The Center offers a menu of courses taught by a distinguished faculty of established leaders in the field.
All courses are cross-listed between the full-time and part-time MBA programs. In addition, space permitting, Cal graduate students in other schools can enroll in these courses during the add/drop period of each semester.
Brief Course Descriptions
Course #: MBA 292T-6 (2 units)
The Conflict Lab is an experiential course aimed at empowering Haas students to navigate difficult conversations in the workplace based on role playing real world examples of workplace conflict. As organizations are becoming increasingly diverse and interconnected, conflicts stemming from differences in culture,
background, political affiliation, and sector come up more often. We will address these areas of conflict in this course. At the end of this course, students will have built skills to effectively navigate tough conversations, understand research-supported practices for being effective in difficult conversations, and have built tools to support their own self-regulation practices. This lab will include roleplaying scenarios such as setting boundaries at work, addressing an underperforming direct report, ending a professional working relationship, managing up, and giving feedback to a high performing employee experiencing interpersonal issues.
Professor: Bree Jenkins and Francesca LeBaron
Time: Mondays 6-9:30pm, iLab
Course # MBA/EWMBA 292ID-1 (1 unit)
Impact Start-Up Disco utilizes the Lean Launchpad and the Social Blueprint Business Design methodologies to frame the integral insights, strategies and practices that distinguish social ventures. It strives to create the conditions under which students become social venture designers, founders and leaders. Students work in interdisciplinary teams to explore an idea for a social venture.
Professor: Jorge Calderon
Time: One Weekend, Oct 6-8: Fri, 4:30-9:30pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 12-4pm
Course#: EW/MBA 292B-11 (1 unit)
Nonprofit Boards courses examine the roles and responsibilities of nonprofit boards of directors. Generally, boards establish strategic direction, raise resources, and exercise organizational oversight. Students will identify and develop the governance skills necessary to be an effective board member. Using board assessment instruments and self-assessment activities, the class will seek to determine “fit” between different types of boards and class participants. Today’s successful leaders proactively navigate the alignment between cultural tensions, organizational mission, market and organizational success. Students will have the opportunity to meet current board members and chief executives, to discuss their roles and learn firsthand the challenges facing these leaders.
Professor: Lynne LaMarca Heinrich
Time: 2 Sundays: Nov 5 and Dec 3, 9am-4pm, N270 (Chou)
Course#: TBD
Students examine their assumptions about what it means to be a successful business leader, investor, entrepreneur or director; reconsider the roles and relationships between the private sector, state actors, labor and civic organizations; explore the strengths and flaws underlying modern American capitalism; and be inspired by leaders who have made strategic choices that realign incentives and incorporate “externalities” such as the environment, labor, and the long-range effects of decisions. This course is for students who want their work to have meaning beyond themselves and beyond maximizing profits for shareholders
Professor: Gloria Lee
Time: TBD
Course#: EW/MBA 292F-11 (1 unit)
In order to be an effective leader in the nonprofit field, one must have a solid grounding in financial management. This course is designed to develop the core
financial management skills needed by board members and seniors managers in large and small nonprofit organizations. Students learn the tools and techniques for effective planning and budgeting as well as how to control, evaluate and revise plans. The course addresses current regulations and issues that impact nonprofit financial management. The use and development of internal and external financial reports is studied with an emphasis on using financial information in decision-making. Tools and techniques of financial statement analysis, interpretation and presentation are discussed and practiced.
Professors: Brent Copen
Time: TBD
Course#: EW/MBA 292B-11 (1 unit)
Nonprofit Boards courses examine the roles and responsibilities of nonprofit boards of directors. Generally, boards establish strategic direction, raise resources, and exercise organizational oversight. Students will identify and develop the governance skills necessary to be an effective board member. Using board assessment instruments and self-assessment activities, the class will seek to determine “fit” between different types of boards and class participants. Today’s successful leaders proactively navigate the alignment between cultural tensions, organizational mission, market and organizational success. Students will have the opportunity to meet current board members and chief executives, to discuss their roles and learn firsthand the challenges facing these leaders.
Professor: Paul Jansen
Time: TBD
Course#: MBA/EWMBA 292IL
This intensive course is being redesigned now and the instructor seeks student input. The course is in general for students to practice the steps integral to starting a social venture. Personal and organizational leadership are emphasized through every stage of the process.
Professor: Jorge Calderon
Course#: MBA 292T.2
Students investigate opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurial ventures trying to increase educational opportunity, especially for underserved students. Class sessions explore strategies for increasing efficacy, building financial sustainability, and scaling. The course features a variety of ventures including ed tech, professional learning, schools and supplemental services, and organization models (for—profit, non-profit and benefit corporation) for different life stages (e.g. early childhood, K12, post-secondary and adult learning) in different countries. Suitable for aspiring entrepreneurs, leaders in entrepreneurial ventures, board members, donors or investors.
Professor: Gloria Lee