Meet Shelby Scarbrough | CO Founder | The Global School of Entrepreneurship

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shelby Scarbrough and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shelby, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I am a serial entrepreneur. I love creating new businesses and new opportunities. A small group of co-founders got together to disrupt the MBA market. As entrepreneurs, we knew that the traditional MBA program is not truly suited or designed for the entrepreneur who is knee-deep in the business end of their enterprise. So, we decided to create an MBA by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs we call the Global School of Entrepreneurship (GSE).

The Mastermind to MBA program at GSE consists of a small cohort of ten people that meets virtually every other week with a dedicated professor. During most cohort meetings, we have a Distinguished Guest Lecturer who discusses topics inside the MBA curriculum but through the lens of a true practitioner. The cohort members who are true peers discuss the content from their perspectives and personal, real-life experiences. We finish the coursework with a practicum in which each student chooses a project that will help their business based on the multidisciplinary subject matter of the course.

One year later, they have earned an MBA. We are fully accredited, so we have high standards to maintain from an academic perspective, but we make sure the content is relevant to a business owner who truly runs their endeavor. It was high time!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started my professional life as a staff member in President Reagan’s White House Advance Office and then his Protocol Office at the State Department. The unusual career beginnings were part of a necessary and unique learning experience that helped set the stage for the experiences of the balance of my life. Additionally, as a teen, and all through college, I worked in my parent’s restaurants – Burger Kings.

I like to joke; from the Burger King to the Queen of England, it’s all the same to me -It’s about the customer. the client, the people. We can make life a transition or a relationship. I like to look at everything through the lens of a long-term relationship. Some days have been thrilling, some grueling, some scary, but all fascinating.

I credit any success I have had to my first “bosses” – my parents in life and at Burger King, Jim Hooley at the White House, Amb. Selwa ‘Lucky’ Roosevelt, Julie Petersmeyer, and Catherine “Bunny” Murdock at the State Department. Each taught me different things. But mostly, I learned attention to detail, professionalism, decorum, humility, and grace under pressure. I mean, I LEARNED it.

Some people seem to be born with all those qualities but stepping into fast-moving positions with high expectations (i.e., perfection) at a young age was a bit of a baptism by fire. I am grateful for a strong work ethic and a value of integrity in business.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am not from Denver, but my goddaughter Lindsay lives there.  She and her sister Erin took me to fun restaurants like Uncle and Linger in the quaint neighborhoods teeming with energy and young people. I also love the downtown area with the train station and the blend of old and new architecture.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to my parents, my family, my co-founders, and my very cherished friends who all put up with a lot of ideating, dreaming, and scheming to create opportunities everywhere. To the young people in my life who inspire me to leave a positive imprint with my footsteps through this life and to be there to cheer them on as they learn and grow into fully actualized humans: Lindsay, Erin, Will, Jack, Bella. Cameron, Tara, & Jenna

Website: www.GSE.MBA

Instagram: ShelbyJoy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/practicalprotocol/

Twitter: @ShelbyJoy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CivilityRules

Shelby Joy Scarbrough
www.practicalprotocol.com

In case you are interested, check out:
TEDx Napa Speech – Civility
UN Conf on Small Business Address – Entrepreneurship
The Washington Post – Civility
Ronald Reagan Library – Civility
Author, Amazon Best Seller-Civility Rules! Creating a Purposeful Practice of Civility 

Image Credits
Gloria Touchet Photography