Jorge Guillen‘s presentation at the Doral Business Forum highlighted the critical role of digital marketing in the entrepreneurial journey. By focusing on digital marketing workshops, The Idea Center at MDC acknowledges the shifting landscape of business, where online presence and digital strategies have become indispensable. These workshops, aimed at both existing business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, serve as a testament to the center’s commitment to equipping individuals with the skills necessary to thrive in a digital economy.
The Power of Partnership: Collaborating with Industry Leaders
A notable aspect of Guillen’s approach is the collaboration with industry giants such as Verizon and the involvement of influential figures like the CEO of Web Congress. These partnerships not only enhance the credibility and quality of the workshops but also provide participants with direct access to cutting-edge insights and resources. The partnership with Verizon, for example, not only offered participants knowledge on spreading the digital word but also introduced them to valuable resources and grants available for small business owners.
Scale Up: Nurturing Growth Through Comprehensive Training
The Scale-Up program, as described by Guillen, embodies a mini-MBA experience tailored for small business owners seeking to expand their operations. This hands-on program, conducted in both Spanish and English, underscores The Idea Center’s inclusive approach to education, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder entrepreneurial ambition. The program’s structure, combining classroom instruction with one-on-one coaching and community networking, offers a holistic model for business development that addresses the multifaceted challenges entrepreneurs face.
Community Networking: Building a Supportive Ecosystem
Community networking emerges as a cornerstone of The Idea Center’s strategy. By fostering a supportive ecosystem where entrepreneurs can connect with peers, industry experts, and potential partners, The Idea Center not only aids in the immediate growth of businesses but also contributes to the long-term vitality of the local economy. Events that bring together various stakeholders exemplify how the center acts as a catalyst for collaboration and innovation within the Miami-Dade area and beyond.
Pitch Competition: Showcasing Talent and Innovation
The pitch competition, an integral part of the Scale Up program, highlights the importance of effective communication and presentation skills in the entrepreneurial journey. By preparing participants to pitch their business ideas compellingly, The Idea Center not only helps refine their business propositions but also opens doors to funding opportunities and exposure. The competition embodies the practical, real-world focus of The Idea Center’s programs, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and actionable skills.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Impact and Fostering Growth
As The Idea Center prepares to launch new cohorts, its commitment to fostering growth and innovation within the Doral community and beyond remains clear. Guillen’s invitation to upcoming programs emphasizes the center’s open-door policy, welcoming entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds to partake in its transformative educational offerings.
Conclusion
Jorge Guillen‘s presentation at the Doral Business Forum showcased The Idea Center at MDC’s dynamic approach to entrepreneurship education, emphasizing digital marketing, comprehensive training programs, and community networking. Through strategic partnerships and innovative programming, The Idea Center is not just educating entrepreneurs; it’s actively shaping the future of the local economy. As the center continues to evolve and expand its offerings, its impact on fostering a vibrant, inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Doral and beyond is undeniable.
Transcript
Like a serious vibe, let’s say for a webinar. We talk about digital marketing, so we do two or three workshops on digital marketing, right? And these workshops are targeted at business owners, people who want to launch a business, and people who are in the pre-launch stage. And the second thing that we do, these are some examples of the workshops that we have done.
This is one that we did with Carolina. We are excited about how to spread the digital word at Wolfson campus, and we did it in partnership with Verizon. Every time we do a workshop like this, there are three things that you will get. The first one, you will get, of course, information, knowledge, or skills about the topic that we are covering.
Second, you will have the chance to network. You will have an opportunity for networking to get to know other business owners and other programs that we are doing at the college. And so, you will have the opportunity to learn about resources that are available for small business owners. Like, for example, in this one, Verizon has a platform with a lot of resources and they also have a grant.
So what we did is that at the end of the workshop, they were offering information about that. Right? And every time we do a workshop, we try to do it like that. We bring some partners in. You get information about the topic, you get networking, and you get information about resources that are available for business owners.
This is another example. This one is coming up next week, I think it’s next week. Yes, on the 29th. And it’s about how to leverage AI for marketing to new generations and sales. And you are all invited if you want to go. It’s on campus and it’s going to be from 4 to 6 p.m.
We have the CEO of Web Congress as a speaker. He is a great guy who has been organizing tech and marketing events in more than 16 cities. This is another one that is coming up; we’re doing it actually in partnership with the city of Doral, with Antonio Bravo, Platinum Business Solutions, Miami, Wayside Foundation, and Prosper.
This one is going to be happening at West Campus on March 14. You are also invited. If you want to get more information, I’m going to be in the other room later and I’ll be happy to share more information about that. And this is the second thing that we do for business owners, how our signature program for business owners is the cohorts that we do, the training program that we do.
We call it Scale Up, a comprehensive, hands-on program that’s akin to a mini-MBA, always conducted in person, in both Spanish and English. The target audience for this program is business owners who have been operating for at least a year, with no more than ten employees and no more than $500K in gross revenue per year.
Scale Up offers three main benefits. First, the classes: we bring instructors into the classroom to guide you through finance, operations, sales, and marketing strategy—every area crucial for growing and expanding your business. Second, you receive coaching. We offer one-on-one coaching sessions every week for the 12 weeks of the program, allowing you to schedule time with a business advisor. This advisor helps you in two main areas:
- Developing a growth plan, providing you with a roadmap for your business upon completing the program.
- Assisting you in digesting the information and knowledge gained from the classroom and applying it to your business.
The third benefit of Scale Up is community networking. We emphasize community building within the program and organize events to introduce you to partners offering various resources, enabling you to connect with them and leverage the opportunities available for business owners in Miami.
An example of our ongoing cohort includes 17 participants in the English group and 15 in the Spanish one. The program consists of 12 weeks of training, with one three-hour in-person session per week, and at least seven coaching sessions over the 12 weeks, totaling 15 in-person sessions. Additionally, we offer a $5K grant at the program’s end.
We also conduct a pitch competition, preparing you to effectively present your business. This is crucial not only for what we sell but also for how we present and sell it. The winner of the pitch competition receives a few thousand dollars as well.
A quick overview of the curriculum starts with understanding yourself as an entrepreneur—your goals, skills, strengths, and weaknesses. Then, we move on to understanding our market, competition, value proposition, marketing, finances, operations, and every other aspect vital for growth and expansion.
We have a few more cohorts coming up this year at our West Campus, starting in April, for both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking businesses. You’re more than welcome to join any of these. If you want more information, please contact me, and I’ll be happy to share more.
Thank you.