If you strive to succeed as an entrepreneur, you have a lot in common with Kaieem (Kai) Caesar — even if you never played college athletics like he did.
During his time at Ohio University, Kai excelled on the football field and in the classroom. He earned a bachelor's degree and two graduate degrees, including a Master of Science in Management (MSM).
The online MSM program energized his passion for entrepreneurship. With guidance from OHIO's dedicated faculty and academic advisors, Kai capitalized on opportunities that prepared him to lead new business ventures — and you can do the same.
OHIO's Impact on Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Every student entrepreneur in OHIO's MSM program has a personal story to tell, and Kai's is quite interesting.
Born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Kai moved to Oklahoma as a child and began playing football in middle school. His abilities flourished as he progressed from middle to high school, and he eventually became a defensive tackle at OHIO, where he grew as a leader on and off the field.
"We all come from different backgrounds," Kai said, reflecting on his journey to OHIO and the MSM program. If you asked him for advice on how to succeed in the program, he would say to consider your past to find your purpose as a student and aspiring entrepreneur:
"You're here for a reason. That's the number one thing. Find that reason before you do anything else."
Conversations with Dr. Amy Taylor-Bianco — or "Dr. B." to her students — helped Kai identify his purpose. Dr. B. is the MSM Program Director, and she met with Kai to discuss what he could achieve in the program. This type of guidance helped him set professional goals for after he finished college and his football career.
"I sat down and made a plan instead of, four years from now, still trying to figure out what I would try to do in my life," Kai said.
His plan included developing competencies for careers in entrepreneurship and other business sectors. "A lot of employers want experienced people," he said, noting that many college students must gain hands-on experience to qualify for open positions. Fortunately, as Kai said, "The MSM program gives us that experience."
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Why Is OHIO's Online MSM Program Beneficial to Entrepreneurs?
Through the online MSM program, Kai was able to customize the coursework for his goals. The curriculum includes a Management and Leadership Graduate Certificate and allows students to choose two additional online business certificates that align with multiple career paths.
"Being an entrepreneur has been a part of me since I was a kid," Kai said. So, it's no surprise that he selected the Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship certificate, which opened his eyes to the experience of owning a business:
"Going through this process and seeing how I could structure everything, it allowed me to think about, if I had a business right now, how I would want to be as a leader."
Through the Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship certificate, Kai gained opportunities to plan multiple aspects of launching and managing an enterprise. These hands-on experiences required him to wear many hats as he developed valuable skills for starting and overseeing organizations as an entrepreneur.
"In the MSM program, I learned how to interact and connect with other business professionals, such as people in sales and acquisitions," Kai said. The coursework went beyond private-sector endeavors, as he learned about grant writing and other initiatives relevant to managing a nonprofit.
In addition to the Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship certificate, Kai earned a Business Analytics certificate. "This third certificate helped me understand the backend aspects of companies, so that I could analyze and determine what the company needs to move forward," he said. Moreover, developing knowledge of AI and other emerging technologies would help him create strategies that align with the future of business.
Why Is Personal Growth Important to Entrepreneurs?
While leadership and decision-making skills are essential to success in entrepreneurship, it's also important to commit to personal growth. According to an Industry Leaders article, "Starting and running a business requires a great deal of personal development and growth — and the entrepreneurial journey can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and improvement along the way."
Much of Kai's growth as a student stemmed from tackling personal challenges. During his first year as an undergraduate at OHIO, his academic performance floundered. So, he worked with an advisor to plan his comeback, aiming to prioritize school and raise his grades to a high level.
This experience motivated him to commit to academic excellence for the rest of his collegiate career. In fact, he received various academic accolades as a student at OHIO, including recognition on the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Honor Roll in 2018 and the Diversity and Inclusion Student-Athlete Award in 2022.
"I just wanted to create a business mindset," Kai said, referring to his interest in making his academic experience translate to professional advancement. At the same time, he set personal growth goals that would aid his development as an entrepreneur. For instance, Kai is known for his strong leadership abilities, and he strived to extend them further by setting positive examples for his teammates and classmates. To achieve that goal, he challenged himself to lead with actions that would inspire the people around him to prioritize their own personal growth.
"That way, they could see that we are all in this together. It's all about developing that mindset and applying it," Kai said. In addition to having a positive influence on his teammates and classmates, he experienced personal growth that will serve him well as an entrepreneur.
Empower Your Entrepreneurial Spirit at Ohio University
In the MSM program, Kai learned how to plan a new business and harness innovations that can improve the operations of companies of every size, from startups and small businesses to global corporations. By offering multiple certificate options, the program enabled him to customize his education around his goals. Or, as Kai described it:
"This program allowed me to do things my way."
If you want to follow in Kai's footsteps by acquiring an entrepreneurial mindset and leadership abilities, pursue your Master of Science in Management degree online at OHIO. Dr. B. and our other dedicated faculty members will provide a comprehensive and transformative journey that emphasizes professional and personal development. The online courses offer the convenience that professionals need, in a supportive environment with networking and executive mentorship opportunities. To learn more, request information today.
About Kaieem Caesar
Kaieem is a 2022 graduate of the Master of Science in Management program at Ohio University. He played defensive tackle for the Ohio Bobcats, serving as defensive team captain for three seasons and capping his football career with an overtime victory in the Arizona Bowl in 2022. At OHIO, he earned a bachelor's in communication studies (2020) and master's degrees in management (2022) and crisis communication (2023). He was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and later moved to Oklahoma, where his passion for football began. His accomplishments as a Bobcat include the development of nonprofit organizations and receiving the MAC Diversity and Inclusion Student-Athlete Award in 2022.
Related Resources
- Benefits of Choosing an Online MSM Degree
- MSM vs. MBA: What is the Best Master’s Degree for Managers?
- How an Online Master's Degree Benefits Student-Athletes
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