Experiential Learning at the Carlson School

Enterprise Programs

The four Carlson School Enterprise programs assemble MBA and select undergraduate students into small teams to address the real-world challenges of client businesses which expect real-world results. It’s an in-depth professional and transformational experience that few business schools offer.

Brand Enterprise

The Carlson Brand Enterprise is not simply another classroom; it’s a place of business. Brand Enterprise participants apply the knowledge they obtain in the classroom to a real-world problem and gain hands-on experience implementing strategic and analytical components of brand and marketing strategy consulting.

Consulting Enterprise

The Carlson Consulting Enterprise challenges students to apply lessons that span a variety of business disciplines to inform the best recommendation for a partner organization. Consulting Enterprise participants evaluate a business challenge and present a fresh strategy to clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit organizations.

Funds Enterprise

The David S. Kidwell Funds Enterprise was established in 1998 and is currently the largest student-managed investment fund (SMIF) in the United States with over $50 million in assets under management, and is the first SMIF in the world to become a Signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). Through participation in the Funds Enterprise, students and professional advisors are responsible for managing all aspects of the Carlson School Growth Fund LLC and Carlson School Fixed Income Fund LLC. This is not a project, it is a real business.

Ventures Enterprise

The Carlson Ventures Enterprise (CVE) is designed for exceptional students who are passionate about creating, developing, and growing new ideas. CVE students work in teams with clients that include Fortune 500 companies, mission-driven social ventures, startups, and everything in between. Typically the work includes research, validation, and implementation of new business concepts using entrepreneurial best practices and methodologies.

Business Analytics Experiential Learning Program

As part of the MS in Business Analytics Full-Time program, students partner with real-world client organizations to draw innovative conclusions and facilitate data-driven decision making to solve a real business problem. The Business Analytics Experiential Learning Program offers dynamic projects that allow students to apply analytics methodologies, techniques, and tools to a business problem.