Bentley University News

So...you want to be an entrepreneur. You’ve got a few “brilliant” ideas bopping around your brain and one that you know has real potential. You’re finally ready to make this happen, to bring your vision to life and start your own venture. But what is the next step? How do you turn your dream into dollars?

Couple options.

A) What are you waiting for? Start your business. Find a crew of collaborators, brew some coffee and gear up for sleepless nights of coding, drafting a business plan, and hunting for investors.

B) Go to business school.

The sticker shock of an MBA cause many to rethink pursuing the graduate program. While the MBA has been an esteemed degree for decades, skyrocketing tuitions and the recessive economy have people questioning whether the degree is worth investing their time and hard-earned cash.

U.S. News and World Report recently released their 2015 Best Business Schools report displaying some startling numbers. Harvard University ranked highest for tuition and fees coming in at $66,348 per year, while Brigham Young University was the most affordable with a tuition of $22,450.

So you want to be a venture capitalist? Well, of course you do. Who isn’t motivated by the prospect of controlling tremendous wealth, possessing the power to turn visions into reality, and making some good money in the process? Not to mention having first-hand access to emerging technology, meeting fascinating people, and empowering entrepreneurial innovation. Few careers sound more exciting or rewarding.

Bentley's original PreparedU research found that, despite tremendous strides, challenges continue to exist for women in the workplace — 77 percent of business decision-makers believe men are better suited for success in the workplace, and only 26 percent of women hold senior management positions.

So what can companies do to help women pursue business careers and remove obstacles that prevent them from moving up the ranks?