ESHIP3_Finding_Your_Inner_Founder

Course Description and Competencies

What to Expect

In this course, you will work through five modules. These modules will be broken into smaller lessons. Studying this material will build foundational knowledge of entrepreneurship principles. Throughout the course, you will find readings, videos, and a variety of interactive elements. You will also have the opportunity to complete activities in end-of-module Startup Studio lessons. These hands-on exercises will guide you through building the deliverables you will need to submit for your final project.

Prerequisites:

Define Your Business (ESHIP1) and Build Your Strategy (ESHIP2) are prerequisites for this course.

Course Competencies

This course covers the following competencies:

The learner demonstrates self-aware leadership by delivering feedback that is clear, empathetic, and aligned with a personal leadership style.
The learner builds meaningful professional relationships through proactive networking and authentic engagement.
The learner develops and delivers audience-focused business communications that are clear, persuasive, and professional.
The learner creates realistic and actionable plans to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and achieve goals.
The learner demonstrates emotional insight by reflecting on challenges with honesty, growth mindset, and proactive coping strategies.

Assessment

You must achieve a ranking of Competent on the assessment to pass the course. You may attempt the assessment two times before additional support is necessary. If you require further attempts, please contact your Student Experience Team.

1 Final Project

3 Competency Units

Course Outline

Module	Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. Lead With Your Strengths	Identify and describe your personal leadership style and explain how it aligns with your strengths and values. Apply your leadership style to giving constructive feedback in a way that supports team trust and growth.
2. Say It So It Sticks	Describe the key elements of an effective story for entrepreneurial communication: purpose, structure, and audience alignment. Build a clear and persuasive business case by identifying the problem, solution, and value of your idea. Prepare and structure a compelling short pitch, including a memorable opening and focused key messages.
3. Connect to Grow	Map your existing network and categorize connections based on the role they play (e.g., mentor, supporter, connector). Identify opportunities to build new professional connections through everyday spaces and intentional outreach. Utilize current online platforms to create professional connections.
4. Work Smart, Not More	Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix and time-blocking schedules to sort tasks by priority and plan effective weekly workflows. Create short, clear, and focused daily to-do lists that align with your top goals. Apply time management techniques to a real weekly schedule, balancing startup work with other life responsibilities.
5. Grow Through What You Go Through	Identify your own emotional triggers and apply EQ strategies to respond rather than react under pressure. Reflect on past setbacks and analyze how you recovered—or how you could have responded with greater resilience. Apply emotional intelligence and self-reflection to real-life business or personal challenges to support long-term success.

Technology Requirements

We want to be sure you have the tools to succeed! Review the Computer System and Technology Requirements to learn about the technology you'll need. If you have questions about your setup, contact support@academy.wgu.edu.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. If you haven't already, download this free software. You may encounter an interactive form that contains fields that you can select or fill in. Review how to fill in a PDF form.

Key Contacts

Certificate Connect
Check out this online community to take advantage of course resources, including videos and tips from your educators. You can ask and answer questions, provide feedback on your progress, and interact with fellow students. You will find this platform in the Student Resources section of the course. Log on and do some exploring!

Technical Support
If you encounter technical issues, be sure to contact the Help Desk. Just submit a Support Request for assistance.

Program Support
Do you have questions about your account? Student Support has answers. They can help with billing, switching courses, and other requests. You can contact them at (888) 320-0540 or support@academy.wgu.edu.

Accommodations

WGU provides compliant and accessible learning experiences. If you require accommodation, please contact us at the start of the course. You can email disability@academy.wgu.edu.

We are committed to ensuring that all students with disabilities have equal access to WGU's services and materials. We strive to use best practices for accessibility. Our goal is to conform to existing U.S. laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Our learning management system (LMS) platform is Open edX. Open edX’s commitment to accessible content is published in their Website Accessibility Policy.