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Columbia Student Enterprises (CSE)
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Developing entrepreneurial and business leaders through student-run enterprises
Columbia Student Enterprises Program
The mission of the Columbia Student Enterprises program is to provide students with a unique opportunity to cultivate and develop transferable entrepreneurship and enterprise management skills through leading and running student-operated businesses. The Columbia Student Enterprises is steeped in rich history dating back to 1965, when students created their own businesses to offset the cost of tuition. Today, these businesses provide employment opportunities to approximately 200 Columbia students each year. Participants of this program emerge as experienced business managers, with a strong foundation in leadership, business ethics, and professional responsibility through direct, hands-on experience. The following three agencies make up today's Columbia Student Enterprises:
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Program Overview
The Columbia Student Enterprises Program identifies talented students interested in developing valuable business, leadership and management skills to serve as Managing Directors. Managing Directors serve for a one year management term. They are provided training, extensive professional development, and support to ensure success and to help achieve their business goals. During their management term, they receive a salary and are eligible for a performance bonus at the end of their term.
Program Features
Training
The Center for Career Education provides oversight and advisement for the Columbia Student Enterprises, as well as the Managing Directors and agency employees. Managing directors gain exposure to all aspects of the business through experiential training by shadowing current managers. The training period lasts approximately two months before a Managing Director will start leading their business directly. Training is often customized depending on the needs of the business, current trends in the industry and professional recommendations.
Professional Development Workshop Series
External consultants and business professionals provide one-on-one personalized consulting to each Managing Director in order to support their business operations. These professionals can discuss goals, brainstorm ideas, and discuss issues that may arise within the business. The Professional Development Workshops in the past have included
- Advertising and Marketing Strategy
- Social Media Training for business
- Effective Leadership
- Technology and Website Development
- Operations
- Professionalism & Ethics
- Succession Planning
Support
In addition to ensuring compliance with Columbia University policies and procedures, The Center for Career Education provides support through strong advisory relationships, mentoring and coaching. Each Managing Director has an individual experiential education advisor and a financial advisor, along with an advisory board to assist in decision making, IT planning, and operations oversight. These advisors facilitate professional and personal development with the aim of helping students achieve financial success with their enterprises. In addition, CCE maintains relationships with employers, alumni and individuals in a variety of industries that may be called upon to assist a Managing Director.
Program Benefits
Students participating in the Columbia Student Enterprises program can expect to gain the ability to manage and operate a business successfully, build confidence by taking calculated risks, and develop highly transferable business experience that can translate into real world opportunities. Student managers also gain valuable knowledge about the operational procedures of Columbia University, including working closely with and learning from institutional administrators to develop critical leadership competencies that can be applied to their future careers within other complex organizations. With the high impact support of CCE, students will be able to apply the skills they learn to their academic, personal, and professional growth and development. Students who become Managing Directors can expect to gain real world experience in the following areas:
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Management - Leadership, Operations, Financial Accounting, Business Plan Development, Strategic Planning, Sales, Negotiation, Marketing, Risk Analysis, and Human Capital Management
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Professional Skills - Time Management, Project Management, Team building, Productivity and Systems
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Soft Skills - Problem Solving, Teamwork, Creativity, and Effective Communication
If you are a student interested in participating in becoming a Managing Director, please read more about the application process.
Student Experiences
Meet the 2012-2013 Managing Directors in the Columbia Student Enterprises Program!
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Helena Wu is the 2012-2013 Managing Director at Columbia University Tutoring and Translating Agency (CUTTA). She is also a senior at Columbia University majoring in Biochemistry and concentrating in Business Management. In high school, Helena tutored a student in Math and in college, she was a Helproom Teaching Assistant and helped students with undergraduate-level chemistry. She researched about Parkinson's Disease with a professor at Columbia Medical School and is the President of a student-run science publication. As a resident advisor, Helena likes to take her residents on fun trips around New York City. Her enthusiasm for teaching and interest in business makes her a great match for her role as Managing Director of CUTTA. |
Melissa Kravitz is a senior studying Creative Writing in the School of General Studies while simultaneously pursuing a degree in Modern Jewish Studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. She has had internships at Good Housekeeping magazine and Columbia’s School of Continuing Education. Her passion for exploring New York City as well as her publishing ambitions make her a perfect fit for INY. Melissa has worked with Inside New York since her first days on campus. She brings her experience as a writer and web editor in her second term as Managing Director for the 2012-2013 year. | Arielle Kogut is a senior studying Economics at Columbia College with a dedicated interest in management and entrepreneurship. Arielle brings her studies in business as well as her personal experience working in the restaurant industry to her current role as the Managing Director of the Columbia Bartending Agency for the 2012-2013 term. She is excited to utilize her personal experiences and studies as a way to channel her managing experience within the Agency & School of Mixology. |
2011-2012 Managing Directors
| Deborah Feng, class of 2012, majored in East Asian Languages and Cultures and concentred in Business Management. She has held internships at Premiere Creative and China Television, and she has worked as a research assistant for a professor at Columbia Business School. During her time at Columbia, she spent her free time tutoring in middle and high school math, working as a teaching assistant at an elementary school in Harlem, and co-leading the English Tutoring Program (a satellite group of the Chinese Students Club that provides English tutoring to Chinese immigrants). Her enthusiasm for tutoring, languages, and business made being the Managing Director of CUTTA an exciting and relevant experience for her. |
Elliott Grieco, class of 2012, studied Sociology and Business Management at Columbia College. In addition to his work at the Columbia Bartending Agency, Elliott was also the editor-in-chief and regular contributor at The Fed, Columbia’s alternative and satirical tabloid publication. His past work experience evolved from behind the counter at a spirits and wine retailer, to behind the bar on the Jersey shore, to behind the screen at an e-commerce wine shop. Managing CBA was an exciting opportunity to combine his intimate experience with the spirits and wine industry with his zeal for entrepreneurship. |
Melissa Kravitz, class of 2013, studied Creative Writing in the School of General Studies while simultaneously pursuing a degree in Jewish Studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. She has had internships at Good Housekeeping magazine and Columbia’s School of Continuing Education. Her passion for exploring New York City as well as her publishing ambitions make her a perfect fit for INY. Melissa worked with Inside New York since her first days on campus. |
Opportunities
The deadline for Inside New York and Columbia Bartending Agency & School of Mixology Managing Director positions has been extended to February 10, 2013. Apply Now! (Applications are no longer being accepted for CUTTA.) In addition to management positions, there are over 200 part-time positions available within the enterprises such as bartending, tutoring, translating, blogging, writing, and advertising/sales. Interested students should check LionSHARE for any current postings or contact the current Managing Directors about the numerous part-time opportunities available (contact information below).
Information Sessions
Monday, December 3rd 2012 12:00pm-1:00pm, CCE Conference Room
Thursday, January 24th 2013 5:00pm-6:00pm, CCE Conference Room
Apply Now
Eligibility
Application Process
Program Contacts
If you have questions about this program, please contact the following individuals or click on the logo to link you directly to the website.
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Program Advisor: Jennie Creamer jlc2228@columbia.edu Managing Director: |
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Program Advisor: Emily Rosenberg Managing Director: |
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Program Advisor: Jill Burya jb3412@columbia.edu Managing Director: |
