New short programme unlocks potential for entrepreneurs with ADHD

Ambitious entrepreneurs often use executive education courses to add specific business skills when they want to turn their business ideas into reality, but some have to overcome unique challenges to get their businesses started. Entrepreneurs living with ADHD – who have their own unique abilities but might also have difficulties managing their time and organisation, or with controlling impulses or multitasking – can now sign up for a new five-week course that’s specially tailored to unlock their potential. Entrepreneurship Unlimited is a programme designed by Dr René Bakker and Dr Ingrid Verheul of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM). It’s specifically aimed at people with ADHD who have start-up businesses and is offered by the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship (ECE)

The programme starts on 25 May 2023 as a pilot scheme, and provides tools and support in a community of like-minded individuals with access to exclusive ADHD resources, workshops and mentorship opportunities. It’s designed to help entrepreneurs with ADHD to overcome the unique challenges of starting up a business.

Instigator of the programme is Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at RSM, Dr René Bakker. He says: “It's important to keep in mind that every individual with ADHD is different. That’s why we work in small groups of like-minded individuals, and provide enough individual and group coaching to tackle individual problems as well as generic problems.” He worked with co-organiser and organiser Dr Ingrid Verheul, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at RSM, to bring the pilot of the new programme into being.

“With the right support and adjustments, many entrepreneurs with ADHD can successfully run their own businesses. Unlimited Entrepreneurship is dedicated to helping individuals with ADHD make their entrepreneurial dreams come true.”

Learning objectives

The programme teaches participants to recognise their unique talents and the opportunities they present, but also the pitfalls that can accompany them. They develop awareness and acceptance, followed by adaptation skills for their own specific ADHD characteristics. The programme takes note of recent scientific research into doing business with ADHD.

Dr Bakker said the programme is designed for budding entrepreneurs with ADHD who are currently setting up their business or already have an initial business idea that they intend to use. The pilot programme has spaces for only 16 participants for the five modules over five weeks; if they attend every session and complete all the assignments, then the programme is free of charge and the participants’ deposits of € 500 are refunded. Sessions take place at the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship in the Rotterdam Science Tower in the centre of Rotterdam.

For more information about how to apply and register, plus dates and times, see the programme’s webpage: Entrepreneurship Unlimited.

More information

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is one of Europe’s top-ranked business schools. RSM provides ground-breaking research and education furthering excellence in all aspects of management and is based in the international port city of Rotterdam – a vital nexus of business, logistics and trade. RSM’s primary focus is on developing business leaders with international careers who can become a force for positive change by carrying their innovative mindset into a sustainable future. Our first-class range of bachelor, master, MBA, PhD and executive programmes encourage them to become critical, creative, caring and collaborative thinkers and doers. www.rsm.nl

For more information about RSM or this release, please contact Erika Harriford-McLaren, communications manager for RSM, on +31 10 408 2877 or by email at harriford@rsm.nl.