It’s important to set a big goal - one that people feel like, ‘There’s no way, no how we’re ever going to be able to deliver upon this.’ Then you know you’ve almost gotten it right.
One of the benefits of having a MasterClass subscription is access to a vast catalog of courses. And from time to time, it’s nice to dive into a field you’re not familiar with.
So, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and take a business class.
In fact, I ended up taking a business and innovation class, and I think that makes a huge difference.
Yes, Rosalind Brewer’s MasterClass is heavily focused on building a career in business, but it also entails lessons on critical thinking, creativity, dealing with crisis… In a way, It offers tips and tricks on how to succeed, regardless of what kind of business you’re in.
But who is Rosalind’s class really for, and what are some of its highlights and drawbacks?
Read our honest review and find out everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
What is the Rosalind Brewer MasterClass?
“Rosalind Brewer Teaches Business Innovation” is an online course offered by MasterClass, a reputable online learning platform known for its exceptional team of instructors.
The class is taught by Rosalind Brewer, an American businesswoman and former group president of Starbucks. Brewer was also the first woman to become CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, and her experience, knowledge, and skills will benefit any aspiring entrepreneur who takes her MasterClass.
In the course, Brewer teaches business essentials such as building an innovation strategy and operational planning, but she also takes a step further and discusses crisis management and other more challenging topics.
The course contains 13 video lessons with a duration of 2 hours and 38 minutes.
Who is Rosalind Brewer?
Rosalind “Roz” Brewer is an American businesswoman and former CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance. She studied chemistry at Spelman College and started as a scientific research technician at Kimberly-Clark, where she eventually started running manufacturing and operations.
Brewer also held executive positions at Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Starbucks, and she has become a member of the board of directors at Amazon.
USA Today referred to her as “one of corporate America’s most prominent women and black female executives.“
Who is Roaslind Brewer’s MasterClass for?
As a businesswoman and CEO who has transformed companies like Walmart, Starbucks, and Walgreens, Roz surely has a lot to say about building a successful career in business.
In her course, she teaches how to find an innovation moment and execute operational planning and shares useful advice and steps that can help you create a career road map.
However, her class is focused on building a career as well as on making an impact at every level. It’s about setting goals, embracing change, and listening to others around you.
Roz encourages her learners to drive change and stay curious, and by sharing her experience as a Black woman in business, she motivates them to break the glass ceiling and achieve their goals.
That being said, this MasterClass is ideal for:
- Entrepreneurs
- Companies (both small and large)
- Young Black students who want to start a career in business
- Anyone in charge of a team or a project
What does Rosalind Brewer's MasterClass cover?
Roz covers a lot of ground in her class. Nevertheless, the course doesn’t feel too long or overwhelming.
Plus, she approached each topic in a different way – through one-to-one lessons, examples, sessions with interns, or Q&A sessions.
In terms of content, here is what you can expect from the course:
- Lesson 1 is an introductory lesson where Roz talks about her career and the course.
- Lesson 2 teaches how to build an innovation strategy.
- Lessons 3-4 revolve around valuable skills such as active listening and critical thinking. The lessons also include pitches from three interns from Walgreens’ summer internship program.
- Lesson 5 is focused on operational planning. Roz also shares some difficult decisions she had to make at Kimberly-Clarke.
- Lesson 6 emphasizes the role of technology in innovation.
- Lesson 7 is about building teams. Roz explains how she encourages her teams to come up with the most innovative, out-of-the-box solutions.
- Lesson 8 tackles what it means to have a learning mindset for innovation. Roz also talks about some of her transformative decisions and experiences.
- Lesson 9 is focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in business.
- Lesson 10 tackles crisis management. Roz takes the Philadelphia Starbucks incident as an example of turning a challenging moment into a learning experience and opportunity.
- Lesson 11 is about bringing your authentic self into the workplace, leadership, time management, and priorities.
- Lesson 12 is a Q&A session with Spelman College students.
Lesson 13 is the final lesson, where Roz summarizes her class and shares her last words of wisdom.
My favorite parts of Rosalind Brewer’s MasterClass
Although I’m not an entrepreneur or a company CEO, I enjoyed Rosalind’s class. Her way of portraying her career and experiences is very immersive, so it’s not hard to follow the lessons.
On the other hand, there were some parts that felt a bit vague. I guess the parts I particularly liked include stories, examples, and case studies – something tangible and concrete to learn from.
Either way, Roz introduced me to some interesting ideas and perspectives I wasn’t familiar with before.
And here are some of the lessons that, in my opinion, stand out:
How to build an innovation strategy
In this lesson, Roz teaches how to:
- identify your innovation moment
- recognize what the needs of the market
- overcome a fear of failure
- set big goals
Roz also talked about her decision-making process when she transformed Walgreens from a retail store into a healthcare company.
This is one of the first lessons in the course, so it was interesting to get to know Roz’s mindset and methods.
Spark innovation by listening
After covering some of the basics, Roz dives deeper into her approach and work ethic.
According to Roz, one of the most valuable skills you can have as an entrepreneur is active listening.
Active listening can foster an environment of innovation, and it can help you catch new ideas. Therefore, as a CEO, it’s important to listen to your employees as well as your customers.
This lesson also includes an interesting session with interns from Walgreens’ summer internship program. They pitched their ideas to Roz, and she gave them her opinion and feedback.
Q&A with Roz
Seeing a Q&A session as a part of the MasterClass course felt very refreshing. The atmosphere could have been a bit less formal, but I enjoyed it anyway.
Some of the questions students asked were:
- How do you get into business with a science-based background?
- What do you want your legacy to be?
- What is some advice you can give to young Black girls and other Spelman students who aspire to break the glass ceiling?
I liked this part because it changed the pace of the course. Plus, this format gave Roz a chance to mention some things she otherwise wouldn’t. A Q&A section would definitely make a nice addition to some other courses on MasterClass as well.
How much does the MasterClass cost?
MasterClass is a subscription-based learning platform, so it’s not possible to purchase courses individually. If you want to take this MasterClass, you have to become a subscriber.
The standard annual plan has been renamed "Plus" and is available at $120 a year (which makes it $10 per month, billed annually), and now provides access to all MasterClass courses on two devices instead of one. The Premium plan, providing access for up to six devices costs $240 per year.
A MasterClass subscription gives you unlimited access to a catalog of 200+ classes, so if you want to take multiple classes throughout the year, the subscription is definitely worth it, and there are pleny of interesting courses on related topics to explore.
Also, the platform offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so if you’re not happy with your learning experience, you can request a full refund.
Note that the "Standard" membership, priced at $72 per year, only gives you access to their short-form learning content – none of their full MasterClasses are included.
What I liked about Rosalind Brewer’s MasterClass
Although I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this class to fellow writers, I would certainly recommend it to people involved in any kind of business, team, or organization.
Also, I would recommend it to anyone interested in implementing an innovative mindset.
Some of the reasons why I think Roz’s class is worth taking include:
Useful content
Roz is very clear and specific in her lessons. She talks about her personal experiences, but only to prove a point or explain a business-related strategy or term.
By the way, I do think some lessons could be a bit more challenging or provide a more in-depth look at certain tools and methods.
Nevertheless, whether it’s Roz’s thoughts on leadership or her advice
Versatile
In my experience, MasterClasses can start to feel a bit dull or lengthy, but this wasn’t the case with Roz’s course.
The course is rather versatile in terms of the ways of delivering content – there are one-on-one lessons, a Q&A session, a session with interns (pitching), and case studies.
Great teacher
One of the reasons this class feels well-structured and beneficial is, of course, the instructor.
Roz’s teaching style is formal but honest and effective, just like her approach to business.
That said, if you want a more fun, out-of-the-box course, you should look elsewhere. But if you want to learn from a chief mastermind in the field, Roz’s lessons will provide you with a solid foundation to build on.
Helpful class guide
This MasterClass also comes with a well-crafted PDF Class Guide.
So, whenever you want to go back to what you’ve learned, or you’re not good at taking notes, this guide will come in handy.
Drawbacks of Rosalind Brewer’s MasterClass
I do think this class is worth taking, and it’s not easy to find a weak spot, but there’s still a reason why I wouldn’t give it a higher rate…
Lack of advanced content
As I mentioned before, I believe some lessons could offer more depth in terms of content and explanations.
I’m not a business student or entrepreneur, yet I didn’t find the course hard to grasp – which is a sign that it’s not very advanced.
This is not a huge disadvantage, though, and for some people, it’s probably not a disadvantage at all. But if you’re a business student looking for a way to expand your knowledge, Roz’s class won’t provide you with new terminology or concepts.
On the other hand, it will provide you with opinions and personal secrets of the trade that can’t be found in traditional textbooks. So, once again, it all depends on what you’re looking for.
Review conclusion: Is Rosalind Brewer’s MasterClass worth it?
Rosalind Brewer has worked in leading companies across five different industries, and she is a fantastic teacher. In any case, she knows how to encourage her students and use her own experiences and challenges to teach something valuable.
I enjoyed Roz’s course, but I also realized it’s made for business-minded people. Although Roz shared some advice that is applicable to any career, this isn’t one of those classes that has a wide target audience.
Business innovation certainly isn’t an easy course to teach, but Roz managed to do it in a rather dynamic, effective way.
So whether you’re just starting out or you’re a company CEO, Rosalind Brewer’s MasterClass is worth checking out.
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