My Own Business Institute
The My Own Business Institute (MOBI) is a community outreach program providing free, online entrepreneurship courses that help create jobs and support community growth around the world. MOBI also offers the undergraduate business elective BUSN 188/Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative (NPI) which gives students the opportunity to work one-on-one with small business owners to develop skills and experience in every aspect of business ownership and management. In NPI the students work in groups with local small business owners from underserved communities in Santa Clara County. Working as business consultants, the student teams meet with the business owners throughout the winter and spring quarters. In the winter quarter, the students work closely with the business owners to develop an action plan which the teams will implement in the spring quarter.
Each team receives funding for its approved action plan, made possible by a generous grant from Wells Fargo Bank.
Drew Starbird, Ph.D., LSB professor of Information Systems and Analytics and the Executive Director of the My Own Business Institute (MOBI), leads the course, along with a teaching team that includes community leaders and NPI alumni advisors. NPI provides students with valuable, real-world business experience in marketing, accounting, strategy, operations, and more. Many alumni identify NPI as one of their most important and valuable college experiences.
Interested students can attend a virtual Information Session in October, or email Professor Starbird at sstarbird@scu.edu. Dates and times for the two Information Sessions will be posted on the Get Involved page of the NPI website, where students can also view a list of past businesses. NPI is open to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.