T H E N E X T E C O N O M Y M B A
Business tools and strategy for leaders building a more just, regenerative economy.
A 9-month program that gives you the practical skills, strategic clarity, and peer network to transform your organization, launch a values-aligned venture, or lead change from the inside.
Special content from: Vincent Stanley of Patagonia and Kat Taylor of Beneficial State Bank and more...
800+ alumni across 16 cohorts | 4.75/5 avg session rating | Based on LIFT's 15+ years advising 350+ social enterprises
This program is for you, whether you are changing an existing organization or building a new one.
Most participants sit somewhere between these two paths. The Next Economy MBA gives you the tools and community for both.
Transforming from within
You work inside an organization that you want to shift towards deeper impact. You want practical strategies to move it toward a more just, regenerative model.
- Corporate sustainability and ESG leads
- Managers and directors at B Corps or mission-driven companies
- Nonprofit leaders navigating growth and governance
- Investors and funders rethinking capital allocation
- Consultants advising organizations through transition
Building the alternative
You are starting or growing a venture rooted in Next Economy principles. You want business fundamentals, financial literacy, and a community of peers.
- Cooperative, nonprofit, and social enterprise founders
- Entrepreneurs launching values-aligned businesses
- Community organizers building local economic infrastructure
- Career changers moving toward purpose-driven work
- Ecosystem builders designing new models for their bioregion
What do participants gain from the Next Economy MBA?
Participants consistently leave the program with six concrete outcomes: a business design, regenerative financial literacy, organizational design skills, professional credibility, a peer network, and practical models for Next Economy work.
A clear strategy and plan
Whether you are launching a venture or transforming an existing organization, you will leave with a solid plan grounded in Next Economy principles, not just inspiration.
Financial literacy
Understand financial projections, cash flow, balance sheets, and capital-raising from a values-aligned perspective. Financial literacy is the most requested topic across all 16 cohorts.
Organizational design tools
Learn how to structure roles, governance, and culture for cooperatives, B Corps, nonprofits, and mission-driven companies of all sizes. Practical skills in this area is one of the biggest takeaways.
Credibility and language
Gain the vocabulary and frameworks to articulate your vision to investors, boards, colleagues, and communities in language they understand and respect.
A trusted peer network
Join a community of 800+ alumni across all cohorts, working at cooperatives, B Corps, nonprofits, foundations, and values-aligned organizations from all around the world.
Next Economy models
Study real case stories from regenerative agriculture, cooperative enterprise, non-extractive finance, self-managing organizations, certified B Corporations, and more.
What is the Next Economy Fund?
Unlike grants decided by a closed-door of "experts," the Next Economy Fund is democratically voted upon by the Next Economy MBA alumni network itself. The fund is available only to individuals or organizations led by those enrolled in the Next Economy MBA (current participants or alumni). Learn more here.
Why do people enroll in the Next Economy MBA?
"I joined the Next Economy MBA because I wanted to understand, on a deeper level, what business practices looked like that more aligned with my values. I really think the course would be good for almost anybody, whether it be an entrepreneur, or someone in the 'business as usual' economy but wants to be a change agent. The spectrum is wide."
- Wendy Blackwell Moore
“I was looking for two major things: practical business advice for me as a social entrepreneur and the knowledge to help radically transform finance and the whole economic system. This program delivered on both."
- Ojan Mobedshahi
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"I was looking for people to collaborate with to think about what it would look like for the business itself to reinvent itself.”
- Jon Rubenstein
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“I wanted the space and supportive community to be intentional about creating a business that has the potential for generational shifts.”
- Olive Watkins
Where can I find out more about the Next Economy MBA alumni?
The Next Economy MBA alumni network is comprised of hundreds of inspiring entrepreneurs, leaders, consultants, investors, nonprofit leaders, accountants, farmers, ranchers, urban planners, affordable housing developers, builders, ecosystem restoration practitioners, healthcare workers, librarians, and more. You can hear directly from an alumn at any of the Free Intro events. Learn more about the alumni and their organizations by going to this page to review spotlight bios, see what organizations alumni are leaders of or working within, and review a video playlist of dozens of testimonials from alumni about their experience in the training and what they are doing now.
Not sure yet? Talk to us.
Book a free 15-minute coffee chat with a Next Economy MBA facilitator. Tell us about yourself, ask your questions, learn about the program, and decide if it is right for you. No pressure, no sales pitch.
Interested in joining our spring cohort? Get coffee with us!
You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers. Sign up for a 15 min coffee chat with a LIFT Partner to learn more about the program, ask questions, and get to know one of our facilitators ahead of our orientation on March 20th and program start date.
What does the Next Economy MBA curriculum include?
The curriculum covers 18 topics across two categories: core business fundamentals (strategy, finance, marketing, operations, org design, and more) and Next Economy models (cooperatives, B Corps, non-extractive capital, racial justice, regenerative design, and more). Sessions are facilitated live over 9 months, with office hours and lifetime access to recordings.
Business fundamentals
Vision, strategy, and organizational design
Financial projections, cash flow, and balance sheets
Marketing, messaging, and value proposition
Fundraising and mission-aligned capital
Strategic recruiting and team building
Operations planning and gap analysis
Thought leadership and personal positioning
Next Economy models
Cooperatives and democratic ownership
B Corp certification and assessment
Non-extractive investing and capital structures
Regenerative design and climate strategies
Self-managing organizations
Racial justice in business and the economy
Company culture and nonviolent communication
The Next Economy MBA Book
Participants reference our commercially published book, The Next Economy MBA (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2023), as part of the course curriculum. Based on work with hundreds of students across multiple cohorts, the book covers strategy, finance, marketing, org design, cooperatives, and more from a socially just and regenerative perspective.
How is the Next Economy MBA structured?
The program runs for 9 months, entirely online. Participants attend two 90-minute live sessions per month on Tuesdays from 11:00am to 12:30pm Pacific Time, with bi-weekly office hours on Thursdays. All sessions are recorded. The time commitment is approximately 3 to 4 hours per month. The program is designed for working professionals with full lives.
months, online, accessible worldwide
per month: 90-min live sessions + office hours
alumni network with lifetime access
satisfaction guarantee, fully refundable
How much does the Next Economy MBA cost?
The full program costs $3,600 at the early bird rate or $4,500 at the standard rate, with a $550/month installment option available. A 6-session introduction is available for $1,000. People of color are eligible for a 50% equity discount on any option.
START WITH THE INTRO
First 6 sessions
Not sure yet? Join the first six sessions as a standalone offering. If you continue to the full MBA, the balance is charged in monthly installments.
EARLY BIRD
Full program, best value
Pay upfront before the early bird deadline and save $900 off the standard rate. All 18 sessions, office hours, community, and lifetime access.
STANDARD / INSTALLMENT
or $550/mo over 9 months
Pay $4,500 upfront or $550/month over 9 months ($4,950 total). Same program, same access, same community.
Equity pricing: People of color are eligible for a 50% discount on any option above. LIFT Economy has a policy to not turn anyone away for lack of funds. Please reach out if tuition is a barrier.
Frequently asked questions
What makes the Next Economy MBA different from a traditional MBA?
The Next Economy MBA teaches many of the same core business skills as a traditional MBA program, including strategy, finance, marketing, operations, and organizational design, but applies them from a socially just and regenerative perspective. It also covers topics not found in traditional programs: cooperative ownership, non-extractive finance, B Corp certification, racial justice in business, self-managing organizations, and climate strategies. The program costs a fraction of traditional MBA programs ($3,600-$4,500 vs. $100,000-$200,000), requires no standardized tests, and is designed for working professionals at approximately 3-4 hours per month. The Next Economy MBA is not an accredited, credentialed Master of Business Administration program.
Is the Next Economy MBA only for entrepreneurs?
No. While about 25% of participants are founders or entrepreneurs, the remainder includes investors and funders, consultants and advisors, nonprofit and ecosystem builders, people working inside existing organizations trying to change them, and people navigating career transitions. If you care about building a more just and regenerative economy and want practical business tools to do it, this program is for you regardless of your current role.
What if I miss a live session?
All sessions are recorded and available for lifetime access. We encourage live attendance for the interactive elements (breakout rooms, Q&A, peer connection), but many participants watch recordings when scheduling conflicts arise. You can also rejoin any future cohort at no additional cost.
Is the Next Economy MBA accredited?
The Next Economy MBA is not an accredited degree program. It is a professional development program focused on practical application rather than academic credentials. It is based on LIFT Economy's 15+ years advising over 350 social enterprises and is supported by a commercially published textbook (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2023). Over 800 alumni have completed the program since 2018.
Is the Next Economy MBA right for me if I work at a traditional company?
Yes. A meaningful portion of participants work inside organizations that are not yet fully aligned with Next Economy principles. The program provides practical frameworks for transforming existing organizations from within, including tools for governance, culture change, stakeholder engagement, and making the business case for values-aligned practices. Participants in this position often describe wanting credibility, language, and a plan for internal change.
What is the time commitment?
Approximately 3 to 4 hours per month. The program includes two 90-minute live sessions per month on Tuesdays from 11:00am to 12:30pm Pacific Time (first two sessions are 120 minutes), plus optional office hours on Thursdays from 11:00am to 12:00pm Pacific. Pre-readings and supplemental materials are provided but self-paced. The program is designed for working professionals with full lives.
Who teaches the Next Economy MBA?
The program is facilitated by the partners of LIFT Economy, a worker-owned cooperative that has advised over 350 social enterprises since 2009. Collectively, the team brings expertise in cooperative development, regenerative agriculture, B Corp certification, non-extractive finance, organizational development, and systems design.
Erin Axelrod
Integrated capital, community organizing, equitable fiber systems, agroecology
Kevin Bayuk
Strategy, operations, regenerative design, alternative financing
Phoenix Soleil
Organizational development, nonviolent communication, diversity and inclusion, personal development
Shawn Berry
Workplace democracy, systems design, company culture, cooperatives. 24 years in cooperative enterprise.
Ryan Honeyman
B Corp movement, visioning, marketing, raising capital. Author of The B Corp Handbook
Additional content is provided by the following partners:
Ready to join the next cohort?
With Gratitude To Our Partners:
