Emerging Business Leaders Hero

Preparing tomorrow’s leaders – today

The Emerging Business Leaders (EBL) program at Gies College of Business is a summer program designed for high-achieving Black, African-American, Hispanic, Latinx/a/o, and Native American students entering their senior year of high school.

Program Dates: June 23 - 28, 2024

Apply Now ›

Program Activities

  • Interactive discussions featuring Gies Business staff, students, and alumni around career possibilities in business and the Gies student experience 
  • Work in groups to solve business problems
  • Learn about college admissions
  • Have fun and make new friends

Application Criteria

The EBL Program is open to underrepresented students entering their senior year of high school. You must have:

  • 3.2/4.0 GPA or higher
  • Demonstrated leadership through extracurricular, volunteer, or work experiences
  • Ability to attend the entire program (June 23 - 28, 2024)


Program Benefits 

All students who successfully complete the Emerging Business Leaders Program will receive a University of Illinois application fee waiver. Students who apply, are admitted, and enroll into Gies Business will qualify for a renewable scholarship up to $5000 to help cover their academic costs.

Admission to the Emerging Business Leaders program does not guarantee admission to Gies Business and/or the University of Illinois.

Gies News and Events

iMBA helps power Windfree's CEO to power Illinois homes and businesses

Jul 1, 2019, 08:30 by System
Gies iMBA student Eric Heineman thriving as CEO of Windfree, Illinois' No. 1 installer of solar panels at business and homes.

Eric Heineman’s post-collegiate dream was to run an organic farm.

“I quickly found out that working on a farm is one of the hardest jobs you can do,” Heineman said.

Eric HeinemanHeineman fostered that dream of making a career of green jobs first as a longtime Sustainability Director for the State of Illinois under former Governor Pat Quinn, and, since 2018, he’s been CEO of Chicago-based Windfree, Illinois’ No. 1 installer of solar panels at businesses and homes across the state.

“Illinois is having a solar boom,” said Heineman, 37, a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep and Chicago resident.

Heineman said being part of Gies College of Business’ iMBA program has been a huge key to his growth as a CEO. Heineman, who is set to graduate with his MBA in 2020, said every class at Gies is directly related to how he’s running Windfree.

“The iMBA program really helps with my confidence running this company. It allows me to constructively second-guess everything I’m doing, and I have a great sounding board for my ideas,” Heineman said.

The iMBA program’s flexibility also has been crucial for Heineman, who has two young children.

“I don’t know how I would be able to stay in a master’s program if I didn’t have the flexibility of the iMBA,” Heineman said. “It’s something I’m very thankful for.”

Windfree has quickly made its mark on the solar power industry. Heineman began working there in 2015, and that year Windfree installed more solar than any other company according to Solar Power World Magazine. To date, the company, which was founded by Doug Snower in 2009, has installed more than 14 MW of solar in Illinois. As part of its 10-year anniversary, Windfree will be announcing the non-profit Windfree Solar Foundation. The nonprofit’s mission will be to promote solar energy nationally and provide solar energy solutions to schools throughout Illinois.

Windfree includes a diverse portfolio of more than 400 certified installations, including solar panels on the Governor’s Mansion while Quinn was in office. The company’s first installment took place 10 years ago at Burr Elementary School in Chicago’s Bucktown-Wicker Park neighborhood, and Oprah Winfrey attended the ribbon cutting. The installation, which cost $12,000, included small-scale wind and solar, Heineman said.

“I think it’s the future for a lot of homes and businesses,” Heineman said.

To sign up for a free evaluation to see if solar is right for a home or business, visit https://www.windfree.us/

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