ELEVATE – MBE Executive Education

CNHED’s Executive Leadership Education Venture Advancing Talented Entrepreneurs (ELEVATE) Program provides best-in-class training to minority-owned small businesses (MBEs) located in DC. Through ELEVATE, MBEs work to acquire new skills that allow them to more effectively and efficiently manage their business, products, and services, as well as increase revenue and employment.

ELEVATE is the only minority executive education program in DC that is backed by a university partner. The 3-month ELEVATE curriculum, developed by the George Washington School of Business (GWSB) Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, is led by GWSB faculty members.

The ELEVATE curriculum is tailored to enhance and cultivate new skills that will enable MBEs to compete in the private, institutional, and government procurement sectors. MBEs completing ELEVATE will leave the program with a newfound clarity and dynamism that will catapult their business to the next level.

Applications for ELEVATE Cohort IV are no longer being accepted.


Why Should Female MBEs Apply?
  • Understand the complex roles of female entrepreneurship, leadership, and management throughout the development of organizational strategies.
  • Refine or sharpen the business’ corporate strategy
  • Build relationships with other high-performing female-led MBEs
  • Learn from top-notch GW University School of Business professors
  • Receive certification from GWSB

Program Overview

Curriculum Pillars

Leadership

Growth

Professionalism

Sustainability

 

The ELEVATE curriculum is designed to help small business owners and entrepreneurs:
  1. Succinctly and critically analyze and evaluate various business opportunities
  2. Develop an entrepreneurial mindset to help create a digital corporate strategy
  3. Comprehend the complex roles of entrepreneurship, leadership, and management throughout the development of organizational strategies
  4. Recognize new opportunities for introducing innovation in wide-ranging organizational settings
  5. Develop a strategy for contracting and procurement with anchor institutions and corporations
  6. Understand various financial valuations of your firm
Benefits to MBEs

Upon completion of the program, ELEVATE students will be able to:

  1. Comprehend the complex roles of entrepreneurship, leadership, and management throughout the development of organizational strategies.
  2. Recognize new opportunities for introducing innovation in wide-ranging organizational settings
  3. Enhance their competitive advantage to compete in the private, institutional, and government procurement sectors
  4. Refine or sharpen the business’ corporate strategy
  5. Receive certification from George Washington University School of Business

Apply

Are you eligible? If so, get ready to apply by following these simple steps below:

  • Step 1Preview application questions first before starting your online application and recording your video essay
  • Step 2: Complete your online application
  • Step 3: Upload your photo and the YouTube URL to your pre-recorded 3 to 5-minute video essay to complete your online application
  • Step 4: Provide one business reference

Applications for ELEVATE Cohort IV are now closed.

ELEVATE Cohort IV is designed exclusively for minority, female-owned businesses.

Why Should Female MBEs Apply?
  • Understand the complex roles of female entrepreneurship, leadership, and management throughout the development of organizational strategies.
  • Refine or sharpen the business’ corporate strategy
  • Build relationships with other high-performing female-led MBEs
  • Learn from top-notch GW University School of Business professors
  • Receive certification from GWSB

Eligibility & Criteria

Eligibility
  • Must be a registered business and located in the District of Columbia
  • Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE)
  • Must be Female Owned (for Cohort IV)
  • Minimum 51% minority-ownership
Selection Criteria

Must meet at least TWO of the below criteria:

  • In business for at least five years
  • Minimum of five full- or part-time employees
  • Annual revenue of at least $300K

Thank you to our Program Sponsors

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