I completed my entrepreneurship credit with the course, Entrepreneurship in Cybersecurity.

In my opinion as an ODU student, this course is the best “innovation lab.” It’s intended to test all of the theories and approaches I’ve learned in general education and my major by building something from the ground up. Whether it’s a business plan, a new product, or a non-profit program, the objective is to close the gap between “academic knowledge” and “real-world transformation.”

Here, entrepreneurship is the main topic. It’s about solving problems, not just making money. The course teaches you how to approach a societal problem and apply your particular field of expertise to design a solution. By the end, you are more than just a student who completed a course; you are a creator capable of evaluating an innovation’s efficacy and presenting that solution to stakeholders.

The connection between this and leaders
The Entrepreneurship and Active Discovery pillars of the Learning through Active Discovery, Engagement, Reflection, and Showcase (LeADERS) program are directly accessible through this course.

Active Discovery through Innovation: Finding new applications for your education is a key component of the LeADERS program. That is taken literally in this course. By developing a program or product, I am participating in “Active Discovery”, discovering precisely how my specialized abilities (such as network management or data security) can be applied to start an initiative that didn’t already exist.

Integrating Disciplinary Knowledge: Demonstrating how your education makes you a well-rounded professional is a key component of LeADERS. I have to combine “interdisciplinary” thinking with my major-specific knowledge for this course. It demonstrates my ability to operate outside of a silo and comprehend how various disciplines contribute to the development of a profitable company or initiative.

The “Showcase” of Leadership: A crucial component of LeADERS is the “Showcase.” A completed project or business plan, which is the course’s final product, is the ideal focal point for an ePortfolio. It enables me to show employers that I possess the “Entrepreneurial” mindset necessary to not only follow directions but also to come up with and explain solutions to challenging issues.

Social Impact and Engagement: This course fits with LeADERS’ “Engagement” component since it promotes starting non-profits and finding solutions to societal issues. It demonstrates that I am making use of my time at ODU to consider how my professional interests can benefit my community and the wider world.