuable feedback from well-respected members of the startup ecosystem in Bengaluru. I distinctly remember being so proud of each of them because of how much personal and professional development they exhibited in just two weeks of the LEADER Program.” – Tyron Teland | MBA LEADERite Bengaluru, India
If you are interested in joining LEADER, expect applications for all HBA, MBA, and PhD students to release in the fall of 2023. Please visit the Ivey LEADER Project website for details.
Related Articles
