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    Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship
    Hybrid Program

    Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship

    by Brown Pre-College Programs

    Brown’s social entrepreneurship course turns social issues into business ideas through a business plan, elevator pitch, and community Action Plan.

    Last verified: 9 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy

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    Leadership in Changing Business at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Upcoming

    Eligibility

    Completing grades 9–12; no prerequisites

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 14-18

    Location / Region

    Providence, Rhode Island, United States

    Cost

    $4,748; $5,778; $6,052

    Duration

    2 weeks

    Format

    Hybrid

    Next deadline

    Not announced · Next cycle not announced

    Get next-cycle reminder
    Business & EconomicsEntrepreneurship
    Accommodation: Brown residence halls; commuter option
    Meals: Residential meals; one daily commuter meal
    Certificate / Outcome: Digital certificate; Course Performance Report
    Campus experience: Libraries, study centers, Writing Center
    Instructor: Kelly Ramirez
    Sessions / cadence: Online: 8×1-hour Tue/Thu; 15–20 hours/week total
    Campus workload: 5 hours class; 2–3 hours homework/day

    Leadership in Changing Business summary

    This Brown Leadership Institute course explores how enterprises can address social problems while responding to community needs.

    Students compare business models and legal structures, learn from mission-driven guest speakers, and develop a business plan and elevator pitch.

    Its strongest fit is someone who wants to connect entrepreneurship with practical community action and collaborative leadership.

    What is Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship?

    Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship is a Brown University Pre-College course within the Leadership Institute. It examines how social purpose businesses, nonprofits, and revenue-generating enterprises address challenges in health, education, and the environment. Readings, recorded presentations, discussions, and guest speakers connect business theory with community needs.

    Students develop their own social enterprise business plan and elevator pitch while exploring legal structures, impact measurement, and socially responsible leadership. A community Action Plan turns those ideas into a practical response to a local issue. Separate campus and online sections offer different ways to participate.

    Why Succeed highlights Leadership in Changing Business

    • The business plan and elevator pitch give students concrete work to explain and refine.

    • Legal structures and impact metrics add substance beyond general leadership inspiration.

    • Mission-driven guest speakers connect classroom ideas with organizations tackling social problems.

    • The Action Plan encourages students to apply their learning in their own communities.

    Who is Leadership in Changing Business for?

    Best for

    Students who enjoy developing ideas with others and want to apply business models to social or environmental problems.

    Not ideal if

    You want a light introduction with little independent work, or need college credit from the course.

    Is Leadership in Changing Business worth it?

    This course is worth considering if you want to test whether entrepreneurship can serve a community need. Building a plan, measuring impact, and presenting a pitch give you several ways to discover what interests you and where your thinking needs improvement.

    The investment makes most sense when you value the teaching and project experience themselves. It is noncredit, and Brown explicitly says Pre-College is not a prospecting program for undergraduate admission. A certificate alone is a weaker reason to choose it than a project you want to pursue afterward.

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    20 minutes · No obligation to enrol

    A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    $4,748; $5,778; $6,052; includes Course instruction and program activities., Residential option: housing and dining-hall meals., Commuter option: one campus meal per day., Campus options: fitness, athletic, and aquatics center access., Online option: twice-weekly live sessions and instructor support., No-cost Writing Center consultations while enrolled., Digital completion certificate after successful completion., Course Performance Report..

    Accommodation

    Brown residence halls; commuter option

    Meals

    Residential meals; one daily commuter meal

    Supervision or safety information

    Trained student life staff live in the residence halls, and students have required nightly check-ins. Multiple staff tiers provide support around the clock, although students also have substantial independence outside class.

    Provider details

    Review the Brown Pre-College Programs provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    Dates and logistics

    2 weeks; Providence, Rhode Island, United States.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.

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    How much preparation does Leadership in Changing Business need?

    Effort level

    High, with substantial independent project work.

    Best started

    Six to eight weeks before the application deadline, allowing time for essays, academic records, and any English testing.

    Main challenge

    Turning a broad social concern into a feasible enterprise with measurable impact.

    Typical preparation

    • Choose a community issue you care about and identify who experiences it.

    • Gather current and previous academic-year grades and draft an original application essay.

    • For the campus section, allow about one hour for the required pre-course assignment due one week before classes.

    Useful if

    You want to practice business planning, public speaking, and collaborative leadership.

    What do students do on Leadership in Changing Business?

    You examine how social enterprises work, then use those ideas to design and communicate your own venture. Leadership discussions and a community Action Plan connect the business project with broader questions of responsibility and social change.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Explore social enterprise models through readings, presentations, guest speakers, and discussion.

    2. 2

      Assess a social need and consider suitable business models and legal structures.

    3. 3

      Develop a theory of change, business model canvas, and impact metrics.

    4. 4

      Organize your social enterprise business plan and deliver an elevator pitch.

    5. 5

      Develop an Action Plan that applies your learning to a local social problem.

    Leadership in Changing Business dates and deadlines

    Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Application deadline

    15 May 2026

    General Brown Pre-College deadline; admission and course enrollment are separate.

    Reference date

    Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship — Online, 4 weeks, Course 10011

    22 June-17 July 2026

    Required Tuesday and Thursday live sessions alongside independent work.

    Reference date

    Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship — On-Campus, 2 weeks, Course 10008

    22 June-2 July 2026

    Residential arrival is the preceding Sunday; classes meet Monday–Friday.

    Reference date

    Applications open

    14 January 2026

    Brown Pre-College application opening.

    Reference date

    Final admission decisions

    22 May 2026

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Completing grades 9–12.

    • Ages 14–18 by 14 June 2026.

    • No course prerequisites.

    • Strong English language proficiency.

    • Applicable international applicants must provide TOEFL iBT or Duolingo results.

    • One Leadership Institute course per student each summer.

    How much does Leadership in Changing Business cost?

    Program fee

    $4,748; $5,778; $6,052 — Commuter, online, and residential options respectively.

    Funding or discounts

    • Application fee: $80 — Nonrefundable; fee waivers have eligibility restrictions.
    • Enrollment deposit: $500 — Nonrefundable except under Brown's course-cancellation policy.
    • Scholarships: Separate application required; citizenship and immigration-status restrictions apply.

    What's included

    Course instruction and program activities., Residential option: housing and dining-hall meals., Commuter option: one campus meal per day., Campus options: fitness, athletic, and aquatics center access., Online option: twice-weekly live sessions and instructor support., No-cost Writing Center consultations while enrolled., Digital completion certificate after successful completion., Course Performance Report.

    How to apply to Leadership in Changing Business

    1. 1

      Create one applicant account in Brown's student portal.

    2. 2

      Complete the application form and write an original 250–500-word essay.

    3. 3

      Upload current and previous academic-year grades in English and any required English test results.

    4. 4

      Pay the $80 application fee or obtain an approved waiver.

    5. 5

      Monitor the portal for additional-material requests and your admission decision.

    6. 6

      After admission, confirm your course choice, submit the $500 deposit, and enroll separately.

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    What does Leadership in Changing Business cover?

    The program covers the following focus areas.

    Social enterprise models

    Compare social purpose businesses, nonprofits, and revenue-generating enterprises.

    Legal structures

    Evaluate nonprofit, for-profit, hybrid, benefit corporation, and cooperative structures.

    Impact and venture design

    Develop a theory of change, business model canvas, and social impact dashboard.

    Leadership and pitching

    Practice collaborative leadership while organizing a business plan and delivering an elevator pitch.

    Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.

    What is a typical day on Leadership in Changing Business?

    A typical day during the program.

    Morning classes

    Monday–Friday classes and leadership workshops follow breakfast.

    Afternoon classes

    Classes and leadership workshops resume after lunch.

    Independent work

    Allow two to three homework hours daily alongside optional activities.

    Residential check in

    Students check in for nightly residence-hall curfew.

    Who teaches on Leadership in Changing Business?

    Kelly Ramirez is the named instructor for both course sections. Guest speakers introduce students to individuals and organizations whose work reflects mission-driven values.

    Where do students stay on Leadership in Changing Business?

    Residential plan

    • Brown residence halls: Live with other Leadership Institute students in furnished university housing.
    • Dining-hall meals: The residential fee includes meals, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the daily schedule.
    • Residential support: Trained student life staff provide support and conduct required nightly check-ins.
    • Campus facilities: Access libraries, study centers, the Writing Center, and fitness, athletic, and aquatics centers.

    Non-residential plan

    • Commuter attendance: Attend campus classes and use campus resources and activities without a room assignment.
    • Daily commuter meal: The commuter option includes one campus meal per day.

    Residential students have substantial independence outside classes and nightly check-ins.

    What happens after Leadership in Changing Business?

    After completing this program, participants often pursue:

    Use your business plan and pitch to explain a social enterprise idea.

    Apply your Action Plan in your school or community.

    Explore careers and educational pathways in mission-driven fields.

    Receive a digital completion certificate after successful completion.

    Use your Course Performance Report to reflect on your engagement.

    The course is noncredit, and Brown Pre-College is not a prospecting program for undergraduate admission.

    Where does Leadership in Changing Business take place?

    The campus section takes place at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Students use an urban campus where journeys between classes, dining halls, activities, and residences can involve 15–20 minutes of walking.

    Learning format

    The online section uses Canvas and combines independent readings, written discussions, videos, and project work with required live sessions every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Plan for approximately 15–20 hours of total work each week, including live attendance and independent study, with opportunities for one-on-one instructor or teaching-assistant support.

    Mentorship and feedback

    • One-on-one instructor or teaching-assistant office hours are offered during the online course.

    • Twice-weekly live sessions connect students with classmates and course teaching.

    • An instructor-written Course Performance Report assesses engagement and work.

    • No-cost virtual Writing Center consultations pair students with trained Brown graduate Writing Associates.

    Time-zone considerations

    • Online live sessions are required every Tuesday and Thursday.
    • The published meeting time is 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
    • Independent coursework can be organized around the live meetings.
    • Allow approximately 15–20 total hours of work each week.

    Assessment style

    Learning centers on project work, participation, and an instructor performance report without formal grades.

    • Develop a social enterprise business plan and elevator pitch capstone.
    • Create a feasible community Action Plan.
    • Participate in discussions and collaborative learning.
    • Receive an instructor-written Course Performance Report.
    • Successful completion qualifies students for a digital certificate.

    Portfolio / outputs

    Main deliverable / output

    The main capstone is a business plan and elevator pitch for your own social enterprise idea.

    • A theory of change or logic model and business model canvas.

    • A social impact metrics dashboard.

    • A community Action Plan.

    • A digital completion certificate.

    • A Course Performance Report.

    Leadership in Changing Business FAQs

    There are no prerequisites. The course particularly suits students interested in applying business models to social issues and developing their leadership abilities.

    You will develop a business plan and elevator pitch for a nonprofit or for-profit social enterprise. You will also develop an Action Plan addressing a social problem in your community.

    Plan for approximately 15–20 hours each week, including independent coursework and required live sessions. The live meetings take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

    Yes. Commuter students attend in person, receive one campus meal per day, and have access to campus resources and activities. The residential option provides housing and dining-hall meals.

    The course is noncredit. Successful students receive a Digital CeCertificate of Completion and a Course Performance Report.

    No. Students apply to Brown Pre-College first and enroll in a course separately after admission and payment of the nonrefundable deposit.

    Trained student life staff live in the residence halls, and students have required nightly check-ins. Multiple staff tiers provide support around the clock, although students also have substantial independence outside class.

    Alternatives to Leadership in Changing Business

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    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources & verification

    Source types reviewed

    • Handbook of Pre-College Policies | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Student Life | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Financial Policies and Payment Information | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Application Checklist | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Apply | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Program Dates and Costs | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Leadership Institute
    • 2026 Program Costs: Breakdown of Fees
    • Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship - Pre-College Course Catalog"

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 9 Oct 2026)

    • Course sections verified

    • Eligibility requirements reviewed

    • Application deadline checked

    • Program totals compared

    • Workload and schedule reviewed

    • Residential support reviewed

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.