Business Model Innovation: Redefining for Success with Areen Shahbari

An experience for business owners and forward-thinking professionals.

In today’s fast-moving world, great products and hard work are no longer enough. True success comes from daring to reinvent the way your business creates and delivers value. This powerful workshop will challenge the way you think, spark new ideas, and give you the tools to design a sustainable business model.

What You Will Experience

✨ Begin with inspiration as participants pitch their businesses or ideas, then select one real-world case for group exploration
✨ Discover the secrets of the Business Model Canvas and learn how to map, evaluate, and reimagine a business at its core
✨ Unlock fresh possibilities by applying proven innovation tactics to reshape revenue streams, optimize costs, and transform customer engagement
✨ Put your ideas to the test in an exciting pitch and investment simulation where participants become investors, competing to back the most compelling business model

Why You Should Join

🌟 Gain practical frameworks to future-proof your business
🌟 Build the ability to spot and seize opportunities for growth and resilience
🌟 Strengthen your confidence in presenting and defending bold ideas
🌟 Experience a dynamic, high-energy environment that blends collaboration with healthy competition
🌟 Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and professionals who are ready to innovate and grow together

This workshop is an experience designed to redefine what success looks like for a business. You will leave not only with powerful strategies but also with the confidence and inspiration to put them into action immediately. Business owners will strengthen their own models, while professionals will gain hands-on experience analyzing, innovating, and helping shape business success in real time.

About the Presenter:

Led by Areen Shahbari, President of Cactus Int. LLC and expert in entrepreneurship, strategy, and innovation, this workshop draws on her extensive experience helping leaders and organizations pivot, enhance offerings, and drive growth. Areen has delivered transformative training at Harvard, Stanford, and to top organizations such as Salesforce, MediaTek, USAA, and the Saudi Industrial Development Fund. She brings a results-driven approach that equips participants with actionable strategies to strengthen value propositions and achieve tangible results. A Fulbright Scholar and recipient of the Harvard Distinguished Teaching Performance Award, Areen holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship and works globally to help leaders innovate and create impactful solutions.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Advance registration is preferred for all Ed Portal programs and events. Walk-in attendees may not be admitted.

Parking is limited around the Ed Portal so we recommend taking public transportation.

Public transportation options:

We are about a 15-20 minute walk from the Red Line Harvard Square station or Green Line -B Harvard Avenue station.

Several MBTA buses also stop near the intersection of North Harvard Street and Western Avenue: #66, #86, #70.

Parking information:

If you choose to drive to the Ed Portal please be prepared to utilize the two-hour on-street parking surrounding the Ed Portal or to park at Artesani Park and walk 10-12 minutes along Western Avenue to arrive at the Ed Portal. A limited number of parking spaces are available in the rear of the Ed Portal building on a first come, first serve basis. You may only use parking spaces in the rear of the Ed Portal building outlined in orange paint.

To help protect visitors and staff, members of the public are asked to stay home if they are unwell or have experienced signs of illness* in the past 24-hours.

If you require an accommodation for a disability, please call the Ed Portal ahead of time at 617-496-5022 or e-mail us at edportal@harvard.edu, and we will do our best to assist you.

* Signs of illness include: fever, chills or feeling feverish; a new cough (not related to chronic condition); new fatigue; muscle or body aches; sore throat; new nasal congestion or new runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies); nausea or vomiting; diarrhea.