Think Tank MBA

Training Intellectual Entrepreneurs to be More Effective

Atlas’s Think Tank MBA provides hands-on training to free-market “intellectual entrepreneurs” in effective organizational management and sound business practices.   Aimed at think tank practitioners with at least one-year experience in leading and managing an institute, participants study management basics and apply the teachings to create key management documents for their organizations.

The twelve-day program, held in Fairfax, Virginia, includes individual and group work, lectures and strategy sessions, think tank visits, and networking events to teach the essentials of business planning, marketing/communications, program planning and evaluation, fundraising, management and finance/accounting.

Atlas’s goal through this program is to provide each participant with a well-developed think tank business plan, an increased knowledge of organizational management, and a network of like-minded partners from the Atlas global think tank movement.

When & Where: The program will be held at the Hyatt Fair Lakes in Fairfax, Virginia from April 9-20th, 2010.

How to Apply :The Deadline for applicationswas January 15, 2010. Applicants will be notified by February 15, 2010.

Who: Ideal candidates are think tank practitioners who have had at least one year experience in leading and managing an institute, or promising young staffers at existing think tanks who could become future leaders within the think tank movement.  Please note – if you apply to attend, please be prepared to spend 12 days away from your think tank work.  Past participants thought they would have enough free time to work remotely. The program is very intense with little free time.  You will be asked to sign a contract, which includes a stipulation that you pledge not to check emails and websites, or otherwise engage in extra-program activities during the actual sessions.

Costs: The overall cost to Atlas for each participant is approximately $5000.  However, thanks to the generosity of Atlas’s donors, Atlas can make this opportunity available to qualified applicants at the subsidized price of $500.  Once accepted, the non-refundable fee of $500 is due byFebruary 25, 2010.  This fee includes:

• Lodging in a shared double-occupancy room at the conference hotel (checking in April 9 and checking out April 20).
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner (for 9 out of the 12 days of the program).
• All supplementary course materials, including books, presentations, and articles, etc.
• Transportation and fees for program excursions.
• Certificate of Completion, which will be provided at the conclusion of the program to participants who successfully completed all requirements of the program.

All Participants are responsible for paying all travel costs, including airfare to and from Virginia (Washington Dulles airport), transportation to and from the airport, non-covered meals, nighttime activities, hotel and personal incidentals.

As a special bonus, Atlas will sponsor all qualified Think Tank MBA participants to attend the Heritage Foundation’s Resource Bank from April 21-23 in Miami, Florida.  Atlas will pay coach airfare to Florida, lodging (check in April 20 and check out on April 23 of Turnberry Resort in Florida), and registration fee for participants who wish to attend the Heritage Foundation’s Resource Bank.

For more information about the Atlas MBA program please contact Jo Kwong.

Background:

To effectively promote Atlas’s vision of a free society, Atlas serves as a catalyst and connector to nurture a worldwide network of free-market public policy think tanks that promote the ideas of liberty.  Spreading these ideas requires strong, professionally managed institutions that can play a long-term role in their respective societies.  Consequently, Atlas offers this TTMBA to improve the ability of its think tank partners to effectively promote and market the free-market message.

In July 2008, Atlas launched the TTMBA program to institutionalize our efforts in training young intellectual entrepreneurs.  The inaugural TTMBA was held in July 2008 near Atlas’s headquarters just outside Washington DC, at the Westin Alexandria Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia.