Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a startup founder, or a business student, having a well-crafted competitor analysis slide can make a significant difference in how your business pitch is received. Our free competition slide template is designed to simplify this process, ensuring that you convey the most critical information in an engaging and informative way.

Download our competitive analysis slide template here for free.

What Is a Competitive Analysis Slide?

The competitive analysis slide of a pitch deck articulates what sets your business apart from others in the market. It’s a vital analysis of your business strategy that may shape key focuses like fundraising, marketing, and product development. Ultimately, a well-executed competitive analysis chart displays how and why you’ll have a competitive advantage as you pursue a go-to-market strategy.

Our competitor analysis template for PowerPoint can be downloaded for free here and put to use in your own deck immediately. It’s a simple template, but read on to learn how a 2×2 grid has been used by many successful, global companies to conduct their competitor analyses. 

Our competitor analysis slide is available for download.

Competitor Analysis Template for Powerpoint

Our competitors slide template serves as a visual summary of your market research, highlighting your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses compared to your own offering. The template slide can be easily dropped into your PowerPoint pitch deck, as well as other tools like Google Slides.

Regardless of whether you’re actively presenting a pitch deck to investors or early contributors to your business venture, fleshing out a competitive analysis PowerPoint slide is a productive exercise. You never know when you’ll need to lean on such a slide—even if just to create a future reminder for yourself of where your head was at in the early days of building your business.

Competitor Analysis Examples

You may be wondering: how can such a simple competitive analysis slide be so useful? The reality is it’s incredibly hard to capture market share. It takes lots of focus for a company to compete on any one dimension. Committing to being the market leader in two dimensions is an excellent starting point.

Don’t just take it from us. The early competitor analyses from Airbnb and LinkedIn shed some light on how it’s done correctly. The following are real life examples from the companies’ early days, pulled from investor pitch decks.

Aribnb’s Competitor Analysis Slide

Competitors slide for Airbnb.

With Airbnb’s competitive analysis slide, we see two dimensions: price (affordable vs. expensive) and transaction type (offline vs. online). Dubbed “AirBed&Breakfast” in its early days, Airbnb stood out from its competitors by offering an affordable lodging service that heavily leveraged an online platform for transactions. At the time, Aribnb’s place as a leader in these two dimensions made it clear how they had a competitive advantage. 

Articulating its attractive positioning in the competitive landscape shaped Airbnb’s ability to attract investors, early employees, and ultimately, customers who benefited from its value propositions.

LinkedIn’s Competitor Analysis Slide

LinkedIn’s competitor slide from their original pitch deck.

With LinkedIn’s early competitors slide, the social media powerhouse leveraged two dimensions: focus type (social vs. professional) and platform type (software vs. website). At the time, a professional networking website was an innovation that—as history would show—enjoyed a well-received place in the market.

Once again here, we see the power of excelling in just two market dimensions. How many of the other logos do you recognize in this graphic? Probably not many! This highlights just how difficult it can be to achieve longevity in the market—and why your go-to-market strategy must consider your competitive advantages.

Three Tips for The Competitive Analysis Template

Whether you’re aiming to use our competitor analysis template for PowerPoint, Google Slides, or another presentation platform, it’s important to study how to use it correctly. Here are three pro tips for using our template to its fullest potential.

1. Dive Into Your Market Dynamics

When crafting a competitive analysis pitch deck slide, think deeply about your market. Your slide has limited space and the X- and Y-axes should effectively highlight the most significant opportunities for your business. This requires a careful selection of your dimensions, which should be based on extensive research and a comprehensive understanding of your market.

To identify some worthwhile dimensions, consider a variety of research methods:

• User or Customer Interviews: Engage with people in your target market, especially if you have pre-existing relationships in your industry. First-hand feedback is invaluable.
• Consult with Industry Experts: Leverage your network or utilize professional groups to gain insights from those with deep industry knowledge.
• In-depth Market Reports: Utilize resources from investment banks, consulting firms, and research companies to understand broader market trends and dynamics.
• Analysis of Current News: Stay updated with the latest news and trends relevant to your market with an eye toward emerging competitive advantages.

By casting a wide net in your research, you can develop a well-rounded view of the market. A comprehensive understanding is essential in identifying the dimensions that are most critical for your business, ensuring your competitive analysis slide is both impactful and informative.

2. Refine Your Competitive Edge

When defining the unique aspect of your business in a competitor analysis slide, it’s common to consider competing on price. However, we recommend thinking beyond this and exploring other dimensions of differentiation. Focusing solely on price may raise concerns among stakeholders—especially investors—about the sustainability of your profit margins.

To diversify beyond price as your competitive dimension, here are some recommendations:

• Customer Segmentation: Investigate whether your business is attracting a new market segment. For instance, is your product designed for an underserved audience? Think back to our LinkedIn example. The professional/business audience needed an accessible form of social media, and LinkedIn filled that need better than anyone else.
• Product Features: Assess if there are unique and distinct features in your product. Airbnb, for instance, initially set itself apart with its end-to-end online booking experience—a novel feature at the time.
• Business Model Innovation: Consider if your business introduces a new model in your industry. For example, could you be the pioneer of a subscription model in your market category? The past decade saw hundreds of success stories of companies that did exactly that.

By thoroughly evaluating these dimensions, you can identify a more robust and sustainable competitive edge for your business—one that resonates with stakeholders and gives you a distinct position in the market.

3. Remember, You Can Always Expand Your Analysis

As your business grows and/or pivots, you may find that the simple 2×2 analysis needs to go a bit deeper. To account for more nuances and a wider set of dimensions, we recommend an expanded competitive analysis tool called the Harvey Balls, which looks something like this:

For even more templates that may help you on your competitor analysis journey, check out some of our other favorites:

• Go-To-Market template
• McKinsey-style Consulting PowerPoint slides
• 30-60-90 day template

For those looking to build a more robust business acumen, we also recommend downloading the syllabus for our Business Intensive. We teach 8 core business skills in 6 weeks via our micro MBA. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more efficient and cost-effective way to level-up your business skills!

The post Competitor Analysis Slide Template [Free & Customizable] appeared first on brunchwork.

Slides are one of the top forms of communication in business. Using well-designed, slides can make all the difference in the success of your presentation.

In the business world, one of the most coveted slide designs is the McKinsey style of consulting slides. It’s clean, concise, and impactful. This style of slide design has become the standard for the industry. 

First, we’ll explain why you should aim for the McKinsey slide deck style. Next, we’ll take a look at some tips and tricks that you can use to create your own presentation. You will rival the very best consulting deck and consulting slides.

With our strategies for crafting your slides, you’ll be able to elevate your deck to a whole new level. Impress your audience with a professional and polished approach.

Download our McKinsey PowerPoint templates here.

The Power of Top-Tier Consulting PowerPoint Templates

In the consulting world, slides are an indispensable tool. Unless you’re working at Amazon, where you’re expected to produce 6-page memos, much of your communication will be done through slides. 

That’s why it’s essential that you have consulting PowerPoint templates in your toolkit. Here are some reasons why this style of slide is a winner:

• It clearly conveys your ideas.
• It leaves a lasting impression on your audiences.
• It’s clean and concise.
• It looks professional and polished.
• It makes for impactful presentations.

For professionals in the consulting world, creating McKinsey-style slides is an essential skill. This 6-slide McKinsey PowerPoint template is designed to help you create presentations that hit all the right notes.                        

4 Strategies to Optimize The McKinsey PowerPoint Template

Creating a McKinsey slide deck requires a level of precision and attention to detail that is unmatched in any other type of presentation. Here are some strategies you can use to craft a well-designed, professional decks: 

1. Focus on conveying a single idea on each slide.
2. Use the Pyramid Principle to structure your presentation with a logical flow.
3. Make clear and effective slide titles to grab your audience’s attention.
4. Incorporate impactful visuals into your slides, such as charts and graphs.

Before we flesh out the strategies above, we want to let you know that we go into great detail on the fundamentals of strategy and communication in our Business Intensive. The 6-week program covers all aspects of business, including finance, marketing, sales, and more.

1. Focus on conveying a single idea on each slide.

Don’t let your slides outshine the main attraction (you). That is, don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. 

The average person’s attention span is about 5-10 minutes, so it’s important to keep the content of your slides relevant and succinct. 

Your audience should mainly be looking at you while they listen to your presentation, not trying to decipher a complex graph. 

Keep your slide template simple and uncluttered.

Focus on conveying one idea per slide, or at max two. 

2. Use the Pyramid Principle to structure your presentation with a logical flow.

The Pyramid Principle is an effective way for consultants to structure a presentation. It suggests that you should start with the main point, and then add on details one by one as you progress further into your talk. 

Start each slide with a simple headline or statement. Include supportive evidence or quotes that help explain your point in brief, without going too deep into the detail. 

Keep each slide clean and uncluttered, breaking down complex concepts into simple visuals or diagrams to help your audience better understand the concept. 

3. Make your slide titles clear and effective to grab your audience’s attention.

The title of each slide should be clear and concise, indicating the main point that you’re trying to make. 

Strive to use titles that are unique and interesting, so they stand out from the rest of the slides. 

People tend to read in an F-shape, meaning they absorb the title first. After reading the title, they move down vertically and then scan across the second part of the page until they reach the bottom.

In addition, avoid using generic titles such as “Conclusion” or “Summary”; instead, use captivating phrases that pique your audience’s curiosity and compel them to listen to more. 

Make sure your slide titles are effective in communicating the key message of each slide and draw your audience’s attention. 

4. Incorporate impactful visuals into your slides, such as charts and graphs.

Visuals can be very helpful for conveying complex information in a simpler way. 

Choose visuals that are visually appealing and convey the message effectively. Consulting PowerPoint templates typically contain placeholders high-impact visuals such as charts, graphs, and diagrams to help explain the main points of your presentation. 

When it comes to visuals, less is more. Visuals should be used sparingly, as too many visuals can be distracting and detract from the main point of your presentation. Try to limit yourself to 1-2 visuals per slide. 

Maximizing the Impact of Consulting PowerPoint Templates

Creating a great presentation can be challenging, but following the tips presented here, you can leverage our McKinsey PowerPoint template to create an outstanding deck.

When crafting your deck, remember our four tips to maximize the impact of your presentation. Focus on a single idea on each slide, use the Pyramid Principle to structure your presentation logically, make sure your titles are clear and effective, and use visuals to highlight key points. 

By keeping these tips in mind, you can create a visually appealing and well-structured PowerPoint presentation that will stand out from the rest and make a lasting impression. 

The post Consulting PowerPoint Templates From McKinsey appeared first on brunchwork.

You’re in the right place. The templates offered in this article have you covered. We will share fundamentals around what to include and how to use it don’t change, no matter your role, company, or technology preferences.

Why does this matter? First impressions are everything when starting a new role. Those who are able to quickly establish trust and credibility not only feel secure in their positions, they also gain the influence to make fast progress on their top priorities. Hence, few things are more valuable than a well-structured approach to guarantee a great first impression. 

Free 30-60-90 Day Plan PowerPoint Template (PPT)

To help get you started, we created a free 30-60-90 day plan for new executives for PPT. Here’s the link to download for free and our quick breakdown of what’s included:

• 30 days: Learn and assess
• 60 days: Align on a roadmap
• 90 days: Execute on early-initiatives

Template: 30 60 90 Day Plan For Executives PPT

Free 30-60-90 Day Plan Google Doc Template 

For those who prefer the Google suite of services, we’ve got you covered, too. Here’s your download to the 30-60-90 day plan template for Google Docs. In addition to the bullet list above, this template includes:

• A roadmap template for key deliverables
• A worksheet to track KPIs
• A stakeholder outreach plan

To understand the value of each of these template slides, one must understand the key steps to actually create and leverage this 30-60-90 day plan template for Google Docs. Read on to learn how to use it effectively.

4 Steps to Leverage the 30-60-90 Day Plan Template For Executives

Getting your 30-60-90 day plan template free download is only half the work. Putting it to proper use is just as important. To help with that work, here are 4 key steps for leveraging this template:

1.  Interview stakeholders
2.  Prioritize initiatives with the ICE framework
3.  Set yourself up to score early wins
4.  Deliver crisp, clear messaging

Below, we dive deeper into the key steps listed above, sharing specific best practices for each. 

1. Interview stakeholders

The content that informs your 30-60-90 plan template will come from stakeholder input and interviews. When you first join a new company, you have leeway and leverage to ask lots of questions. Use it to the fullest!

Start by creating a comprehensive list of team members to interview. There’s no better place to start than with your new co-workers who have a much deeper understanding of the team, the product or service, and the business at large. Then, get your manager’s input on who to add and/or remove from your list. 

During your “listening tour,” ask open-ended questions. Since your goal is to get as much context as possible, cast your net wide with questions like:

1. What are your top priorities for this quarter and this year?
2. How can I help you in my new role?
3. How do you see us working together?
4. What are some of the most impactful initiatives you’ve worked on?
5. What are potential roadblocks I should watch out for?

Even if you’re a subject matter expert, your job here is to be a sponge as you soak in your new environment. Your past experience offers a good reference point, but your judgment should be informed and adapted to your present situation. Let go of any preconceived notions and avoid anchoring only to your past experiences.

The learnings from your “listening tour” are an important entry point into your 30-60-90 day plan (think first 30-60 days), and will help inform the roadmap you’ll soon be creating.

2. Prioritize initiatives with the ICE Framework 

After your interviews, you’ll be left with a laundry list of priorities that your stakeholders care about. To whittle things down to the most critical priorities, we recommend using the ICE framework. If you’re new to this framework, don’t fret! Here’s how this simple tool works: 

The ICE framework considers three key variables in order to rank by priority:

With your list of priorities from your listening tour, assign each item a 1 to 4 score (1 being low & 4 being high) and multiply to get a total score. The items with the highest scores should be prioritized on your roadmap.

When it comes to the ICE framework, you may encounter iterations that use different scales. For example, some people rank each of the three variables on a scale from 1 to 10. To help get you started, here’s an ICE framework template using a 1 to 4 scale as originally mentioned.

3. Set yourself up to score early wins

The ICE framework ultimately helps you create a one-year roadmap. But within that year, you’ll be paying special attention to the near-term in order to inform your 30-60-90 day plan template. What are small, but high-impact initiatives you can complete in your first 90 days? Filter for the items scoring high on “Ease,” then sort by “Impact.” 

In our free 30-60-90 day plan PowerPoint template (download here), the last section focuses on execution. Part of a great first impression is to demonstrate action, not just strategy. So commit to a few manageable initiatives that can quickly be completed but have a high impact. 

With a few quick wins under your belt, your new team will have demonstrable proof that you are ready and able to make a difference at the organization. Generally, as you are getting started in a new role: Underpromise and overdeliver. 

4. Deliver crisp, clear messaging

Remember that creating any type of plan is only half the work when a team is involved. Communicating that plan comprises the other half. We’ve got you covered, as our 30-60-90 templates for PPT (download here) and Google Doc will help ensure your reputation as a strong communicator. 

When presenting your 30-60-90 day plan, keep the focus on the appropriate level of detail. Above all else, your audience will want to see that you have a high-level plan in place. Then, they’ll be watching to see that you’ve identified some clear next steps.

Keep in mind that communicating your plan will take place somewhere between the 60 and 90 day timeline as you gear up for execution. Typically, companies understand that the first 30-60 days in your new role are reserved for learning and assessing (i.e. interviewing stakeholders and using a framework like ICE to sort out your roadmap). Without this “grace period” for learning, you wouldn’t have a solid plan to communicate in the first place.

Doubling Down on Success with brunchwork’s Business Intensive

While this article features a couple of snippets of what’s included in our free 30-60-90 day plan template (download here),  make sure you’re fully equipped for success with your own copy. In any new role, building a strong reputation early on will pay major dividends later—from raises, to promotions, to job security, and more.

To take this work a step further, ambitious professionals should check out brunchwork’s Business Intensive course, where you can develop 8 core business skills through immersive projects taught by today’s top business leaders. Example projects include:

• Refining and testing a business concept
• Creating a high-caliber presentation
•  Analyzing financial reports
•  Developing a business strategy
•  Crafting a marketing and sales plan
•  Conducting user interviews
•  Building a no code website

Previous guest speakers of this program have included high-profile business leaders, like former Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang, PayPal Founding COO David Sacks, Ellevest Cofounder and CEO Sallie Krawcheck, product gurus Gayle Laakmann McDowell and Jackie Bavaro, and Peloton Cofounder, Graham Stanton.

Of course, your new role might have you focused on the first 90 days of leading a specific team or initiative. But consider how a comprehensive business acumen may allow you to double down on success in your role, even beyond those first 90 days. To that end, downloading your free 30-60-90 day plan template and enrolling in a continued education program could set you up for ultimate success. To learn more about Business Intensive and to view the course curriculum in detail, interested folks can read up here.

The post Free 30-60-90 Day PowerPoint Template (+ Google Docs!) appeared first on brunchwork.

Ambitious business professionals today also have more options. Just as relevant questions include if you should get an MBA, and if so, what type? Once dominated by name brand institutions and universities, the continuing education space now offers new, more dynamic solutions for developing excellent business acumen, knowledge, and skills.

In this article, discover the key questions and considerations that should supplement anyone’s journey around deciding when to get an MBA and how to go about it.

Deciding When To Get An MBA? Step 1: Understand The Landscape

You’re far from the first to ask, “When should I get my MBA?”, and you’re wise to do some research. Pursuing your Master of Business Administration is no small decision. For those who are serious about getting an MBA, a great first step is to get a lay of the land. What are the best MBA options available today?

You’re likely familiar with some of the most well-known business schools. The Harvards, Standfords, and Yales of the world certainly come with a recognizable, name-brand polish. These traditional MBA programs typically take about two years to complete and come with a number of pros and cons as we’ll cover in the next section.

Any review of the modern MBA landscape would be incomplete without also mentioning the emergence of the mini MBA. Made possible by maximizing the online education experience, the mini MBA has emerged as a compelling alternative to the traditional MBA. Choosing between these two buckets—traditional MBA vs. mini MBA—is step one in deciding when to get an MBA and how you plan to go about doing it.

When to Get an MBA: 3 Key Considerations

The best time to get an MBA depends entirely on your own unique situation. And as we’ve covered, the type of MBA you choose to pursue is also a major variable in your decision. Here are three key considerations to take into account when deciding when and how to get an MBA.

1. Cost

For most people asking themselves, “When should I get my MBA?,” the first logical consideration is cost. There’s no two ways about it: Traditional MBAs cost an arm and a leg with most of the top programs in the US charging more than $200,000 for a degree.

Also worth noting is that these traditional programs often require students to leave the workforce and dedicate most (or all) of their time to school for two years. While of course there are benefits to such an immersive experience, this reality uncovers an additional cost on top of the $200,000: opportunity cost. In other words, for some, the traditional MBA also means a significant drop—or complete loss—of income for two years.

For those deciding, these cost considerations cannot be ignored. For a growing number of business professionals, a mini MBA like brunchwork’s Business Intensive is an attractive alternative. Designed to be manageable alongside a full time job and costing less than $2,000, Business Intensive offers a competitive curriculum at 1/100th of the cost.

2. Time Commitment

The best time to get an MBA also entirely depends on your availability. What kind of business program can you reasonably undertake when factoring in things like your work situation, family life, and passion projects?

Those with the availability and financial means to pursue a traditional MBA should consider themselves lucky! If that happens to be you, then perhaps a traditional MBA is the right choice. Two years of dedicated study is undoubtedly a valuable experience. But for a much larger majority, time commitment is a major factor—one that often presents logistical challenges.

A great mini MBA program gives students a robust curriculum designed to be consumed in months as opposed to years. Within the program itself, mini MBAs like Business Intensive are able to get more done in less time. From leveraging a virtual learning format, to highly relevant lesson topics, to educators who teach from real-world experience, Business Intensive packs a serious punch in far less time than legacy business programs.

3. Purpose

For a small percentage of the workforce, getting a traditional MBA is a prerequisite for career advancement. Some job descriptions—leadership roles in finance, for example—might require candidates to have a certain level of education. In this case, deciding when to get an MBA may coincide with a certain career milestone, and the traditional MBA route might be required.

Note that in the grand scheme of the workforce, the industries and roles that require a traditional MBA make up a small fraction. For most ambitious entrepreneurs, founders, managers, and even executives, career success will not be hindered by lacking a traditional MBA. To that end, a mini MBA can be a much more practical (and cost effective) route for those seeking professional development, new skills acquisition, and professional networking.

Business Intensive: Overview

If the benefits of a mini MBA are aligned with your desires for a manageable business program experience, here are some quick highlights on brunchwork’s Business Intensive program, which was recognized by Forbes as a top program.

• Length: 2 months
• Format: Online and in-person
• Cost: Starting at $1,649

As long as you have the focus and drive to make the most of a well-balanced program for two months, there really is no wrong time to make the leap and start the Business Intensive. You could be maximizing career success through a mini MBA the moment you feel ready.

Forbes named the Business Intensive the top alternative to the MBA.

What You’ll Learn in Business Intensive

Business Intensive focuses on eight core business skills via co-learning projects that emphasize collaboration and networking. Example projects include:

• Refining and testing a business concept
• Creating a high-caliber presentation
•  Developing a business strategy
•  Crafting a marketing and sales plan
• Conducting user interviews
•  Building a no code website

Guest speakers have included high profile business leaders, like former Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang, PayPal Founding COO David Sacks, Ellevest Cofounder and CEO Sallie Krawcheck, product gurus Gayle Laakmann McDowell and Jackie Bavaro, and Peloton Cofounder, Graham Stanton.

Business Intensive was created to excel in areas where traditional higher learning falls short. For those thinking about an MBA now or sometime in the future, choosing the right program requires a holistic perspective. Today, it’s no longer just about the prestige and flash of a traditional business degree. Strategize accordingly!

The post When to Get an MBA for Maximum Career Success appeared first on brunchwork.

At brunchwork, we sometimes are asked how we are different from ThePowerMBA, so we thought it would make sense to create this post comparing the two offerings. In an effort to provide an unbiased review of how the two programs stack up, we will be covering both similarities and differences of ThePowerMBA and brunchwork. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• PowerMBA and brunchwork Reviews: What Users Say
• PowerMBA vs. brunchwork: 3 Program Similarities
• PowerMBA vs. brunchwork:2 Key Program Differences
• Picking the Best Program for You

To do your own research and for easy access to more information, here are the websites for both ThePowerMBA and brunchwork. We hope this article serves you well in deciding which mini-MBA program is right for you.

brunchwork & PowerMBA Reviews: What Users Say About the Programs

brunchwork Reviews

To hear firsthand from users who have experienced the Business Intensive course, brunchwork’s Instagram account features dozens of reviews. There’s no shortage of course reviews, and brunchwork makes an effort to be as transparent as possible in sharing what its students are saying. Here are a couple examples:

“The Business Intensive was the perfect course for someone like myself who has an interest in so many sectors, while still maintaining my full-time job. I challenged myself, learned from others, and grew a really great network of professionals I’m confident I can lean on in the future. It was truly a powerful and expanding experience and I would highly recommend it to others.” -Olivia H.

“brunchwork did a phenomenal job facilitating the course. There was a good balance between learning the material and opportunities to put it into practice. I like that I have nice takeaways with the final project and presentation. It’s something I plan to continue to develop down the road.” -Josh D.

To read these reviews and more, check out brunchwork’s review page.

PowerMBA Reviews

PowerMBA reviews are generally mixed, and not as easily discoverable as the ones on brunchwork’s Instagram profile. While some users report having positive experiences, others report the opposite, and some fall somewhere in the middle of the two extremes.

Richard Walls, a Youtuber focusing on career development, covers the PowerMBA program in one of the most candid and revealing reviews. To summarize his PowerMBA review, Richard sees most of the program’s value in the organization and delivery of the content, but not so much in the content itself. In his view, most of the educational content can be found elsewhere on the internet for free or for little cost, through sources like Udemy or Coursera.

In an effort to find authentic PowerMBA reviews from users who have experienced the program for themselves, some Reddit threads appear to provide valuable insight. Below are a handful of relevant threads when it comes to PowerMBA reviews, although readers should browse carefully, as anyone on the internet can join these threads.
• Any thoughts on PowerMBA?
• Anyone tried powermba? Opinions?
• Is PowerMBA useful at all?

PowerMBA vs. brunchwork’s Business Intensive

ThePowerMBA and brunchwork inherently share some similarities as two of the most popular virtual mini-MBA programs. While the differences covered later on will help you most in deciding which program to choose, let’s first cover some of those similarities.

3 Similarities between ThePowerMBA and brunchwork

Key similarities between the two programs in discussion include price point, access to top business leaders, and an intent to deliver a holistic education.

1. Price Point

In the world of higher education, both the PowerMBA and brunchwork offer attractive alternatives to traditional grad school, and both fall in a similar price range. Today, with all costs considered, most top business schools and MBAs cost students upwards of $200k!

By comparison, ThePowerMBA and brunchwork will run you about $2k, all in. Now, there is some nuance here. brunchwork offers its Business Intensive package as low as $1,649, whereas ThePowerMBA’s cheapest offering comes in at $1,995. PowerMBA also sets the ceiling on price, with its “Advanced” program costing $2,495 (about $500 more than any brunchwork package). But given the larger context of mini MBA vs traditional MBA cost, we see price point as more of a similarity than a difference for these two programs.

2. Access to Top Business Leaders

Giving students access to top business leaders is something both programs do well. Both programs feature educational content and ideas from executives at name brand companies and institutions, like PayPal, Tesla , Y-Combinator, and more.

3. Holistic Education

One final similarity is that both programs aim to provide students with a comprehensive and holistic business education. ThePowerMBA offers a business management program, a digital marketing program, and a combo program that blends them together (previously mentioned as the $2,495 package). Business Intensive from brunchwork is a little more straight-forward in telling prospective users exactly what is covered in the program. Core topics of Business Intensive include Strategy & Finance, Pricing, Web development, Communication & Presentation, Sales & Influence, Customer research, Marketing, and Branding.

2 Key Differences Between ThePowerMBA and brunchwork

With an understanding of how the programs are similar, let’s now break down some key differences that might help readers select their preferred program.

1. In-Depth Learning

Some key differences between the two programs lie in the learning depth and teaching approach of each. ThePowerMBA primarily makes use of pre-recorded 15 minute videos for its educational content. Conversely, brunchwork’s Business Intensive largely revolves around 14 interactive, live video sessions led by expert instructors.

A differentiator here for brunchwork is its co-learning approach, which is a key factor in the program’s ability to provide in-depth learning for students. Co-learning provides for a “flipped classroom” experience, where students interact, collaborate, and immerse themselves in the curriculum.

Between Business Intensive’s live course approach and its dedication to an immersive student experience, brunchwork gets the nod on in-depth learning. While this is likely a plus for many users, we recognize that a more passive, less interactive experience might be preferred by some students, in which case ThePowerMBA might be the right fit.

2. Live Instructors

As hinted at above, brunchwork bases much of its experience around live instructors. ThePowerMBA also mentions “live sessions with experts” as a perk, but it is unclear how many, how often, and what that really means. Since Business Intensive is much more clear in its use of live instructors as a core part of the program, we see this as a key differentiation between the two. 

Business Intensive instructors cover all of the areas in the 8 Core Business Skills highlighted earlier. From pricing models, to McKinsey-style presentation decks, to SEO strategies, to brand development, and more, brunchwork instructors walk students through it all – and it’s not just the high-level fluff. And to add to the live instructor experiences, students gain access to follow-up templates and materials that can be implemented immediately outside of the classroom.

Picking the Best Program for You

Both ThePowerMBA and brunchwork have educated hundreds of ambitious students who have gone on to found companies, get promotions, or create their own side hustles. To that end, a mini-MBA course is largely about what you put into it. If you invest enough time and effort, you will find value.

Both programs offer attractive upsides. For the student who wants to go deep, get their questions answered in live classes, and network hard with their peers, brucnhwork’s Business Intensive checks all of the boxes. In sum, it largely comes down to your own habits and goals as a student, then pursuing the program that will jive best with your preferred approach to online learning.

The post PowerMBA vs. brunchwork: Which Online Course is for You? appeared first on brunchwork.

Executive presence is one of the most important yet elusive qualities in great business leaders. Many of us know it when we see it. But have you considered what it takes to develop executive presence for yourself?

There’s a reason an entire industry exists around executive presence training and executive presence coaching. As a leader, it’s critical to be perceived by others as being capable and worthy of a given executive role. The value of executive presence cannot be understated, considering the importance of first impressions and reputations in business. And that goes for both established and aspiring executives.

So what is executive presence exactly and what goes into developing it? In this post, we answer your key questions around executive presence. Towards the end, we also recommend a specific mini MBA course that can serve to accelerate your executive presence training. It’s a perfect fit for anyone looking to improve their aptitude for this crucial entrepreneurial quality.

What Is Executive Presence?

Executive presence looks different depending on who is manifesting it. For that reason, there is no singular executive presence definition that captures the concept in one fell swoop. Our definition? 

Executive presence can be defined as the combination of hard and soft skills that make someone a strong, dynamic, and well-respected executive. When business leaders have strong executive presence, they are able to inspire trust and confidence in their employees, teams, and external stakeholders.

5 Defining Characteristics of Executive Presence

A majority of professionals agree that it’s difficult to pinpoint an executive presence definition. But few would debate some of the most common building blocks of a rock-solid executive presence. To expand upon our executive presence definition above, here are five defining characteristics of a leader with executive presence.

1. The Ability to Inspire

The best executives inspire their teams to work towards a common business goal, to get excited about the company’s mission, and to continue bringing their best on a day-to-day basis. In other words, to have executive presence means to be a source of inspiration for those around you. 

To fully understand the importance of team inspiration, think about what it’s like to work among an uninspired team. Imagine the executive who leads a group of capable yet unenthusiastic employees. That executive must find ways to be a more captivating leader, otherwise employees will churn and company goals will suffer.

In any company, employees and managers are always looking higher up in the leadership chain for inspiration. As role models, executives provide stated and unstated queues on how to act in the workplace. 

One of the best ways for leaders to inspire their employees is to hold their ground as an evangelist of the company’s core values. If a company stands for certain values, those values must be demonstrated at the highest levels of the organization. That means there is a direct correlation between leading by example and achieving executive presence. People expect executives to inspire by embodying their company’s mission through the examples they set. Failure to fill those shoes as an executive will put an immediate chink in your executive presence armor.

2. Excellent Communication Skills

Great communication is one of the most obvious ways any executive  can be perceived as a smart, thoughtful leader. Whether in an all-hands meeting, a leadership team meeting, or simply speaking with individual employees, executives must be able to communicate easily with all audiences. For many, this improving communication involves developing EQ, learning how to give and receive feedback, and code switching.   

To some degree, executive presence is about sounding the part. That means being able to clearly communicate around business goals, mission, and values. Ever seen the video of Steve Jobs explaining Apple’s new marketing campaign to Apple employees in 1997? Jobs uses his excellent communication skills to inspire, and to be a walking example of Apple’s big-picture values. With strong executive presence, he sounds and looks like he belongs on that stage.

3. Confident, Yet Curious

Business men and women with strong executive presence have confidence and conviction in their ideas. In order to drive a company up and to the right at a healthy pace, executives must make key decisions. And to rally an entire organization behind those decisions, confidence is key. 

With that said, confidence is no excuse to give up on the possibility that your conviction could be misguided. That’s why a healthy executive presence is also about staying curious and listening to every voice in the room. For example, a curious executive might go the extra mile to hear out the person playing devil’s advocate during a hiring debate, as opposed to quickly discarding that less-popular viewpoint. No executive gets it right every time. Having the humility to operate with that understanding will lead to better business decisions and healthier relationships within any team.

4. Industry Track Record

Becoming an executive in the first place requires having a track record as a capable operator who moves the needle. But even once in an executive position, that running track record continues to play a factor in maintaining your executive presence. Having cold-hard proof of your success certainly helps to quiet any doubters of your claim to your executive role. Part of executive presence is simply reinforcing trust in people that you are deserving of having a seat at the executive table.

5. Business Sense

Business sense, also known as business acumen, is the ability to make sharp business decisions in a wide range of different situations. While business sense is inherent in some individuals, it is a skill that can be developed just like any other skill – especially when developed in a dedicated, hands-on learning environment.

Business sense is an all encompassing aspect of executive presence. Depending on the specific executive role, business sense is relevant in all areas of business, including the eight core business skills taught in Business Intensive: Strategy & Finance, Pricing, Web Development, Communication & Presentation, Sales & Influence, Customer Research, Marketing, Branding.

Executive Presence Training

It’s no secret that pursuing a leadership position in business comes with its perks – higher pay, more influence, more status, to name a few. For anyone with aspirations to get to the top, seeking out experiences that help develop executive presence is essential.

Executive presence coaching or training is a way for business leaders to develop the five defining characteristics of executive presence discussed above. While some life and work coaching is designed to focus on a wide breadth of goals, executive presence coaching takes on a much more narrow focus around the topics in this post. With executive presence training, things like public speaking, idea formulation, pitch delivery, and interpersonal communication take center stage.

The Mini MBA for Executive Presence Development

A great executive presence training course gives participants an opportunity to work in a hands-on business environment where they can practice the five key characteristics of executive presence. For both aspiring and existing executives, brunchwork’s Business Intensive provides that exact environment.

Through Business Intensive, students have an opportunity to build executive presence through a number of immersive co-learning projects. These projects are designed to simulate real-world business situations, and include:

• Refining and test a business concept
• Running a market sizing, revenue growth and competitor analysis
• Delivering a high-caliber presentation
• Analyzing financial reports and models
• Developing a brand strategy
• Building a no-code website
• Conducting user interviews
• Developing and execute a marketing and sales plan
• Pitching a business idea with conviction and charisma

The 7-week mini-MBA program has been named by Forbes as one of the best MBA programs. And it costs less than $2,000, a fraction of the cost of traditional MBA programs. Weekly guest speakers include high profile business leaders, like former Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang, PayPal Founding COO David Sacks, Ellevest Co-founder and CEO Sallie Krawcheck, and Peloton Co-founder, Graham Stanton.

To learn more and to sign up for Business Intensive, future executive presence experts can read up here.

The post What Is Executive Presence: The Elusive Quality Of Great Business Leaders appeared first on brunchwork.

For most people in this situation, that amazing business idea gets stored away. For a later time, perhaps.

But consider for a minute that your most recent tech idea is actually worth bringing to life. In that case, it’s probably wise to learn how to start a tech company from scratch.

In this post, we cover how to start a tech company in 6 key steps. They are critical to the creation of just about any tech product or service.

1. Ideate around a problem
2. Conduct market research
3. Define and create an MVP
4. Build a business strategy
5. Take your product to market
6. Refine your business strategy

How to Start a Tech Company with No Experience

Before jumping into the 6 key steps to starting a tech company, let’s address the elephant in the room. If you are searching for how to start a tech company without a tech background, or how to start a tech company with no experience, you are certainly not alone. The great news is that many founders don’t have prior experience in this field, and many success stories prove that to be true.

Successful startups are all built using teachable skills and steps. For those looking to invest in their tech entrepreneurship journey beyond this post, consider brunchwork’s Business Intensive mini-MBA course. 

Our course is designed to teach ambitious students much of what is being covered in this post. For more details, check out the syllabus or skip to the bottom of this post.

1. Ideate around a problem

Define and validate the problem and possible solutions.

This first step is the most fun. As you ideate around a problem (and a potential solution), allow your mind to run free and get creative. While your ideas for solutions can be relatively fuzzy (solutions will gain clarity as you test your ideas), it’s important to know exactly what you’re trying to solve. Nearly every successful company seeks to improve or solve a well-defined problem.

The key takeaway: Clearly defining the problem you’re trying to solve will set a strong foundation for creating your company.

2. Conduct market research

Learn the competitive landscape, existing solutions, market size, etc.

Once you’re convinced you’ve discovered a problem worth solving, your focus must turn from creative to empirical. To start a tech startup without proper market research would be impossible.

Market research involves analyzing existing competitors and market solutions that are already available. It also includes taking a high-level look at the market size, which will help you understand the size of the business opportunity.

The key takeaway: Seek evidence that the problem exists, the market exists, and the solution you’re creating has legs to compete.

3. Define and create an MVP

Create something to start testing.

This is the stage at which many startup ideas fail, because for the first time, something real needs to be created.

Creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) can be intimidating, especially for no-code founders. At this point, you might need to actually write code or spend money for some help in doing so. For some clever ideas on how to start creating an MVP, learn  first-hand insight from brunchwork’s founder. Even when starting a tech startup, some non-technical testing and surveying might be all you need to test the waters.

The key takeaway: Turn that elusive startup idea into something real, so people can start experimenting with it, showing interest, and even lining up to purchase.

4. Create a business strategy

Build a roadmap for the company’s future.

With a promising MVP in hand, it’s time to start thinking about a business strategy. This is the step at which you might start to flesh out a real business plan, or a roadmap for the company’s future.

A business strategy or business plan typically ties together some of the progress made up until this point, but also sheds light on new aspects of the business. This includes additional market research, marketing & sales strategies, financial projections, and more. 

One of the goals of brunchwork’s Business Intensive course is to teach the requisite skills for creating a successful business strategy. Our course covers Strategy & Finance, Pricing, Web Development, Communication & Presentation, Sales & Influence, Customer Research, Marketing, and Branding.

The key takeaway: With an MVP promising intriguing potential, it’s time to get serious about the core elements of a business that can support the marketing, sales, and distribution of the product or service.

5. Take your product to market

Put your business strategy in motion.

We must note that funding your business strategy and taking your product to market is not always a walk in the park. It’s entirely possible that executing your strategy requires capital, and that could come from any number of sources, like crowdfunding, venture capital, savings, or a loan. Since startup fundraising is a massive topic in itself, those details are best saved for another post.

The issue of funding aside, you’re off to a great start if you’ve made it to this step. Going-to-market is no small feat, and at this point, you’ve just about earned the title of “startup founder” or “tech entrepreneur.” This step is all about turning the gears of whatever you’ve outlined in your business plan. For many founders who start a tech company, this step revolves around selling seats of their software service, or driving new users to download their mobile app.

The key takeaway: With a sound business strategy in place, begin the process of deploying resources and setting the plan in motion.

6. Refine your business strategy

Tweak, halt, or double-down as you go.

From here on out, running your tech startup is all about building on what’s working, and fixing what’s not. This goes for all key departments of a startup, from sales, to engineering, to marketing, to customer success, and more. Successful startups sometimes start strong, but more often it’s about experimenting and pivoting until it clicks.

To keep track of where your business has been and where it is going, refer back to your original business strategy and amend it as you go. With a product in the market, and maybe even a few co-founders working to give it life, the game becomes one of experimentation, agility, execution, and business acumen.

The key takeaway: Strike the right balance of having clearly defined strategies, but also creating plenty of room for experimentation as your startup sprouts from the ground.

Tying It All Together With Business Intensive

brunchwork’s Business Intensive promises to teach students a proven approach for validating, prototyping, modeling, marketing, selling, and presenting business concepts. For those looking to get serious about how to start a tech company, Business Intensive involves immersive co-learning projects that provide a foundational education around entrepreneurship:

• Refine and test a business concept
• Run a market sizing, revenue growth and competitor analysis
• Deliver a high-caliber presentation
• Analyze financial reports and models
• Develop a brand strategy
• Build a no-code website
• Conduct user interviews
• Develop and execute a marketing and sales plan
• Pitch a business idea with conviction and charisma

This 7-week mini-MBA program has been named by Forbes as one of the best MBA programs. And it costs less than $2,000, a fraction of the cost of traditional MBA programs. Weekly guest speakers include high profile business leaders, like former Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang, PayPal Founding COO David Sacks, Ellevest Co-founder and CEO Sallie Krawcheck, and Peloton Co-founder, Graham Stanton.

To learn more and to sign up for Business Intensive, prospective students can read up here.

The post How to Start a Tech Company In 2022 [6 Steps] appeared first on brunchwork.

If you’re considering getting an MBA at 30 or above, you might be pondering that question. 

While you’re never too old to improve your business education, enrolling in an MBA course may prohibit you from achieving your career goals. A traditional full-time program takes at least 2 years, which is too much time to take off from work and your career. 

Additionally, an MBA can cost $200,000, making it harder to justify your return on investment. 

Let’s go over the experience of older students and why an MBA alternative is a better fit for those looking to strengthen their business acumen. 

Is Getting An MBA At 30+ Worth It? 

If you are wondering if an MBA is worth it after 30, you must consider the time you would take off from your career to pursue the degree.   

A traditional MBA takes 2 years, and part-time programs can take between 3-5 years, which is too long.    

If you enroll in a full-time program, you will not have time to work a full-time position, leaving behind high wages and career opportunities. 

Getting an MBA at 30 or above usually requires a more careful approach to financial management and familial commitments.

For example, you must consider the cost of your forgone salary, the cost of the program, the cost of relocating if you’re moving to a new city, and the cost of living without a full-time salary but with a family. 

The reasons for getting an MBA in the past were to develop business and management skills, improve your network, and increase your earning potential. Unfortunately, current programs are years behind the curve, making the degree not worth it after 30 or even before.

A lot of the current MBA curriculum is old-fashioned and fails to prepare students for current business trends and challenges.  

Because a lot of the MBA curriculum is outdated, it will not be helpful to your career in the future, and therefore the effort you put into completing your coursework will be a waste of time. Additionally, many individuals enroll in MBA programs to connect with ambitious professionals. 

Although there is no age limit for an MBA, it will be harder to fit in socially if you’re much older than the class average.

How Does Age Affect The MBA Recruitment Process? 

The average first-year student spends roughly 8.7 hours a week on recruitment, focusing on company briefings, networking events and calls, company research, and applications.

Even after spending so much time, most students are unhappy with their MBA recruitment process because they end up taking a job in an industry that’s not their first choice.

Top companies such as American Express, UBS, and GlaxoSmithKline only recruit MBAs on 8 campuses. Meaning students who don’t attend those schools will be at a significant disadvantage.

If you’re above the average age, you will have a much more difficult time during the MBA recruitment process.

Employers who recruit MBAs are generally looking for younger, less-experienced candidates and, therefore, will not match the salary expectations you deserve due to your higher level of experience.

Therefore if you’re an older MBA candidate enrolling because of a career plateau, you may want to consider other options such as an alternative.

What Is The Value Of An MBA Alternative?

An MBA alternative is a targeted business program that teaches the critical tools and frameworks needed to start your own business or move into a leadership role at your employer.

The courses are economical with their students’ time, as some are as short as 7 weeks. The courses also provide tremendous value, costing less than $2,000, a fraction of a traditional program.

Furthermore, MBA alternatives, such as the Business Intensive, consistently update their curriculum to fit the needs of the current business market.

Because many alternative courses have a digital-first approach, theories are better able to keep up with the latest technologies and business trends.

Is An MBA Alternative Right For Me? 

An MBA alternative can help guide you to tremendous business success no matter the career stage.

While a traditional MBA is a useless waste of time and money, an MBA alternative can provide you with the same skills and network opportunities in less time and for an affordable price.

Your best alternative option is the Business Intensive. The course is Forbes and intelligent.com’s best online business course.

Business Intensive at a glance:

• Length: 7 Weeks

• Format: Fully online

• Cost: Starting at $1,499

The course transforms students from passive consumers of business information into active business leaders. The program teaches 8 essential business skills, including strategy and finance, sales, branding, marketing, pricing, customer research, web development, and communication.

Students will finish hands-on projects including:

• Refine and test a business concept

• Run a market sizing, revenue growth, and competitor analysis

• Deliver a high-caliber presentation

•  Analyze financial reports and models

• Develop a brand strategy

• Build a no-code website

• Develop and execute a marketing and sales plan

• Pitch a business idea with conviction and charisma

There are live weekly guest speakers. Past guest speakers include Andrew Yang, PayPal Founding COO David Sacks, Ellevest Cofounder and CEO Sallie Krawcheck, product gurus Jackie Bavaro, and Gayle Laakman Mcdowell, and Peloton Cofounder Graham Stanton.

The Business Intensive is an excellent opportunity for students who want to improve their business skills, network, and gain the confidence necessary to become a business leader in their desired field.

If you feel that you are too old for an MBA, you’ll find much more success with MBA alternatives because they’re shorter, less expensive, and provide more up-to-date business information. 

The post Too Old for An MBA? Weigh Your Options. appeared first on brunchwork.

6 Best Business Management Certificate Programs:

1. Business Intensive

2. Cornell Business Management Essentials

3. University of Notre Dame Online Management

4. Harvard University Management Essentials

5. Rutgers Mini MBA: Business Essentials

6. McGill’s Mini MBA

Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to level up, getting a business management certificate is an excellent way to improve your business and management skills. 

With so many choices available, you may not know which one is best for you.

Your program choice depends on your current skills, occupation, budget, time commitment, and learning style.   

Below are the top business management certificate programs currently available. 

#1 Business Management Certificate Program For Business Professionals And Entrepreneurs:

Business Intensive at a glance:

• Length: 7 Weeks

• Format: Online

• Cost: Starting at $1,499

The Business Intensive certificate program covers business management in-depth and other business topics that are helpful for managers. 

The 7-week course teaches eight core business skills, including management, leadership, marketing, branding, sales, and web development.   

It also provides excellent networking opportunities. 

The course is full of hands-on projects, so you will:

• Analyze financial reports and models

• Present a McKinsey-caliber deck

• Conduct user interviews

• Develop and test a business strategy

• Run a market sizing, revenue growth, and competitor analysis

There are live weekly guest speakers. Past guest speakers include Andrew Yang, PayPal Founding COO David Sacks, Ellevest Cofounder, CEO Sallie Krawcheck, product gurus Jackie Bavaro, and Gayle Laakman Mcdowell, and Peloton Cofounder Graham Stanton.

The Business Intensive is designed to teach business management students to become active business leaders. Forbes and intelligent.com named the course the best online business course.

#2 Business Management Certificate Program For New Managers:

Cornell Business Management Essentials at a glance:

• Length: 3 Months

• Format: Online

• Cost: $3,600

Cornell’s Business Management Essentials 3 month course offers an overview of critical management and business topics. The online certificate is broken down into six two-week periods. The certificate program covers finance and accounting principles, marketing fundamentals, strategic business planning, forecasting, managing organizations, leading without authority, and navigating the global business landscape.  

After completing the course, students will define an organizational vision, establish strategic business goals, set motivation strategies for employees, and analyze financial statements to make informed business decisions. 

#3 Business Management Certificate Program For Corporate Managers:

University of Notre Dame Online Management at a glance:

• Length: 4 Months

• Format: Online

• Cost: $2,500

University of Notre Dame’s certificate program is a four-month course that focuses on management foundations and teaches critical skills all corporate managers need to succeed. 

The course has two eight-week sections. It covers prioritization and accountability, ethical implications of decision making, managing a diverse workplace, and interpersonal communication. 

#4 Business Management Certificate Program For Seasoned Managers:

Harvard University Management Essentials at a glance: 

• Length: 8 weeks

• Format: Online

• Cost: $1,600

Harvard University’s Management Essentials certificate program is an excellent course for seasoned managers looking to improve their skills by studying and discussing management case studies. 

Harvard’s eight-week course covers critical management case studies such as the 2010 Chilean Mining Rescue, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Leading Change at Fuerte Construction. It improves your ability to influence decision-making at top organizations and implement management strategies on time and within budget. 

#5 Business Management Certificate Program For Corporate Managers: 

Rutgers Mini MBA: Business Essentials at a glance: 

• Length: 12 Weeks 

• Format: Online 

• Cost: $3495

Rutgers offers a variety of Mini MBA specializations. However, their business essentials course is best for corporate and mid-level managers looking to implement new and innovative strategies for their organization. 

The course covers business innovation, supply chain management, financial statement analysis, economics, sales strategies, and corporate governance. After completing the course, you will have a solid foundation in the business practices needed to excel in a corporate environment.   

#6 Business Management Certificate Program For Professionals Transitioning Into Management Roles:

McGill’s Mini MBA at a glance:

• Length: 3-4 Months

• Format: Online and in-person

• Cost: Starting at $4,895

McGill’s Mini MBA management certificate program offers three different business programs that build off each other. The offerings are the executive development course (EDC), the advanced management course (AMC), and the integrated management thinking course (IMT). 

McGill students will study managerial solutions and negotiations, accounting, finance, and human resource management. After completing the course, you will be able to streamline the management process and set meaningful KPIs (key performance indicators) and goals for your organization. You will also communicate and implement critical business frameworks and strategies.   

What Are The Admissions Requirements For A Business Management Certificate? 

Business management certificates offer a significant advantage because they do not require pre-requisites before joining. 

Instead, they accept students from various backgrounds and then sort them into different cohorts based on their work experience and interest. 

Certificate programs do not require students to take graduate entrance exams like the GMAT or GRE. Additionally, they don’t have minimum GPA requirements. 

Stand out with your application by showing how you will add to your cohort and a clear understanding of what you’re looking to gain from the program. 

What Can You Do With A Business Management Certificate? 

Students with a certificate in business management will have strong general business skills and will be able to take on management positions in various industries.  

Most students who complete their certificate use their new skills to get a better job in their current field or move into a management position in an area of their choice. 

Additionally, some students use certificate programs to help them start their own businesses or enroll in a startup accelerator program such as Y Combinator.  

What Are Some Business Management Certificate Jobs? 

A business management certificate can provide you with the skillset necessary to take on jobs as a marketing manager, a general manager, an operations manager, or a human resource manager. 

The average salary for a mid-level manager in the United States is $75,246 per year. 

You can leverage your certificate to move up into a more advanced management position or even a leadership role in your company. 

Is A Business Management Certificate Suitable For Me?

A business management certificate is an excellent choice for working professionals who want to improve their business knowledge in a short amount of time. 

A significant benefit is they allow you to keep your full-time position while pursuing your education. You also don’t have to worry about pre-requisites or an extensive application process. 

Some certificate programs, such as brunchwork’s Business Intensive, also provide students with a network of leaders who can mentor you and help you find the management role that best fits your strengths and career goals.  

If you want to switch to a management position or gain practical business skills, a business management certificate is an excellent choice.   

The post Business Management Certificate: 6 Best Programs appeared first on brunchwork.

1) Net income

2) Profit margin

3) Return on investment (ROI)

4) Break-even point

5) Burn rate

6) Balance sheet

7) Leverage ratio

8) Price to earnings ratio (P/E)

Having a solid foundation in MBA math is essential for business success. 

Businesses use math for sales forecasting, accounting, inventory management, and marketing. In addition, investors and financial analysts use MBA math to determine a company’s financial health and predict the futures of specific markets.

If you’re interested in learning more about MBA math, online courses like the Business Intensive will teach you all of the critical business math you need to succeed.  

While many formulas can help guide your business, here are 8 essential MBA math formulas you need to know. We hope you enjoy the MBA math review!

MBA Math Formula # 1: Net Income 

Net income, also known as net profit or net earnings, determines a company’s financial health. If your net income is positive, that’s great! It means that your company is earning money. Conversely, if your net income is negative, it is known as a net loss, which means your company has more expenses than revenue. 

Net income formula: 

• Net income = Revenue – Expenses 

Revenue is the money a business generates from normal operations. 

Expenses are a combination of the different costs it takes to run a company. For example, expenses for typical businesses include taxes, wages, operation costs, and costs of goods sold. 

Your business’s goal should be to have a net income higher than expenses. 

Net income example: 

During a 6 month period, your business earns $150,000 in revenue. You have expenses of $140,000. 

Net income = $150,000 – $140,000 

Net income = $10,000 

MBA Math Formula #2: Profit Margin 

A company’s profit margin determines how much a company makes.

Companies use profit margin to understand what percentage of sales turn into profit.

For example, if a company has a profit margin of 50%, it means that the company has a net income of 50 cents for every dollar the company spends. 

Profit margin formula: 

• Profit margin = (Net income / Revenue) X 100

Profit margin example: 

If a company’s revenue is 1,000,000 and their net income is $100,000, then their profit margin is: 

($100,000/ $1,000,000) X 100 = 10%

A profit margin of 10% means that the company makes 10 cents in profit for every dollar they spend. 

MBA Math Formula #3: Return On Investment (ROI)

Return on investment is used to understand how much you gained or lost from investing in a particular asset, project, or product.

Return on investment formula: 

• ROI = [(Investment gain – Cost of Investment) / Cost of Investment] 

The investment gain is how much you made from investing in a project. 

The cost of investment is how much you paid to execute the project. 

Return on investment example:

Let’s say you invested $100,000 to create a new product line, and the new product line generates $400,000.

ROI = ($400,000- $100,000)/ (100,000) = 3 

An ROI of 3 means that for every dollar you spent investing in the product line, you made 3 dollars, which is a good return on your investment.  

While the ROI formula is excellent for determining how well an investment performed, it does not consider the holding period it took to execute the investment. 

MBA Math Formula #4: Break-Even Point 

A business’s break-even point occurs when they don’t lose or gain any money.  

Businesses use the break-even point formula to calculate how many units they need to sell to not lose money. 

The break-even point formula: 

• Break-even point = Fixed Costs / (Sales Price Per Unit – Variable Cost Per Unit) 

Fixed costs are company expenses unrelated to specific business activities, such as mortgage payments and taxes. 

The sales price per unit is how much your buyer will pay when purchasing your product. 

Variable costs per unit are the production costs per unit. It is called ‘variable’ because the cost to make a product may vary based on the production level and cost of raw materials. 

Break-even point example: 

Your company sells baseballs for $5 each. You have a monthly fixed cost of $6,000. Your variable cost per unit is $2. 

Break-even point = $6,000/ ($5-$2) 

Break-even point = 2,000

Meaning your company must sell 2,000 baseballs a month to break even.

MBA Math Formula #5: Burn Rate 

Burn rate is a measure of negative cash flow. It indicates how much money a company spends over a period of time. It is usually reflected as a monthly rate. 

For example, if a company has a burn rate of -$200,000 per month, the company should have a cash reserve of at least $2,400,000 to cover the losses over the year. 

Burn rate formula: 

• Burn rate = (Starting Balance – Ending Balance) / # Months

Starting balance indicates how much money a company has at the start of a period. 

The ending balance indicates how much money a company has at the end of the period. 

Burn rate example:

Over 6 months, Company Z has a starting balance of $2,000,000 and an ending balance of $1,400,00. 

Burn rate = ($2,000,000 – $1,400,000)/ 6 months = -$100,00/ month. 

Companies often fluctuate in the amount that they burn each month. Therefore it is vital to have a long enough period of time to calculate an accurate average. 

Additionally, it is important to calculate your burn rate each month, as it will change over time. 

Learn more about burn rate here.

MBA Math Formula #6: Balance Sheet Formula 

The balance sheet is a financial statement used to show a company’s liabilities, assets, capital, equity, and debt at a single point in time.

It is called a balance sheet because the liabilities and equity must equal assets.  

Balance sheet formula: 

• Assets = Liabilities + Equity  

Assets include cash, inventory, accounts receivable, property plant and equipment, and investments. 

Liabilities include costs that a company owes, such as accounts payable and payroll. 

Equity represents the shareholder’s stake in a company. 

Balance sheet formula example: 

If a company owes $100,000 and has a shareholder stake of $150,000, what is the value of its assets?   

Assets = $100,000 + $150,000

Assets = $250,000

Click here to learn more about balance sheets. 

MBA Math Formula #7: Leverage Ratio 

The leverage ratio is a financial measurement used to assess a company’s ability to meet its financial obligations by showing how it is financed with debt or equity. 

Common leverage ratio formulas: 

• Debt to assets ratio = total debt/ total assets 

• Debt to equity ratio = total debt/ total equity 

• Debt to capital ratio = total debt/ (total debt + total equity)   

• Debt to EBITA ratio = total debt/ EBITA (earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortization) 

• Assets to equity ratio = total assets/ total equity 

The easiest way to calculate the leverage ratio of your company is by looking at your balance sheet. 

Total debt is calculated by adding your company’s current liabilities and long-term liabilities together.  

Total assets are calculated by adding your liabilities with your owner’s equity. 

EBITA is calculated by taking your net income and then adding back interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization.  

Leverage ratio example: 

Business Z has total debt of $1,000,000, total equity of $2,000,000, total assets worth $3,000,000 and an EBITA of $500,000. 

•Their debt to assets ratio =  $1,000,000/ 3,000,000 =  ⅓ 

• Their debt to equity ratio = 1,000,000/ $2,000,000 = ½ 

• Their debt to capital ratio = $1,000,000/ ($1,000,000 + $2,000,000) = ⅓  

• Their debt to EBITA ratio = $1,000,000/ $500,000 = 2  

• Their assets to equity ratio = $3,000,000/ $2,000,000 = 1.5  

Learn more about leverage ratios here. 

MBA Math Formula #8: Price To Earnings Ratio (P/E) 

The price to earnings ratio is used by financial analysts and investors to determine the value of a particular stock.

If a company has a high P/E ratio compared to its competitors, it usually indicates that stock is overvalued; if the P/E is lower than competitors, it means that the stock is undervalued (this is not investment advice). 

Price to earnings ratio formula: 

• P/E = (Market value per share/ Earnings per share) 

Market value per share is the share price available to the public. 

Earnings per share is a company’s profit divided by the outstanding shares of its common stock. 

Price to earnings ratio example: 

Company X finished their fiscal year with these statistics: 

• Stock price/ market value per share: $45

• Earnings per share: $5

Then the price to earnings ratio would be  $45/ $5  = 9. 

A P/E ratio of 9 usually indicates that the stock is undervalued, though it depends on the industry and other factors (this is not investment advice). 

Learn more about the nuances of the price to earnings ratio here. 

What Are The MBA Math Requirements? 

When applying to an MBA program, applicants must show that they have a strong background in mathematics. 

While MBA math requirements vary depending on the program, most MBA programs require students to have algebra, calculus, statistics, and probability skills.

Each of these skills will be useful because the MBA curriculum requires business math courses in accounting, finance, quantitative analysis, economics, and game theory.  

You can boost your business math for MBA skills by reviewing math topics such as linear equations, algebraic expressions, derivatives, and function composition. 

Where Can I Do More MBA Math Review? 

If you’re interested in improving your business math skills, consider taking the Business Intensive. It is the #1 ranked alternative MBA course by Forbes and Intelligent.com. 

Here is the Business Intensive at a glance:

• Length: 7 Weeks

• Format: Online

• Cost: Starting at $1,499

The 7-week course teaches 8 core business skills, including finance, accounting, pricing, sales, branding, and marketing. Students will finish hands-on projects including:

• Run a market sizing, revenue growth, and competitor analysis

• Analyze financial reports and models

• Develop and execute a marketing and sales plan 

• Develop and test a business strategy

• Pitch a business idea

• Conduct user interviews

• Build a no-code website

There are live weekly guest speakers. Past guest speakers include Andrew Yang, PayPal Founding COO David Sacks, Ellevest Cofounder, CEO Sallie Krawcheck, product gurus Jackie Bavaro, and Gayle Laakman Mcdowell, and Peloton Cofounder Graham Stanton.

The Business Intensive teaches students the core skills necessary to give them the confidence to become active business leaders. 

If you’re interested in more alternative MBA programs, here are the best micro MBA courses.

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