Schulich School of Business

Schulich Mini-MBA: Media Mastery in the Digital Age

Schulich School of Business

Change Management

About Programme

Chart Your Course in the Evolving Media Landscape

Develop unique business acumen specific to the media and entertainment industry. Our specialized Mini-MBA offers practical business training for busy professionals. Gain core MBA skills from Canada’s top business school and learn from highly experienced leading media practitioners.

Embrace Change by Futureproofing Your Media Career

The media landscape is continually shifting both in Canada and globally. Professionals need to evolve into effective managers to stay ahead. To secure a competitive edge, it’s crucial to anticipate the next big moves for your career and organization.

The Schulich Mini-MBA: Media Mastery in the Digital Age is a unique program in Canada, offered by Schulich ExecEd in partnership with the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) at York University. This program provides hands-on learning experiences tailored to the media and entertainment sectors. Designed to elevate your career, it covers essential business disciplines such as strategic management, marketing and finance, all through the lens of media.

Our curriculum is crafted to equip you with the vital management skills necessary to foster long-term growth and sustainability in your media career.

This program is ideal for mid-career and senior leaders eager to delve deeper into the management side of media production and operations. Whether you’re managing a team or steering your own venture, this Mini-MBA will empower you with the strategic insights and management skills to thrive in the fast-evolving digital era.

DISCLAIMER: Schulich ExecEd requires a non-refundable deposit from all students as part of the enrolment process. Domestic students are required to submit a $1,000 deposit, while international students are required to submit a 50% deposit. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our advisors for assistance.

Programme Content

Session 1: Strategic Management in a Complex Sector I

Discover a comprehensive strategic planning process that starts with setting the vision and ends with monitoring and evaluation.

Session 2: Strategic Management in a Complex Sector II

Learn to apply the strategic management process to analyze a business and make key decisions.

Session 3: Content & The Power of the Audience

Explore the evolving dynamic between creators and audiences and understand how to harness the wisdom of your audience. This session delves into the transformative shift from a gatekeeper-centric model to a democratized approach in content creation and distribution. Participants will explore the significance of understanding micro-communities and their profound impact on content. The course will also examine the economics and business models that define the audience-centric creator economy. Students will learn how to leverage data and insights to effectively identify, serve, and grow an audience. Through engaging case studies, the course will illustrate real-world examples of both successful strategies and notable missteps in the field.

Session 4: Marketing Strategy

Explore the role of marketing in the value creation process and how products, services, and strategic branding determine your marketing mix. Conceive, refine, and execute a powerful marketing strategy to grow your brand and business.

Session 5: Know your Platforms I - The IP Ecosystem

Explore the differences and monetization opportunities between different platforms, and how this will affect your business model. Gain an introduction to the notion of a “content ecosystem” and understand how to build an ecosystem for your own IP.

Session 6: It's a Global World

Understand how to best navigate world markets, and how to confidently build global vs. country-only deals across platforms.

Session 7: Leading and Negotiating Change I

Uncover the nature of organizational change and how to manage resistance to change. Set the context of transformation at the individual, team, and organizational levels. Learn, practice, and refine business negotiation skills.

Session 8: Leading and Negotiating Change II

Examine evidence-based approaches to building agreement during single-party and multi-party negotiations. Discuss best practices and how to ask questions that lead to open and honest responses from a negotiation counterpart.

Session 9: Creating Experience in Convergence

Explore the evolution of “convergence culture,” where consumers actively participate in shaping their entertainment across multiple platforms. Examine why some transmedia projects succeed while others, like the later Matrix films, do not, using case studies like Marvel comic films and “The Last of Us”. Identify key characteristics of successful cross-platform projects and develop a framework for effective transmedia storytelling.

Session 10: Managerial Finance

Understand modern investment and finance, including asset valuation, capital budgeting, risk management, and performance assessment. Ethical considerations and management in the global context are integrated into these topics. Analyze financial statements and identify areas for value creation in an organization.

Session 11: Know Your Platforms II - The Creator Economy

In today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, the role of online creators is increasingly central to the way content is produced, distributed, and monetized. As a consumer of media, you are likely already familiar with the impact of podcasts, social media influencers, and the power of digital platforms to shape societal narratives. This session articulates the business strategies and economic principles that underpin the creator economy, offering a comprehensive analysis of how value is generated and sustained.

Participants will explore the mechanisms of monetization within the creator economy, examining both the opportunities and challenges it presents. By understanding the strategic considerations and economic drivers at play, you will be better equipped to determine whether and how to leverage this space for your own business ventures, enabling you to make informed decisions about participation and investment in this increasingly vital area of the media industry.

Session 12: Essentials of HR Management

Gain an understanding of the core elements of HR management and how HR practices can substantially contribute to an organization’s performance and objectives.

Session 13: In Conversation with Diana Williams: Franchising as Strategy

This module will feature an in-depth conversation with Diana Williams, CEO and Co-founder of Kinetic Energy Entertainment, who brings a wealth of experience from across the entertainment industry. With a career spanning the development and production of multi-platform IP franchises, and groundbreaking work with both emerging and established creative talent, Diana will share her insights on transforming ideas into IP, as well as the highs and lows of building sustainable, long-term franchises in today’s competitive marketplace.

Participants will explore the role of narrative cohesion in multi-platform storytelling, drawing on Diana’s expertise in building Kinetic’s slate of storytelling IP businesses and her previous experience as Creative Development and Franchise Producer for Lucasfilm. This session will also examine how independent creators can use franchise-building strategies as a foundation for creative success and leverage ownership within the long tail of commercialization in an evolving media landscape.

Session 14: Applied Learning Project & Graduation

Building on what you have learned so far, take an existing Intellectual Property asset your company is currently working with, and create a business plan to monetize it on another platform. Develop and refine your plan. Pitch your idea to a panel of experts and receive feedback on expanding your IP to another platform.

Fireside Chat with Lisa Hsia

Join us for a virtual fireside chat with Lisa Hsia, former Executive Vice President of Audience Acquisition and Growth at NBC Entertainment and Sports. A pioneer in the cross-platform space, Lisa oversaw numerous firsts at Bravo Digital, including the “Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen” series and innovative interactive technologies like co-viewing apps and real-time fan engagement. With a career spanning leadership roles at NBCUniversal, she will share her insights on digital strategy, audience growth, and the evolution of cross-platform storytelling, offering key lessons for navigating today’s media landscape.

Programme Audience

Practitioners at cultural institutions and professional associations that have storytelling or entertainment at their core—such as theatre, film, and television—will find this program invaluable. Gain insights into strategic management, communication, marketing, and finance, all tailored to the unique challenges of your sector. Learn to think creatively and holistically about exploiting IP and engaging with AI tools to drive efficiency and growth.

Content creators looking to build out their IP platforms and identify additional revenue streams will benefit from this program’s focus on innovative business models and strategic thinking. Emphasizing innovative business models and strategic thinking, it equips intrapreneurs with the tools needed to thrive in this dynamic industry.

This program is ideal for mid-career and senior leaders in content production companies, broadcasting (TV and radio), theatre production, and digital media platforms. If you are in a leadership role or aspiring to move into one, this Mini-MBA will equip you with the skills needed to navigate and thrive in the fast-changing media industry. Additionally, social media content creators will gain valuable skills to run their businesses more effectively, learning the basics of finance, leadership, and strategic management to turn creative passion into a sustainable enterprise.

Programme Benefits

Navigate the Media Revolution

Equip yourself with cutting-edge skills to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving media landscape. Learn to manage traditional and new media platforms effectively and futureproof your career.

Hands-On Learning with Industry Experts

Gain practical experience through a curriculum designed by Schulich instructors and leading media professionals. This program provides real-world insights and hands-on learning to address the unique challenges in the media industry.

Learn from the Pros

Get a unique business education directly related to your media practice. This program covers core MBA topics from finance and marketing to strategy and business analysis.

Master the Business of Media

From strategic management to financial acumen, learn essential business disciplines tailored to the media and entertainment sectors. Develop a holistic understanding of how to exploit Intellectual Property (IP) and leverage AI tools for efficiency.

Build a Meaningful Network

Connect with like-minded mid-career and senior leaders in media production, broadcasting, theater, and digital content creation. Expand your professional network and collaborate on innovative projects.

Unlock New Revenue Streams and Earn Higher Pay

Discover how to create sustainable business models and unlock new revenue opportunities. Learn the art of managing media enterprises across various platforms, including traditional media, streaming and gaming.

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Prashansa Uttam

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+91 9403890085[email protected]Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm IST

Schulich School of Business

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https://schulich.yorku.ca
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Schulich Mini-MBA: Media Mastery in the Digital Age | Schulich School of Business