Beyster Initiatives Continue UCSD's EO Education

As a proud UC San Diego alumna, I’m excited that NCEO is partnering with Beyster Initiatives at the Rady School of Management to conduct three separate courses for ESOP company leaders and professional advisors. UC San Diego, known equally for its academic rigor as its beautiful coastal campus, is an excellent fit for education in our employee ownership community.

Growing up in San Diego, I knew the general reputation of UC San Diego was that it is a “school for hard science nerds.” I must say that this is somewhat deserved, though like all stereotypes, it doesn’t tell the whole story. The science programs at UCSD are undeniably world-class, boasting legions of dedicated students and Nobel Prize-winning professors. But from my experience as a sociology and theater undergraduate outside the “hard sciences,” I think the deeper truth is that UCSD actively promotes a culture of valuing research and innovation in all fields. That spirit, plus the focused determination demonstrated daily by students, staff, and faculty, can absolutely be described as nerdy. Sound familiar? To me, this is akin to the cultures of innovation and ownership that employee-owned companies in our community are championing daily.

At UCSD, you can see this culture of dedicated innovation reflected all over campus, from the research instruments hanging off the pier at Scripps Institute for Oceanography, to students hitting the books in the architectural gem that is Geisel Library, to the Beyster Initiatives themselves. When the Beyster Institute joined the newly formed Rady School of Management in 2004, the founding dean remarked that the Beyster Instituteʼs “focus on ownership and innovation complements our commitment to preparing leaders who understand not just how to build companies, but how to build cultures of shared success.” There are precious few university-level programs that focus on employee ownership the way the Beyster Initiatives do, and the NCEO is proud to co-present these courses.

Simply put, if you are looking for in-depth, data-driven education in employee ownership, this is an opportunity you must consider.

In the Beyster Institute’s upcoming virtual course, “Understanding ESOPs: Training to Be an ESOP Professional,” you’ll develop and hone the necessary skills to succeed in the ESOP field. Over nine weekly courses from June 23–August 18, you’ll learn what management in ESOP companies need to consider and develop an understanding of the different roles that ESOP advisors play before, during, and after a transaction. In true UC San Diego fashion, each lecturer is a renowned expert in their respective field and brings decades of experience and knowledge to the course. Register now before the course begins on June 23, and make sure to identify yourself as an NCEO member during the registration process—individual NCEO members as well as groups of four members or more receive a special discounted rate!

Looking for a course on a different ESOP topic, or wishing you could experience the Rady School of Management in person? UCSD also hosts two other employee ownership courses, “Corporate Governance for ESOP Companies” (September 1–October 23) and “Administering Your ESOP Company” (2027 dates TBD), which feature two in-person sessions. The Rady School of Management sits on the west side of campus, where if you can’t see the ocean, you can feel its presence in the salty breeze that rushes up the nearby La Jolla cliffs. When you’re in San Diego for the in-person portions of the courses, be sure to catch a wave at La Jolla Shores or catch a play at the La Jolla Playhouse to complete your educational experience.