Learning, unlearning, and relearning as part of the entrepreneurial mindset

The Ateneo Business Resource Center (BRC) was initially meant to strengthen university-industry collaboration by working with small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It was established by Rodolfo Ang, former dean of the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSoM) and now the Vice President for Administration and Information Systems in. However, staying true to its roots as a university-based learning resource, Ateneo BRC has also helped encourage JGSoM students' entrepreneurial activities through the years.

The center pursues its aim to develop and empower opportunities for entrepreneurship through its four thrusts:

1.Provision of training and public programs to start-ups and the SME community as part of its education arm
2.Offer consultation services to businesses and organizations
3.Offer experiential learning on starting up businesses for students who sign up for the JGSOM Business Accelerator program (JGSOM.BA)
4.Conduct market research to help companies and organizations as well as build the research archives and inventory of the JGSOM

To pursue these, the center works with organizations and enterprises such as Mitsubishi Corporation, CARD MRI, Department of Education, Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), and Aboitiz Corporation for their staff management seminars and learning programs. The center also has projects with the Ateneo Center for Organizational Development (CORD) and Ateneo Bulatao Center, said Dr. John Lagdameo, Ateneo BRC's director and a faculty member of the Loyola Schools, who also sits on the board of directors at CORD and the Ateneo Bulatao Center.

"Right now, it's about tearing down silos and bridging networks. It's no longer about whether the project is JGSOM, SoSE, etc. What we're saying is that these are Ateneo de Manila University projects—regardless of what center or school you are in," Lagdameo said.

The Ateneo BRC, Lagdameo added, plans to collaborate with other university institutes such as the Areté and the Ateneo Research Institute for Science and Engineering (ARISE) to better integrate entrepreneurship management with culture, art, science, and technology.

Ateneo BRC has resources available to empower entrepreneurs. These include a physical space [at Room 402] which they can use for incubation, creative thinking, and innovation. JGSoM's faculty members can also be tapped for training, consultation, and market research services. The center also facilitates the use of University resources such as the library for research. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the live interactions and collaborations inherently built into the Ateneo BRC's entrepreneurship programs, Lagdameo shared that they had to revise, review, and do a lot of pivoting to offer the programs in an online setting.

"It's really about looking at what your skill sets are and your current network; being able to adapt and adjust immediately, and look for new ways of doing things," Lagdameo explained. The JGSOM.BA was part of the pilot classes introduced when Ateneo first conducted online integration on Canvas during the intersession.

"We were learning as we were doing. Then, after a year, we realized it could be done. It's unlearning and learning—it's relearning. It was action learning: looking at online models, pushing forward things, even changing the way of teaching."

Lagdameo expressed gratitude and appreciation for how the university, its staff, and its resources made this process not only possible but even more so successful for the Ateneo BRC. Aside from using Ateneo's learning management systems and online platforms like Canvas, Zoom, and AISIS, the center was also able to access books, online databases, and other learning resources with the help of the Rizal Library. Lagdameo stressed the role of people behind this online transition—from the faculty and administrators to the administrative staff and people from the University's Management Information Systems (MIS).

"There was broad university support which we were able to use. The people behind this helped transition everyone into the online platform and brought up the faculty who use our programs. Channeling these university resources made the process less painful and much better; it seemed that we were all prepared," he said.

While the traditional notion of being an entrepreneur is anchored on starting and owning a business, Lagdameo noted that it could also be viewed at the level of having an entrepreneurial mindset. He said that a perspective that learns to adjust and adapt is critical to the pandemic. In addition, having an entrepreneurial mindset highlights how agility can play a role in shifting to different business models and approaches during times of crisis.

"The entrepreneurial mindset showed how we can get out of the box and look for opportunities. Then, if we don't see any opportunities, we make the opportunity ourselves." 

As an example, Lagdameo cited small food businesses and restaurants. By using digital menus, food delivery, and meal kits, these businesses could survive and adapt to the online setting.

In the same vein, the Ateneo BRC wants to reach out and develop an entrepreneurial mindset among individuals and organizations. 

Aside from collaborations and projects which will help enlarge the Ateneo BRC's footprint within the university, Lagdameo shared that the center is also looking into expanding the incubator space and upgrading its learning tools, equipment, and technology. He said that this would feed into developing the student enterprise development so that JGSOM.BA can serve students from fleshing out their ideas into organization and start-up levels. In addition, for start-ups and small businesses which have only begun operating, the Ateneo BRC can help them scale up and build networks.

The Ateneo BRC, he said, aims to develop local and international partnerships and networks. The center is looking for more channels and access to funding, including banks and investors, and venture capitalists. They intend to maintain their public learning and consultancy programs for the broader audience. The center hopes to make inroads in untapped markets and industries.

As Lagdameo said, "We're here to provide service and to help with the changing needs and requirements of your organization. Ateneo BRC has one question in mind: How can we help you? From there, we can let you discover what we can do."

For more information about the Ateneo Business Resource Center, visit www.ateneobrc.com.