Entrepreneurship & Innovation Certificate

This program is beneficial for any working professional seeking to acquire the skills, methods, and tools to develop and build innovative, entrepreneurial, and creative solutions to challenging real-life problems.

Can we make entrepreneurship and innovation easier to understand so it can be more accessible and possible for you to achieve unforeseen success within your existing company or a new venture?   

Instructor: Patrick Davenport  

You can become very entrepreneurial and innovative as we explore just how so many ventures really were started and how innovation really happens. Very often, intrapreneurship (entrepreneurial thinking within existing companies where you turn ideas into new products or services or solve challenging problems to achieve success in critical company projects) can drive company innovation to achieve successful results. We will look at how Ebay, Uber, Instacart, Airbnb and Netflix and other companies to understand how asking questions like “why does it have to be this way?” or “how can we do this much better or differently?” drove them to business success.

What makes entrepreneurs entrepreneurial?  

Instructor: Patrick Davenport 

How does learning and applying the creation-oriented mindset vs. the prediction-oriented mindset help you embark on creating a future that can be substantially shaped by human action? Learn how you can help co-create innovative solutions working with your potential customers to create a better user experience by using a more human-centered approach. 

How can “Knowing your customer’s job to be done” and what problems need to be solved help you discover innovative opportunities to achieve success?  

Instructor: Patrick Davenport  

Learn how it’s not just about the best technology and great innovation. Rather, it’s about the application of technology and innovation linked to the right market opportunities solving problems with solutions that can scale and become profitable.  

How does the lean startup change everything? 

Instructor: Patrick Davenport  

How can you leverage design thinking to de-risk the innovation process which inherently has many unknown answers, unclear problems and often incomplete data? How might you identify and leverage asymmetric motivations to capitalize on how incumbents and disruptive innovators view opportunities to serve different target market customers to create new, scalable and profitable markets? Can you create new market space linking innovative solutions to what customers value most? How can you get beyond the status quo with a flexible mindset and willingness to adapt by listening to customers and the market forces at play? 

How can you discover, define and refine your customer target markets in ways your solution resonates with customers while scaling and growing profitably?  

Instructor: Mark Defanti 

How can you build a brand with unique, relevant differentiation and strong identity that resonates with and is sustainable for your target customers? Learn how to clarify your company’s messaging around painful problems you help solve and key customer benefits you provide with your unique value proposition. 

How can you best reach your target customers by developing and designing new business models putting the customer user experience at the center of the process to build innovative go-to-market strategies for success?  

Instructor: Craig Gosselin 

How can you create innovative recurring revenue models and other solution delivery platforms from a buyer-focused point of view that provides user experiences and benefits customers really want and value? 

How can the power of story and effective storytelling propel your company forward in a crowded and noisy market space?  

Instructor: Patrick Davenport 

Learn how to create stories around your company, solutions and most importantly how to help solve your customers’ problems through the benefits you provide. How might you organize and deliver a presentation for success that understands and engages your audience to create a sense of desire and urgent call to action? We will talk about raising capital and forging partnerships that could be crucial for your growth and success. 

Students working in teams will have the opportunity to present their new ventures, ideas and challenging company projects to the group.   

Instructor: Patrick Davenport 

This session will be dedicated to feedback and discussion. We will summarize key learnings and takeaways to help deepen your understanding of the applications of learning. Through the acquisition of valuable skills, you will be better prepared to apply entrepreneurship and innovation for future success.  

A continuation of group presentations and summarizing key learnings. We will discuss next steps to keep the learning and progress moving forward.  

Instructor: Patrick Davenport 

What do I get for attending the Entrepreneurship & Innovation program at PC? 

First and foremost, you receive a great education, taught by Providence College faculty who are excited to teach professionals. Second, you unlock the keys to entrepreneurship and innovation that can help you succeed in your career. Participants who complete the course will also receive a non-credit certificate from Providence College indicating their completion of the program. 

What’s the time commitment? 

The program will total 24 hours of instructional time, along with a suggested 1 hour for reading materials outside of class each week. 

Do I have to attend all class sessions to receive my certificate? 

You’ll get the most out of your certificate program if you attend all the sessions. However, in extenuating circumstances, we can provide a video recording of the missed session. 

What are the logistics? 

Classes are 100% virtual. 

How much homework is involved? 

Most of the faculty will send you important reading materials before their class to give you a basic foundation on which they build. This reading generally takes less than an hour and is optional, but helpful. 

Am I graded? 

This is a non-credit certificate program. Non-credit programs are not graded; they are given a pass/fail designation only. 

Is this program eligible for tuition reimbursement? 

In many cases, yes, depending on the employer. Many of our participants receive partial or full employer reimbursement. Alert us of this arrangement with your employer and, upon program completion, we’ll issue your pass/fail grade for reimbursement processing. 

What does the program cost? 

Take advantage of special pricing of $1,600 for the entire 9-week program. 

Do I have to be accepted? 

No. This is a non-credit program with open enrollment. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. 

What if I need a refund? 

A full refund is available prior to the start of the program if you need to cancel your registration. 

What if I have questions? 

Should you have any questions prior to starting your application, feel free to contact one of our knowledgeable advisers.