Strategy and Innovation

Jon Carr, Jenkins Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship, NC State Poole College of Management

Discover how to adapt and innovate your organization’s business model to create sustainable competitive advantage. Drawing on extensive research and real-world consulting experience in technology transfer and commercialization, this program provides practical frameworks for evaluating your current model and identifying opportunities for innovation. Through evidence-based approaches and interactive exercises, you’ll learn strategies for successful business model transformation across both established organizations and new ventures.

1. Analyze your organization’s current business model to identify strategic opportunities and risks.
2. Develop techniques to validate business model innovations through stakeholder engagement.
3. Create implementation plans that align organizational capabilities with emerging market opportunities.

Leigh Shamblin, director of leadership and professor of practice

Discover innovative solutions to organizational challenges by mastering the principles of design thinking. This program provides a practical, step-by-step approach to solving complex problems, building creative capabilities, and driving innovation across your organization. You’ll learn how to apply design thinking techniques to transform challenges into opportunities.

1. Gain a deeper understanding of design thinking principles that enable innovation.
2. Learn techniques to apply design thinking tools to real-world business challenges.
3. Identify ways to create more innovative products, services, and processes.

Chris Hitch, adjunct lecturer, NC State Poole College of Management

Learn a structured approach to strategic innovation that drives sustainable competitive advantage. This program teaches you how to assess market opportunities, create differentiated strategies, and execute strategic initiatives effectively. Through a proven three-step framework, you’ll learn how to evaluate external factors, develop actionable strategies, and implement systems that ensure successful execution.

1. Design frameworks for assessing market opportunities and developing competitive differentiators.
2. Create strategic initiatives that align resources, capabilities, and performance metrics.
3. Implement approaches for driving organizational buy-in and strategic execution.

Mark Beasley, Alan T. Dickson Distinguished Professor of Accounting; director, Enterprise Risk Management Initiative, NC State Poole College of Management

Develop a strategic approach to enterprise risk management (ERM) that aligns with your organization’s governance and strategy. This program connects risk oversight processes to strategic decision-making, moving beyond traditional compliance to create value. You’ll learn practical methodologies and tools for implementing ERM processes that enhance your organization’s ability to identify, assess, and manage emerging risks, including opportunities for taking smart strategic risks.

1. Design a risk oversight process that integrates with your organization’s strategy.
2. Create frameworks for identifying and evaluating potential emerging risks in light of strategic objectives.
3. Develop metrics and indicators to monitor and manage key risk exposures.

Jon Carr, Jenkins Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship, and Jeff Pollack, Lynn T. Clark II Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship, NC State Poole College of Management

Master the art of compelling communication that transforms business opportunities into actionable strategies. This program provides a comprehensive approach to developing powerful value propositions and elevator pitches that capture attention, communicate value, and drive meaningful business conversations. You’ll learn to distill complex ideas into clear, persuasive messages that resonate with stakeholders and potential investors.

1. Learn to craft concise and impactful value propositions.
2. Practice creating memorable elevator pitches that communicate core business value.
3. Identify key communication principles that enhance your ability to influence and persuade.