Department: Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
At the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies students learn a mindset that sets them apart and better positions them to make a positive difference in the world. This mindset is about much more than just founders and founding processes. It is about adaptable, flexible thinking; assessing and managing risk in dynamic, uncertain environments; and finding and pursuing new opportunities.
DEGREES + COURSES
UNDERGRADUATE MINORS
Entrepreneurship Minor
For non-business majors, this minor provides an understanding of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial mindset. To enroll in this minor, students must have completed a minimum of 32 units of college-level course work and have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75.
Social Entrepreneurship Minor
Provides students from all undergraduate majors with an understanding of social entrepreneurship and its relationship to government and public policy as well as an understanding of management skills specific to starting and maintaining a social enterprise.
Innovation: The Digital Entrepreneur Minor (with the Viterbi School of Engineering)
Introduces students to the elements and concepts central to launching a digital venture, including digital disruption, ideation, high-tech product management, online customer acquisition, technology implementation, online business models, digital marketing and monetization.
Technology Commercialization Minor (with the Viterbi School of Engineering)
Explores the economic, technological and entrepreneurial aspects of commercializing new technologies. Designed for students with varied interests who might start technology-based ventures ir work for new to established technology companies.
Media Entrepreneurship & Economics Minor (with the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism)
Equips students with the interdisciplinary skills and critical frameworks to navigate ongoing transformation sweeping the media industry, with a particular focus on the key economics forces reshaping television, film, music, and news.
Performance Science Minor
This minor teaches the science, best practices and applied processes to instill a high-performance mindset though a multi-disciplinary curriculum spanning business, psychology, biology, philosophy, and athletics.
Game Entrepreneurism Minor (with the School of Cinematic Arts)
A minor for students interested in building a business in the games and digital media industry. Building on the business, production and management courses in the Interactive Media Division, this minor culminates in our advanced game project course and provides students with hands-on mentorship.
GRADUATE DEGREES
Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MSEI)
The program offers individuals with a passion for entrepreneurship the critical skills and knowledge they need to create the next great companies of the future. An accelerated and highly experiential degree, the MSEI can be completed in just 12 months, putting students on a fast track to launching new business opportunities within large organizations or starting their own enterprises.
For degree requirements, please check the COURSE CATALOGUE.
Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship (MSSE)
Whether for-profit or nonprofit, enterprises that balance social missions with financial missions can offer innovative antidotes to problems in education, health care, poverty and health. Social entrepreneurs are designing and managing these impact organizations. From global microfinance to mission-based pharmaceutical companies to local workforce development programs, enterprises and programs across the globe "look, smell and taste" like businesses while holding social mission as the driving force.
With a Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship from the Marshall School of Business, you will experience a business education geared to the unique aspects of social impact. You will be prepared uniquely to become a leader in the field. You will balance your head and heart as you embark on a career with meaning and attack the most pressing global challenges.
GRADUATE CERTIFICATES
Graduate Certificate in Technology Commercialization
Students participate in the entire spectrum of the commercialization process, from invention to venture funding, while potentially becoming stakeholders in a new technology venture.
NEWS + EVENTS
Quoted: Pete Carroll in ESPN
ESPN highlights “The Game is Life” course co-taught by Coach Pete Carroll, Dean Varun Soni, and Prof. David Belasco featuring student experiences, real-world lessons, and Carroll’s “Win Forever” philosophy.
Quoted: Shon Hiatt in Gold Seek
Hiatt observes that the looming copper deficit couldn’t come at a worse time — with copper needs projected to skyrocket in the coming years.
USC Entrepreneur Signs Major Deals To Make Preventative Care Accessible
USC Marshall alumnus launches WellTra.Ai with support from the USC Marshall Greif Incubator and Greif Center’s New Venture Seed Competition.
ATHENA Women’s Entrepreneurship Summit Highlights Resilience Among Founders
Entrepreneurs from across industries gathered at USC Marshall for an all-day conference focused on “LA 2025 and Beyond | Resilience.”
USC Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab and Greif Center Host Pitch Contest Aimed at Global Impact
At USC’s Hult Prize Competition, students presented ideas toward United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for a chance at $1 million.
Quoted: Hovig Tchalian in AP News
Tchalian explains that automakers may be able to adjust to high tariffs because of their experience with COVID-19 supply chain disruption.
FACULTY
FULL-TIME FACULTY
Abby Fifer Mandell is an award-winning educator, user researcher, master facilitator and design strategist. As senior lecturer in entrepreneurship and former executive director of the Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab, Abby has guided hundreds of individuals and organizations to apply user-centered design to challenges faced by individuals and families worldwide. Community foci include older adults, farmworkers in California’s Central Valley, and adults diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Abby won the Academy of Management Innovation in Entrepreneurship Pedagogy Award in 2018 and the USC Mentoring Award for Faculty Mentoring Undergraduate Students in 2023. She co-teaches the Min Family Challenge with the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship group at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Abby is a frequent lecturer, workshop facilitator, and keynote speaker and has authored many works on user-centered design and strategy, including Human-Centered Design for Social Innovation Toolkit, 1st-13th ed. (2016-2023) and Design Strategy for Social Innovation Toolkit for Educators(2016). She is a Wexner Heritage Fellow and serves on the advisory board of United Parents and Students and Seismic Capital.
Dr. Glenn Fox is a faculty member at the University of Southern California's Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, in the Marshall School of Business. His current projects focus on neural systems for emotion regulation, high stakes training, and developing entrepreneurial mindset skills in founders and business leaders.
Glenn received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from USC, where he focused on the neural correlates of gratitude, empathy, and neuroplasticity. Currently, Glenn is the Director and Founder of the USC Found Well Initiative which aims to understand and promote entrepreneurial mindset in founders and business leaders.
Elissa's research concerns social networks in new venturing – encompassing network development for startup resource acquisition and crowdfunding. Her work has been published in journals including Journal of Management and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. Before joining USC, Elissa was on the faculties of Loyola Marymount University and Baruch College.
Jessica Jackley is an entrepreneur and investor best known as founder of Kiva, the first microfinance crowdfunding platform with over $2B in loans since 2005. She is currently a Professor of the Practice of Entrepreneurship at the Marshall School of Business at USC, and Founder and GP at Untapped Capital. Previously, Jessica was Founder/CEO at Alltruists, creating unique volunteer experiences that can be done anywhere. Other notable experience includes serving as Walt Disney Imagineering's inaugural Entrepreneur in Residence, Chief Impact Officer at Aspiration, Venture Partner at Collaborative Fund and Mustard Seed Maze, author of CLAY WATER BRICK(PenguinRandom House), and founder/CEO of Profounder (acquired by GOOD Inc. in2010), among others. Jessica was previously a Visiting Practitioner at Stanford’s Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society. Extensive board service includes Habitat for Humanity, Opportunity International, International Museum of Women, and more.
