Business Fundamentals: Leadership for the Future

This course provides students with an engaging and motivating introduction to why business matters in the world and to the core ideas that shape modern business and leadership. As the shared morning foundation for all participants in the UBC Sauder Business Academy, it is designed to spark excitement about studying business at the university level while giving students a structured overview of how organizations create value for customers, communities and broader society, how they make decisions, and how they compete in a changing economy. Students are introduced to the major disciplines that drive organizational success - leadership, strategy, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship - and learn how these

areas connect when real decisions must be made.

Through lectures, case discussions, simulations, and collaborative exercises, the course builds analytical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills while showing students how business problems are approached from multiple perspectives. Two questions run through each session of this course: “What is the role of business in society?” and “What kind of leader do I want to be?” Students examine how businesses can be powerful drivers of innovation, productivity, and societal development. We “open up” an organization and explore corporate governance, the relationship between boards and management, shareholder primacy and broader stakeholder views of the firm, the impact of technology and AI on business, and the challenges of responsible leadership in a fast-changing world.

Throughout the course, students are encouraged to reflect on their own values and the kind of leaders they aspire to become. This course is intended to be taken together with one of the Academy’s afternoon electives. Business Fundamentals provides the common vocabulary, frameworks, and perspective that help students get more out of specialized study in areas such as finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, or data analytics. The program's essential capstone experience is delivered through the electives rather than through this morning course, ensuring that every student completes the Academy with both a broad business foundation and a meaningful applied project.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Explain the fundamental principles and interconnections among key business disciplines—leadership, marketing, finance, strategy, and entrepreneurship.
2. Analyze real-world business challenges using structured frameworks and evidence-based reasoning.
3. Collaborate effectively in diverse teams to solve problems and communicate ideas clearly.
4. Apply creativity and critical thinking to design innovative business solutions.
5. Reflect on personal interests, strengths, and values to make informed decisions about future studies and career paths.

*Information is subject to change as instructors finalize course syllabi