Next Economy | Lift Economy

The Next Economy MBA is a nine month online course for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to learn key business fundamentals (e.g., vision, culture, strategy, and operations) from a regenerative perspective.

How does the programme provide content to ensure students achieve an understanding of a reasonably diverse set of perspectives on understanding economies?

There is no MBA program in the world that teaches about things like Indigenous values, non-extractive investing, the gift economy, self-managing organizations, multi-stakeholder cooperatives, comprehensive strategies to reverse climate change, non-violent communication, locally self-reliant economies, racial justice, and more. 

Diversity is key. We recognize and honor that the next economy will consist of a diversity of approaches including gift economy, timebanking, B Corps, alternative currencies, mutual aid resources, integrated capital strategies, nonprofits, worker cooperatives and so much more! 

How does the programme ensure students understand the interaction between economic and ecological systems?

There is a large (and growing) gap in the marketplace for an affordable, easily accessible, and regenerative business education for those entrepreneurs who want to play a role in completely redesigning the economy for the benefit of all life. This mantra, of creating an economy that works for all, with no one left out (including the more than human world), drives all that we do. In this program, students experience the ecological and economic interrelationships firsthand, through a nature-informed curriculum that frequently references ecological economists and the importance of designing enterprises in the context of bioregional ecologies. We discuss the paradoxes of operating in a business-as-usual paradigm that does not incentivize ecological health, while offering strategies for navigating such paradoxes. 

How does the programme ensure students understand how to critically explore real-world evidence, both qualitative and quantitative?

Through participatory design, a thriving alumni community of more than 250+ participants, Next Economy Alumni will learn to create a Next Economy business design or modifying an existing business to be more aligned with creating benefit for all life. Alumni will access a wide variety of tools, case studies, tips, and strategies and a network of entrepreneurs. Students will understand and apply Next Economy business principles and fundamentals in businesses they interface with. Students will move closer to a career that aligns with their deeper purpose and influence a burgeoning new way of thinking about how to structure and organize a global shift towards an economy that works for all life.

What pedagogical approaches does the programme use to ensure that students examine the historical context, assumptions and values in all economic thinking?

We address the creation of scarcity at the root of the economic system (ie - throw away food, planned obsolescence, vacant housing). We discuss how the perceived threat is not real. We debunk the notion that people would be "lazy" and not productive if they had their needs taken care of. We dive into the fallacy of the bootstrap/meritocratic society - there are inherited conditions, systems that have created inequity. This seeps into the emotional life of people - like having to "show up to work perfect." Racism and how it interacts with capitalism--Ibram X. Kendi's concept of "Racial Capitalism." White supremacy as dominant implicit and explicit focus of the economy.

How does the department ensure that the teaching culture and capacity to deliver economic pluralism are continually improving?

We do not “teach” anyone anything per se, but create the conditions for learning to occur. We collectively steward an atmosphere that nurtures a sense of psychological safety and transcending limiting beliefs, cynicism, and expanding our beliefs about what’s possible. We survey all course participants about interest in topics and will adjust the content of the course accordingly. We regularly respond to requests from participants for additional special sessions and evolve the content to meet the needs of the participants. As an example, we recently integrated more arts-based modalities due to demand from several participants, and all of our participants have responded positively that it has enhanced their learning experience.

Other information:

Many entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs are looking for a business education that describes the fundamentals of business and deeply aligns with their social and environmental values. MBA programs are not effectively meeting this need. MBA programs are incredibly expensive—costing roughly $100k-$150k for a 2 year degree. This exacerbates the cycle of wealth extraction and forces aspiring entrepreneurs to become reliant on high-salary positions—often at organizations that do not deeply align with their values—to pay down their debt. “Sustainable” or “green” MBA programs, are often not progressive enough. Sustainable MBA programs are often geared towards making incremental improvements to the existing economy.Many entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs are looking for a business education that describes the fundamentals of business and deeply aligns with their social and environmental values. MBA programs are not effectively meeting this need. MBA programs are incredibly expensive—costing roughly $100k-$150k for a 2 year degree. This exacerbates the cycle of wealth extraction and forces aspiring entrepreneurs to become reliant on high-salary positions—often at organizations that do not deeply align with their values—to pay down their debt. “Sustainable” or “green” MBA programs, are often not progressive enough. Sustainable MBA programs are often geared towards making incremental improvements to the existing economy.Many entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs are looking for a business education that describes the fundamentals of business and deeply aligns with their social and environmental values. MBA programs are not effectively meeting this need. MBA programs are incredibly expensive—costing roughly $100k-$150k for a 2 year degree. This exacerbates the cycle of wealth extraction and forces aspiring entrepreneurs to become reliant on high-salary positions—often at organizations that do not deeply align with their values—to pay down their debt. “Sustainable” or “green” MBA programs, are often not progressive enough. Sustainable MBA programs are often geared towards making incremental improvements to the existing economy.