ZGEN is the vehicle for the continuous growth and connection of the Zell alumni community. We are an international network of global entrepreneurs drawn from the three Zell programs, united by a commitment to Sam Zell’s legacy and to building, leading, and supporting one another as we shape the future of business entrepreneurship.
Fulfilling Sam Zell’s vision, ZGEN fosters connection, community and cooperation across its programs and alumni, perpetuating his values, mindset and approach to entrepreneurship.
The year someone spends inside a Zell program is the beginning of their Zell journey, not the whole of it. It is unreasonable to expect anyone to achieve their entrepreneurial ambition inside that window. Whether it happens now, in ten years, or in twenty, ZGEN exists to make sure the community and the support are there when it does.
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An international community of exceptional entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators who have navigated the highs and lows of building and leading organizations, growing into strong business leaders and supporting one another along the way.
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Global immersion treks, personal development retreats, collider bootcamps, topical virtual meetings and small local gatherings around the world. Intentional spaces for alumni to reconnect, collaborate, and spark new ideas. Not typical mixers, but curated experiences that strengthen the fabric of the network.
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Whether someone is building a startup, acquiring a business through ETA, or scaling into public markets, ZGEN supports multiple entrepreneurial paths, relevant at every stage of an entrepreneur’s journey.
Unlock opportunity
A year-long program for final-year students pursuing entrepreneurial careers, with two pathways: the Venture Track and the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Track.
Our Zell Fellows venture further
A best-in-class entrepreneurial accelerator program for Kellogg’s top MBA candidates interested in starting a new venture or acquiring an existing one — across a New Venture track and an Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition track.
Home for the exceptional
A business creation platform that invests in extraordinary individuals and empowers them to shape the future. During the one-year program, founders leverage Zell’s resources and expert guidance across product, GTM, legal, and finance.
Together, the Zell programs collectively represent one of the most influential global networks of entrepreneurial leaders and innovators.
“It just never occurred to me that I couldn’t do it. If you’re not aware that you’re not supposed to be able to do something, the barriers to doing it are dramatically lessened.”
Sam was a visionary and macro strategist for a broad network of companies. For more than 50 years, he identified and applied fundamental principles that transcend industries, geographies, and economies. Sam founded or built hundreds of companies and created thousands of jobs. Instead of donating buildings, Sam wanted to invest in people. This program is a manifestation of his vision.
His story →Different alumni need different kinds of growth depending on where they are in their journey. Grow for Greatness is how we cover all of it — five event types, each built around a different pillar of growth.
Growing your world
Growing your opportunities
Growing yourself
Growing your knowledge
Growing your network