Summer Springboard
Business & Leadership
ON THE CAMPUS OF UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, FOSTER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
THE UW FOSTER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS HIGH SCHOOL BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS A TWO-WEEK IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE DESIGNED FOR RISING HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, SENIORS, AND HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GRADUATING IN 2026.
UW Foster School of Business Youth Program is in Collaboration with Summer Springboard
THIS IS A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Business & Leadership
- Participate in a transformative academic experience where you will engage in a two-week immersive program led by UW Foster School faculty, featuring classroom learning, corporate insights, and a team-based case competition.
- Get exposure to business strategy, problem solving, marketing concepts, financial acumen, teamwork, leadership and presentation skills through a case competition.
- Learning will take place both in and out of the classroom integrating academic fundamentals with corporate perspectives.
- Grow your professional and social networks by connecting with UW Faculty and a diverse cohort of domestic and international students.
- Gain college and career readiness skills by participating in workshops and activities designed to build critical thinking, leadership, and collaboration skills, preparing you for college and beyond.
- Explore Seattle’s vibrant business community through exclusive company visits, where you will have the opportunity to connect your coursework to real-world business practices.
Summer Springboard
Business & Leadership
About This Course
The UW Foster School of Business High School Program is a two-week immersive experience designed for rising high school juniors and seniors. Taught by UW Foster Faculty, the program topics are carefully designed to provide essential critical thinking skills in a short amount of time, culminating in a team-based case competition. Through this systematic approach, students will learn important written, oral, interpersonal, leadership, and problem-solving skills that could be applied to various challenges in their college lives and future careers.
This program offers:
- Academic Rigor: Classroom learning led by Foster faculty, culminating in a case competition.
- College Preparation: Workshops, activities, and excursions focused on critical thinking, collaboration, and readiness for college life.
- Collaborative Partnership: Combining the academic excellence of UW Foster with the operational expertise of Summer Springboard (SSB).
More on the Case Competition: At the end of the two weeks, students will apply concepts learned throughout the program by participating in a case competition, just like our undergrad and MBA students at UW Foster do.
During this team-based project, students will tackle a real-world business problem from an iconic global coffee company headquartered in Seattle. They will learn to ideate multiple solutions as a group, weigh the pros and cons of each idea collaboratively and constructively, use critical thinking to select the best option, and make a persuasive presentation to a panel of experts. Students will also watch their peers’ presentations to learn how different teams approach the same situation, expanding their perspectives on problem-solving strategies.
Students will develop leadership skills as they examine business problems, share their ideas with peers, work effectively in teams, propose well-reasoned solutions, and deliver presentations with confidence—all skills that will help them in their future endeavors. As a bonus, students will go behind the scenes of the featured company during one of the included excursions!
Upon completion, students will receive a Letter of Participation from their instructor and a completion certificate.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Students engage in a team-based case competition, tackling a real-world business challenge from a global company to apply classroom concepts in a practical, collaborative setting.
Career Exploration
By developing leadership, communication and problem-solving skills while working on industry-relevant projects, students gain a clear window into the skills and experiences needed for future careers in business.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“I came in knowing next to nothing about business and now I feel that I have flourished in business. This program is very beneficial and I feel that I am ready for college.”
– Nathaniel C. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Business & Leadership
Meet Your Instructors
Business and Leadership will be taught by Leta Beard, Associate Teaching Professor of Marketing and International Business at Foster. Leta Beard holds both a Bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Washington. With a rich history of mentoring young leaders, Leta combines her expertise and passion to inspire and guide students. Her leadership ensures that students will gain valuable insights into the dynamic world of business while building skills to tackle real-world challenges.
Elijah Wee is an Assistant Professor of Management at Foster School of Business, specializing in areas such as inclusion, innovation, organizational transformation, power, and status. He earned his PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park. Professor Wee will be teaching Management Strategy in the Business and Leadership course, where he brings a wealth of knowledge to help students understand the complexities of strategic management in today’s dynamic business environment.
Helen Andrews studies behavioral economics, education, and public policy, with a focus on personal financial decision-making and financial literacy education. She holds a BA from Mount Holyoke College and an MBA from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. After working in finance and investments and earning her CFA designation, Helen developed a passion for financial literacy, leading her to earn a Master in Teaching from Seattle University. She has taught personal finance in the Bellevue School District and at UW Bothell. In Business and Leadership, Helen will be focusing on behavioral, economic, and financial theory personal financial planning, and ultimately teaching students about financial independence.
Jean Choy is an Associate Teaching Professor of Management and the Associate Dean of Executive Education and International Initiatives at the University of Washington. She holds both an MBA and a BA from the University of Washington. With expertise in communications, difficult conversations, executive presence, organizational transformation, and presentation skills, Jean is dedicated to developing leaders who excel in both interpersonal and professional settings.
In Business and Leadership, Jean will focus on teamwork, communication, and presentation skills, helping students work together on collaborative yet competitive exercises to strengthen their teamwork abilities.
“Business could be a very real career choice for me! I enjoyed the class, and I think my group’s business model has a lot of potential.”
– Burke P. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Business & Leadership
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: July 5 – July 17, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $7,498 |
| Commuter Tuition: $4,498 |
Apply by November 30 to lock in the lowest prices of the year. Tuition increases on December 1.
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: Seattle |
| State: Washington |
| Campus: University of Washington |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, NYSID and UW Foster which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.