Step Ahead Schedule of Events #StepAhead2016 | @CCLeaderCenter
Step Ahead Overview & Guiding Philosophy We believe everyone has great ideas. The challenge is to know how to cultivate ideas utilizing personal discovery, leadership, communication and teamwork. The Step Ahead day program will cultivate girls' entrepreneurial mindsets, focusing on building the following skill sets: Initiative and self‐direction Risk‐taking Flexibility and adaptability Creativity and innovation Critical thinking Problem solving Step Ahead is the newest program of the Summer Institute at Columbia College, serving rising 10‐12th grade girls in the Midlands area. Participants will join more than 1,700 graduates since the Institute began in 1990. The programs, which serve young women across South Carolina and the Southeast, are designed for girls with the spark of leadership – and for those ready to refine their leadership skills.
Sample Schedule of Events MONDAY DAY 1 AM Getting to know you and your teammates: activity Respecting each other, our thoughts and our ideas: group develops “Rules of the Road” Personal Values: how they interact with entrepreneurial values, economic impact, the entrepreneurial process Set up teams (groups of 3) Ideation: Word Throw (pick themes) MONDAY DAY 1 PM Teambuilding: Riverbanks ZooFari High Ropes Course Business plan concept, including financial overview to get ready for Day 2 visit to Wells Fargo Word throw outcomes TUESDAY DAY 2 AM Wells Fargo Visit: Budgets, working with banks, team coaching with Small Business Bankers Copyright © 2016 Center for Leadership at Columbia College
Step Ahead Schedule of Events #StepAhead2016 | @CCLeaderCenter
TUESDAY DAY 2 PM Is there a market for your product? Market research: definition and strategy Customer relations: the customer is queen…or king! Competition WEDNESDAY DAY 3 AM Visit One Million Cups Columbia: listen to entrepreneur pitches and be prepared to ask questions What is in a pitch? Debrief from 1 Million Cups Money game: determining the value of service or product WEDNESDAY DAY 3 PM Organizational structure: What does your biz look like? Why? Six Hat Thinking role play exercise Financial sheet completion THURSDAY DAY 4 AM Real Life with an Entrepreneur: Special guest speaker Prep time for biz concept THURSDAY DAY 4 PM Practice pitches with special guest coaches FRIDAY DAY 5 AM Final practice time Wrap up and evaluation FRIDAY DAY 5 PM Team pitches for parent and family audience Graduation Ceremony
Copyright © 2016 Center for Leadership at Columbia College
Step Ahead Schedule of Events #StepAhead2016 | @CCLeaderCenter
Program Facilitators Dr. Christine Lomer La Cola serves as executive director of the Institute for Leadership for Professional Excellence at Columbia College, overseeing the work of five centers and serving on the president’s senior team. Dr. La Cola joins Columbia College with over twenty years’ experience in higher education and business with expertise in organizational management and program and curricular design. Most recently, Dr. La Cola served as assistant dean and director of the Graduate Division at the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. Dr. La Cola graduated with a B.A. in economics and business administration from Kalamazoo College. She earned an M.B.A. from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and a doctorate in Higher Education Management from The Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia. Katherine Swartz Hilton is the director of the Center for Leadership overseeing professional development and training for students, executive women and young women, in addition to co‐directing the McNair Center for Entrepreneurism’s slate of programs and services for students and aspiring entrepreneurs. Swartz Hilton is well known for her work as vice president of leadership development and community involvement for the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce and executive director of Columbia Opportunity Resource. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, College of Mass Communications and Information Studies, she earned a B.A. in communications and a M.A. in Organizational Change and Leadership from Columbia College. She is also a graduate of the Non‐ Profit Leadership Institute at Francis Marion University and the Diversity Leaders Initiative of the Riley Institute at Furman University.
Partners & Sponsors This program is generously supported by Women in Philanthropy, Wells Fargo, Nord Family Foundation and Lipscomb Family Foundation and the Jack & Jill Foundation of America. Columbia College is a new member of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, a new partner of Youth Entrepreneurship South Carolina, and an affiliate partner of the Kauffman Foundation.
Ready to apply?
Apply online: www.columbiasc.edu/summerinstitute Contact us: 803.786.3729 or leadership@columbiasc.edu Scholarships: A limited number of financial need‐based scholarships are available upon request. Priority is given to early applicants.
Copyright © 2016 Center for Leadership at Columbia College