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.

2025 Program Dates Coming Soon.

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 


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

Tyagi explores risk, reward of transparency in pharma industry

The pharmaceutical supply chain, an intricate web that creates new drugs for patients, operates largely under a veil of secrecy. But making it more transparent may have a chilling effect on innovation, according to Gies assistant professor Hanu Tyagi.

Mock Live Session: Encouraging Your Customers to Make Better Decisions

Mock live Class: Encouraging Your Customers to Make Better Decisions with Professor Hayden Noel 

One important aspect of marketing is the consumer decision process. In this mock live class, we will explore the transformation of the consumer decision journey due to the internet. We will also delve into decision-making biases that negatively impact consumers. Lastly, we will discuss strategies companies can employ to help consumers overcome these biases, including the use of behavioral nudges to guide better decision-making. You will also understand how a live lecture works and get a glimpse into high engagement at Gies!

REGISTER HERE!