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Graziadio School Offers Guided Tour Through Entrepreneurial Experience

As part of the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Business and Management's newly revamped emphasis in entrepreneurship, the school will host a one-day conference, "The Entrepreneur's Journey: Finding, Launching and Growing the Next Big Thing" from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Drescher Graduate Campus in Malibu.  

The event will provide a "one-day guided tour through the entrepreneurial experience from creative idea to high market-value start-up that investors will fight over." Moderators include Larry Cox, associate professor of entrepreneurship and director of the entrepreneurship program; Douglas Howe, practitioner faculty in entrepreneurship; and John Shearer, Pepperdine's first-ever entrepreneur-in-residence.

The agenda will kick off with keynote speaker, followed by the first panel discussion,
“Great Idea! Now What?” Led by Cox, participants will explore the process of new idea generation, new venture creation, and the critical steps to transform a great idea into a successful enterprise.

After networking and lunch, the first afternoon panel will focus on the business plan. Titled “The Business Plan – Write It for the Right Reasons!”, Douglas Howe will moderate a discussion to understand the key goals of writing the plan and how critical components provide the roadmap to wealth creation.

The third panel, “The Legal Landscape—Navigating Start-up Issues,” will offer insight into choosing the appropriate corporate structure, understanding protection of both proprietary and non-proprietary intellectual property, and key federal and state regulations entrepreneurs must observe.

“Access to Capital: The Investor Perspective” is the title of the final formal panel discussion. The goal is for participants to acquire an acute understanding of what investors are looking for in today's challenging new venture climate from experts in Angel and venture capital funding.

“Entrepreneurial spirit is the legacy of both University founder George Pepperdine and the business school’s namesake George Graziadio,” says Linda Livingstone, dean of the Graziadio School.

Registration is required. For more information about the entrepreneurship curriculum at the Graziadio School of Business and Management, click here.