The Leader Project

The LEADER Project is an economic development initiative dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs through business training. Each year, HBA, MSc, MBA, and PhD students from Ivey Business School travel to emerging regions to train and mentor aspiring entrepreneurs as they work to launch and/or scale new ventures. LEADER began in 1991 following the collapse of the USSR, when a group of MBA students traveled to former Soviet states to coach government officials, plant managers, entrepreneurs, and students on how to run successful businesses in a free-market economy. Since its inception, more than 1,200 Ivey students have traveled across the world, teaching over individuals in emerging economies. As global business contexts have evolved, so has the LEADER’s mission. Today, the curriculum emphasizes the skills required to envision, launch, and grow sustainable enterprises. Through the support of the Richard Ivey School of Business, LEADER delivers an integrated approach of teaching through cases, lectures, workshops, and one-on-one coaching, equipping entrepreneurs with the decision-making tools needed to succeed in each stage of their venture.