This course analyzes the challenges and opportunities in Emerging and Frontier Markets. The superlative performance of EFMs has been the growth story of the past two decades. Understanding the functioning of these economies is a critical factor for the successful operation of a global enterprise.

In spite of the saying, financial numbers rarely speak for themselves. Telling Financial Stories will help future consultants, bankers and general managers interpret financial data in a number of challenging settings in which strategic company and leadership objectives are on the line. Students will learn frameworks for messaging to inform and influence, with topics ranging from reporting corporate earnings to pitching a startup.

In this class students will explore the theory & practice of sustainability, with focus on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles in practice, as well as exploring more traditional corporate social responsibility & the ecosystems involved in both (corporate & private foundations, NGO's, UN agencies, governments).

Working insight into the economic, strategic, and socio-political factors underpinning social impact. Students will learn to assess organizational capacity and the structures, processes and human capital necessary to effectively manage an enterprise. A deeper understanding of non profits and the environmental and social problems they address.Learn to adapt and fine tune their professional skills in a different sector.

Develop in students an understanding of the process view of innovation and how it is executed. Equip students with the tools to structure the "right" innovation processes for their own organization and to link innovation to the organization's business strategy. Enable students to view innovation management from the lenses of different individuals/functions in the organization.

Institutional investors increasingly rank serving a social purpose as a factor garnering high regard. How people define serving a social purpose varies widely however. Corporations have a unique value add in terms of expertise, human resources, public influence, and unrestricted funds. But do corporations embrace a social purpose in ways that deliver quantifiable outcomes for a range of stakeholders, as well as economic performance? This course provides an expanded vision of competitive strategy and ethics by incorporating social purpose as a source of new business opportunities, improved productivity, and competitive differentiation and at the same time minds the gap between policy and practice.

The course approaches digital product and technology creation through the lens of user experience (UX) design: the practice of placing people and their needs in the center of research and design work. Such work includes everything from creating enjoyable user experiences to ethical and safe interactions between the user and the product. Students learn to apply the insights from their quantitative and qualitative user research to design.

Applies financial methods and practices to the development of early-stage companies. The goal of EF is to help managers make better investment and financing decisions in an entrepreneurial setting. The course covers the stages of a venture's life from raising startup financing to arranging an exit. The course also provides an overview of the private equity industry and the institutional structure for raising early-stage financing.

Corporations, industries, and their associations all rely on advocacy to help improve policy and regulatory conditions that affect their business. Effective lobbying requires business insight and includes an enterprise risk management approach to ensure all business processes, strategies, and actions comply with relevant laws. This course is interested in the strategic importance of regulatory engagement and advocacy to a company¿s bottom line.

This course focuses on the process of acquisition of a business entity. Students will be shown the tools they need and the process to follow to successfully acquire a business of their own. Among the major topics covered will be the search process, assessing and valuing the business, financing consideration, negotiating, and closing the deal. The course may be of interest to those MBA students who are interested in leveraged buyouts, investment banking, venture capital, and other related careers. Prerequisites: Restricted to Darden students.