Entrepreneurship:

Innovation in the Liberal Arts

A liberal arts education might be viewed as a metaphor for entrepreneurship. The humanities suggest that the entrepreneur is an artist. History might see entrepreneurs as the true revolutionaries of technological, economic, and social change. A liberal arts education is rich in metaphors that are capable of capturing the multifaceted life of an entrepreneur. A course in film or the theatre might suggest that the entrepreneur is a stage or film director, while a course in physical education might reveal the entrepreneur as a coach… Undergraduate entrepreneurship education should not be viewed as a narrow careerist pursuit, but as giving new life to the traditions of a liberal arts education.
—Dennis Ray, “Liberal Arts for Entrepreneurs”

Entrepreneurship education provides an excellent complement to the rigorous liberal arts curriculum.  At St. Olaf College we combine academic excellence with a commitment to lifelong learning.  The philosophy of the Finstad Program is that entrepreneurship is a lifelong skill that can be taught, and something that is imperative to students entering a very turbulent working environment.  With the shifting economy and rapidly changing markets, entrepreneurial skills are more important than ever before.

Students need an entrepreneurial mind and skill set:
- willingness to take control
- tolerance for ambiguity
- understand risk
- to think broadly
- be creative
- to have the ability to add value
- think strategically
- identify and utilize resources

The Finstad program provides the St. Olaf community with the expertise, experience, and entrepreneurial spirit needed to thrive, whether starting a new business or working within an established organization, for-profit or not-for-profit. This program provides an unparalleled learning experience in entrepreneurial practice by providing Finstad Grants, entrepreneurship courses, internships, speaker events and other experiential learning activities. There are opportunities for collaboration, a tell-a-story competition, and educational websites for faculty.

The Finstad Program for Entrepreneurial Studies was established in 1992 with a major gift from the Paul and Anne Finstad and other St. Olaf alumni.