Victor Valley College Case Study
February 24, 2023
Location: Victorville, California Number of employees: 850 Annual unduplicated student headcount: 18,000 Racial and ethnic demographics: 61% Hispanic, 18% white, 9% Black Students whose enrollment fees are paid via financial aid: 87% OVERVIEW: A light bulb went on when Dr. Dan Walden heard entrepreneurship described as the self-directed pursuit of opportunities to create value for others. As the Superintendent and President at Victor Valley College, Walden believes all 850 employees and 18,000 students…
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Originally posted in our April 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. In this podcast conversation, research psychologist Jamil Zaki and McKinsey talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle discuss the importance of fostering empathic behavior within organizations. They explore how cultivating empathy can lead to increased productivity, a stronger workplace culture, and better overall organizational health. For entrepreneurial thinkers, embracing empathy is crucial, as it enables a deeper understanding of customer needs and preferences. By leveraging empathy,…
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Originally posted in our April 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. In his essay “Relentlessly Resourceful,” Paul Graham defines a successful startup founder as someone who embodies the quality of being relentlessly resourceful. Graham contrasts this with the notion of being hapless, emphasizing that in dynamic and complex domains, success hinges on more than just perseverance. For followers of ELI’s work, this underscores the critical importance of resourcefulness in entrepreneurial thinking. Resourcefulness is not only fundamental to…
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Originally posted in our March 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. In a review of 2,100 meta-analyses from over 40 years, Professor John Hattie has uncovered what he believes to be the main factors in improving student engagement. In his report, Hattie emphasizes the importance of shifting educational culture towards fostering excitement and engagement in both teachers and students. He highlights the critical role of high expectations and embracing diverse learning opportunities. Ultimately, he underscores the transformative…
Read more“Post-pandemic, our bored and disconnected teenagers need a whole lot more than high-dosage tutoring”
Originally posted in our March 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. In her piece, “Post-pandemic, our bored and disconnected teenagers need a whole lot more than high-dosage tutoring,” Elina Alayeva writes for The Hechinger Report, discussing the crucial need to make the public high school system more relevant and meaningful for teenagers. This connection to the learning process, coupled with meaningful content, resonates with ELI’s belief in teaching people to think entrepreneurially as a solution to improving…
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