Empower Your Business: A Free Ivy League Certificate for Women Entrepreneurs

HIGHLIGHTS

Starting a business can feel overwhelming—there’s so much to learn, and the journey can be daunting.

But you don’t have to do it alone! When I began my entrepreneurship journey, I discovered an incredible free program designed specifically for women starting their own businesses. I was thrilled to find this opportunity, and now I want to share it with you.

Why I Recommend This Program

I personally took this class and found it incredibly helpful. The section I found most interesting focused on Business Planning. I grew up in a family with limited extras. This taught me the value of budgeting and saving from an early age. Because of this, I have developed a strong passion for personal finances. I actually look forward to balancing my checkbook and creating budgets! That same mindset naturally translated into my love for business planning, which I now find both exciting and essential.

Pair that with a teaching background, where planning is second nature to me. I always make sure there’s a Plan A, B, and C (because let’s be honest, sometimes in a Kindergarten classroom the wheels completely fall off!). So, you can imagine my excitement when I took my first Business Planning course on creating a business pro forma.

It might sound fancy, but don’t let it intimidate you! At its core, a pro forma is simply a financial road map. A pro forma is important because it helps businesses plan for the future. It shows how much money they might make and spend, helping them make smart decisions. Businesses use it to set goals, find problems early, and show investors or banks that they have a good plan for success. It can also help you visualize how your business could perform financially in the best-case, worst-case, and middle-ground scenarios. This information is crucial to gather before launching any business venture—you need to know: What happens if my business thrives? What if it just gets by? What if it struggles? Now answer for yourself: Does your great business idea still make sense to pursue?

That wasn’t the only interesting topic you will cover in the course. You will also learn about:

🔹Creating your venture: Personal readiness and customer discovery

🔹Funding your business venture and business planning

🔹Making it legal: Different business entities (LLC, C Corp, and S Corp)

🔹Marketing including developing a brand identity, logo and tagline

Fair warning: you will have homework! But trust me, it’s worth it. As you work through the coursework, you’ll gain valuable insights. You’ll learn from knowledgeable Cornell professors. They truly understand what it takes to build a successful business. I promise—you’ll learn a lot!

How to Get Started:

Enrollment is open to women entrepreneurs across the U.S., and spots fill up quickly. Don’t wait to invest in yourself and your business!

🔗The Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell

This is your chance to gain a world-class education without the financial burden. I highly recommend it—it made a difference for me, and I know it can for you, too!

Highline Admin