When departing Dean of the Graduate School of Business, Garth Saloner advised students to curb their start-up ambitions to at least until they graduate - I couldn't believe it. While he is not saying don't go out and build a start-up, he is saying wait until you complete the program before starting - surprising, but not necessarily bad advice from Stanford University.
I believe it has more to do with personal focus than negative consequences for the school, Stanford Business School is a leader in entrepreneurship. However, Saloner's statement “We’re not the graduate school of entrepreneurship” is surprising based on not only their geographical location close to Silicon Valley and their relationship with venture capitalists seeking to invest vast sums with their students.
Saloner, a Professor of Economics earned his MBA in 1977 and his PhD in 1982 was the Dean from 2009 to 2016 who also co-wrote books on strategic management and one on value creation. I could not believe the number of cases Saloner wrote for Stanford Business School, numerous journal articles and now teaches entrepreneurship, to my thinking - he knows what he is talking about.
The top level business schools have invested in faculty and innovation labs pushing innovation and entrepreneurship courses on their student ensuring their business school is viewed as the leader of cutting edge technology to recruit the top talent. Saloner's attitude appears to be at odds with current trends top flight business schools especially considering Stanford's clear lead in the prevalence of MBA led start-ups. I am interested to see how this one pans out.
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