At Hobart and William Smith, the Business Management and Entrepreneurship program empowers you to think critically, act ethically and lead with purpose in today’s rapidly changing global economy. Grounded in liberal arts and enhanced by real-world experiences, you’ll graduate ready to contribute to organizations, take initiative and thrive at the highest levels of industry.
HWS combines comprehensive business foundations including finance, marketing, data analytics and management with entrepreneurial confidence and ethical leadership skills. From experiential ventures to internships in global business hubs, your education is active, applied and personal. With the guidance of faculty, you’ll create a springboard to a career in business and, like so many of our alumni, go on to lead in the industry of your choosing.
What you can do
With a Career in Business
Kahlil Fontana '26
Kahlil Fontana ’26 gained hands-on experience in property management and marketing during his internship with The Bozzuto Group in Seattle. Read More
A Business Management and Entrepreneurship degree prepares you not just to understand how organizations work but to improve them. Today, HWS graduates are making an impact in fields such as:
"The program broadened my understanding of professional pathways and strengthened the analytical foundation I relied on during my financial planning internship."
Nicholas Jones ’26
Business & Strategy as a Founder, Business Owner, Management or Strategy Consultant, Financial or Business Analyst, or Operations, Product or Project Manager
Marketing & Communications as a Marketing or Brand Manager, Digital Strategist or Market Research Analyst
Finance & Analytics as aFinancial Planner, Investment or Risk Analyst, Banking Associate or a Data or Business Intelligence Analyst
Entrepreneurship & Innovation as aStartup Founder, Venture Associate or Innovation Manager
Nonprofit & Public Sector as a Program or Development Manager, Sustainability Coordinator or a Policy Analyst
Sports as an Operations Manager, Marketing Manager, Athletic Director, Agent or Business Analyst
Hospitality & Entertainment as an Event Manager, Hospitality Operations Director, Production Manager or a Sponsorship & Partnerships Manager
Internships, Grad Schools and First Jobs of Recent Grads
Internships, Grad Schools and First Jobs of Recent Grads
Morgan Stanley, AnalystJaheim Pierre '25
Major: Business Management and Entrepreneurship Minor: International Relations
Aon Avenue Capital Group Bank of America Beazley Group Bloomberg Bozzuto Group Canaccord Genuity Citi CTM Marketing CybelAngel Fidelity Investments Gallagher
Goldman Sachs Guidepoint HSBC Huron Consulting Group J.Crew JP Morgan Lemieux & Associates Liberty Mutual Massachusetts General Hospital Merkley + Partners Moelis & Company Morgan Stanley
Peoples Security Bank and Trust Prudential Financial Putnam Investments Rhone Athletics S&P Global The Elliot Group Third Bridge Group UBS UnitedHealth Group Vanguard Wavemaker Wells Fargo
CURRICULUM
The B.S. in Business Management and Entrepreneurship includes core business fundamentals, ethical leadership and electives that let you tailor your pathway. The Major requires completion of 15 courses, including seven core courses; four courses within a concentration; one ethics course; two electives; and a capstone course (MGMT 400).
Also offered is the Entrepreneurship minor. This complements liberal arts exploration with practical skills, ethical structure and fundamental concepts necessary for business or civic leadership. The minor requires seven courses, including three core courses; one ethics course; two electives and a capstone course.
MGMT 210 Fundamentals of marketing
Learn and hone your skills to manage successful marketing campaigns. Topics address customer and market analysis segmentation, targeting and positioning, product pricing and placement, social media strategies, regulation, ethical considerations and communication strategies.
Mgmt 223 Business sustainability and social responsibility
This course examines how organizations balance environmental, social and economic responsibilities while remaining competitive.
MGMT 325 Production and Innovation: Operations in the AI Age
This course explores how organizations design and manage operations in a global economy, with a focus on process improvement, supply chains, innovation and the growing role of artificial intelligence.
The Master of Science in Management (MSM) extends your HWS education, combining advanced management study with the critical thinking and ethical foundation of the liberal arts.
MGMT 305 – LEADERSHIP AND Strategy IN ENTREPRENEURIAL organizations
Guest Speakers
Students engage directly with an extraordinary community of global executives, entrepreneurs and innovators including the CEOs of ESPN, Meta, Nike, Adobe and more who bring real-world insight into the classroom.
A distinctive experience in the Business Management and Entrepreneurship program is MGMT 305: Leadership and Learning in Entrepreneurial Ventures.
Co-taught by Professor of Business Management and Entrepreneurship Tom Drennen and global business leader Dan Rosensweig ’83, the course convenes an extraordinary roster of executives whose decisions have shaped industries worldwide. It's a classroom experience that bridges rigorous inquiry with real-world perspective, preparing students to contribute thoughtfully in complex organizations.
What can I do with a degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship?
You can lead teams, analyze markets, launch ventures and solve complex organizational challenges. Graduates pursue careers in consulting, finance, marketing, analytics, operations and entrepreneurship — or start their own businesses. The program prepares you to adapt and lead in a changing economy.
How is this different from attending a traditional business school?
At HWS, you study business through a liberal arts lens. That means pairing finance and analytics with ethics, communication, psychology and global perspectives. You graduate with both technical expertise and the critical thinking skills employers consistently seek.
Will I gain real-world experience as an undergrad?
Yes. You’ll apply what you learn in class through internships, consulting projects, pitch competitions and entrepreneurial ventures. Business isn’t just studied — it’s practiced — all as an undergrad.
Can I start a business while I’m a student?
Absolutely. Students develop ideas, test prototypes, pitch to judges and connect with mentors. Whether you want to launch a startup or explore social entrepreneurship, you’ll have support to move from concept to execution. Students have the opportunity to enter in The Todd Feldman ’89 and Family Pitch Contest,which includes the guidance of expert advisers and a $10,000 start-up funding prize.
What skills will I graduate with?
You’ll develop:
Financial and analytical fluency
Strategic decision-making skills
Leadership and teamwork experience
Clear written and verbal communication
Ethical and global awareness
These skills prepare you for your first job — and long-term career growth.
Can I double major or minor in another field?
Yes. Many students combine Business Management and Entrepreneurship with majors or minors in all areas of study and are encouraged to explore a diverse curriculum. The liberal arts structure makes interdisciplinary study both possible and powerful.
What kinds of companies hire graduates?
Graduates work in startups, multinational corporations, nonprofit organizations, consulting firms and financial institutions. Others pursue graduate study in business, law or public policy.
Is a liberal arts college the right place to study business?
Yes — especially if you want to lead. At HWS, small classes mean close faculty mentorship, hands-on learning and early leadership opportunities. You won’t just learn business theory; you’ll apply it, discuss it and refine it in a collaborative environment.
Will this major prepare me for a competitive job market?
Yes. Employers consistently value graduates who can analyze data, communicate clearly and adapt quickly. The combination of business fundamentals and a liberal arts education prepare you to navigate complexity and take initiative from day one.
What facilities and centers support Business Management and Entrepreneurship students?
Business students at HWS learn in and beyond the classroom through a network of interdisciplinary centers designed for hands-on exploration. From venture development and leadership programming to policy, sustainability and global engagement initiatives, these centers provide mentorship, funding opportunities and real-world project experience.
The Melly Institute for Business, Innovation and Leadership serves as a hub for applied learning, connecting students with alumni, industry leaders and experiential programming that strengthens career preparation. Together, these resources ensure that students graduate not only with knowledge, but with meaningful professional experience. The Princeton Review consistently ranks HWS among the nation’s best colleges for Career Services and Alumni Networks, reflecting the strong support and professional connections available to students. The Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship offers a collaborative, hands-on environment where students develop and test ideas for startups and social ventures.
What makes HWS’ Business Management and Entrepreneurship faculty special?
HWS faculty bring together scholarly research and practical experience in business, entrepreneurship and leadership. In small classes, they work closely with students — advising internships, mentoring startups and helping translate classroom learning into real-world application.
Can I study abroad and major in Business Management and Entrepreneurship?
Yes. At HWS, more than 60% of students study abroad, and Business Management and Entrepreneurship is one of the most flexible majors for doing so. With thoughtful planning alongside your adviser, you can study abroad and stay on track to graduate. Exploring global markets and entrepreneurial ecosystems firsthand broadens your perspective and prepares you to contribute in an interconnected economy.
Is Business Management and Entrepreneurship different from Economics?
Yes. While both fields examine markets and organizations, they approach different questions. Business Management and Entrepreneurship focuses on how organizations operate, including areas such as management, marketing, finance and innovation. Economics examines how individuals, businesses and governments make decisions, using theory and data to understand how markets work and how policies shape economic outcomes.
At HWS, the two programs are closely connected. Faculty teach across both areas and some courses are cross-listed, giving students the opportunity to explore the practical application of business alongside the analytical foundations of economics.
Experiential LearningHands On
Resources
The MELLY INSTitute
The Melly Institute for Business, Innovation and Leadership serves as a hub for experiential learning, connecting students with alumni, industry leaders and hands-on programming in business and entrepreneurship. Through speaker series, mentorship, venture support and applied projects, the Institute bridges classroom study with real-world practice. It prepares students to lead with strategic insight, innovation and ethical purpose across industries.
Through the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education, you’ll explore career paths, receive one-on-one advising and secure a funded internship or research experience. HWS guarantees every student at least one internship or research opportunity and provides the financial support to make it possible. As early as your first semester, you’ll partner with a dedicated career counselor who will help you connect your interests to meaningful opportunities and alumni mentors.
At the Bozzuto Center, you’ll take a hands-on, active and collaborative approach to learning the ropes of startup and social ventures through meaningful partnerships with the businesses and nonprofits of Geneva, N.Y. This is a place where transformative ideas are celebrated, nurtured and brought to life. Enter your next-generation business concept in The Todd Feldman ’89 and Family Pitch Contest, which includes the guidance of expert advisers and a $10,000 start-up funding prize.
Through the Centennial Center for Leadership, you’ll strengthen the skills to lead with confidence and purpose. Programs, workshops and applied experiences build communication, collaboration and decision-making in organizational and entrepreneurial settings. Students can also pursue the Degree with Leadership Distinction, a selective program that integrates coursework, reflection and real-world leadership experience, culminating in a portfolio that demonstrates your growth as a leader.
Professor of Spanish, Latin American, and Bilingual Studies
Ph.D., Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spanish Linguistics) D.M.L, Middlebury College (Spanish and Italian) M.A., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Transatlantic Studies) B.A., University of Notre Dame (Spanish and Italian), summa cum laude
Visiting Instructor of Management and Entrepreneurship
C.A.S., State University of New York College at Brockport, 1989 M.S., Nazareth College of Rochester, 1982 B.S., State University of New York College at Oswego
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