University of Saint Mary launching entrepreneur boot camp to supplement OP campus’ healthcare focus

A new, four-week crash course in entrepreneurism is coming to the University of Saint Mary’s Overland Park campus, with officials hoping the pilot helps healthcare-focused students better connect with needed business skills.

“We have a lot of wisdom to share,” said John Shultz, vice president for admissions and marketing at the university, noting a treasure trove in Saint Mary’s pool of talent and connections.

A Catholic, co-education university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Saint Mary sees the pilot boot camp as a distilled down version, or the heart and soul of, its Masters in Business Administration program, he said.

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“There was a consensus among our faculty members that there is a lack of offering like this in the community right now,” Shultz added. “It’s almost more of a passion project right now and I think we’re just open to seeing where it goes and where [student’s] interests are.”

The boot camp — expected to highlight real-world problems to better prepare entrepreneurs for the changing market — begins March 15 with additional start dates throughout June and September. The program is open to all community members, said Shultz, noting existing students in particular majors can utilize the boot camp to supplement their careers in healthcare.

“Particularly for our physical therapy students, there is a lot of room in those industries for some business skills but [students] might not want to get that advanced degree in healthcare or to complete an entire [Masters of Business Administration] program [to get it],” he said.

Click here to learn more about the Entrepreneur Boot Camp at the University of Saint Mary.

“[It will cover] everything that someone might need to walk out of this with confidence that they know what they’re doing in terms of getting a business going,” Shultz said.

“If you’re already out there or already succeeding, it might be something that helps you or your team kind of recapture that entrepreneurial spirit,” he added.

Instructors from various industries and experiences are expected to be involved in the bootcamp, said Shultz.

“We are very interested in seeing where this develops,” he said.