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Mastering Business Development

9.0

(18 ratings)

·

4 Weeks

·

Cohort-based Course

In this masterclass, learn the fundamentals of proposal development from capture to submission.

Hosted by

Jordann El Dorry, Sarah Steller, Kristen Hamaoui, and Deborah Aker

Taught by a cadre of proposal development experts from USAID's top IPs

Last chance to enroll

2

days

0

hours

36

mins

Course overview

Maximize your proposal’s competitiveness & build key competencies

You will learn how to craft persuasive and compelling proposals through expert-guided instruction, hands-on exercises, and group discussions. We'll provide a comprehensive overview of the USAID proposal process through discussion of the planning and budgeting process, pre-positioning, strategy development, pricing to win, and best practices for proposal management. 

Who is this course for

01

New Partners who want to break into the USAID market

02

Development professionals that are new to the proposal process

03

Business development teams that want to improve their win rates and increase competitiveness

Key outcomes

Understand the proposal process from A to Z

Understand what goes into a typical USAID proposal and the fundamentals of proposal preparation

Become familiar with the core regulations and requirements

Learn what governs USAID proposals and how to avoid common pitfalls

Learn best practices for writing proposals

You'll learn writing fundamentals like outlining, as well as what makes a competitive and compelling proposal from real experts with decades of experience

Understand how to manage proposals

You'll learn what it takes to successfully manage a USAID proposal and will be equipped with tools and resources to help

Learn how to build competitive cost proposals

Understand what evaluators look for in a cost proposal, how to make your proposal competitive, and the do's and don'ts of proposal budgeting

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Join an upcoming cohort

Mastering Business Development

Cohort 4

$1,800 USD

Dates

Oct 5—31, 2023

Payment Deadline

Oct 3, 2023

Don't miss out! Enrollment closes in 2 days

|

Bulk purchases

Meet your instructors

Jordann El Dorry

Jordann El Dorry

Prior to joining Keylime, Jordann was a successful business development director at Chemonics International, USAID's largest implementing partner by volume. During her 11 years at the company she consistently exceeded corporate win rate and sales targets, bringing in more than $600 million in USAID work. She is excited to share some of the tools and strategies she employs to make proposal development a little less painful and a lot more fun!

Sarah Steller

Sarah Steller

Sarah has more than 12 years of experience in business development and project management for both international and U.S.-based programs. She has managed business development teams at some of USAID's top implementing partners and is an expert in proposal writing, proposal management, and recruitment.

Kristen Hamaoui

Kristen Hamaoui

Kristen leads Keylime Academy's Cost & Pricing curriculum. She is a seasoned project implementation, business development, and program management specialist with more than 15 years of experience managing and implementing USAID-funded programs. As a cost and pricing expert, Kristen provides pricing advisory expertise to clients within the USAID market, as well as those looking to enter the USAID market or increase their USAID portfolios. Previously as a manager in Chemonics International's Cost and Pricing Department, Kristen provided formal cost proposal preparation trainings, mentored staff members, and provided pricing strategy and analysis to proposal teams and senior leadership.

Deborah Aker

Deborah Aker

Deborah is a professional editor and over the course of her 25+ year career has edited more than 500 USAID proposals. Deborah developed and co-facilitate sessions on persuasive writing.  She draws on her experience as a proposal editor, good and bad examples from proposals, and the insights of communication professionals to help participants unlearn the complex, wordy, and often over-the-top writing that earned them high marks in school. Sessions include brainstorming to improve sample text, critiques of proposal graphics, and discussions of pain points as participants seek ways to keep their writing compelling and readable.

A pattern of wavy dots
Join an upcoming cohort

Mastering Business Development

Cohort 4

$1,800 USD

Dates

Oct 5—31, 2023

Payment Deadline

Oct 3, 2023

Don't miss out! Enrollment closes in 2 days

|

Bulk purchases

Course syllabus

01

Intro to USAID Procurement and Capture

In this module we'll cover the basics of the USG procurement cycle and types of awards. We'll also discuss best practices for proposal capture and pre-positioning, as well as the anatomy of a proposal team.

02

Reading and Analyzing a Solicitation and Responsiveness

Participants will learn best practices when reading an RFP, NOFO, or RFA, This module will also address how proposal teams can ensure compliance and responsiveness to solicitations.

03

Anatomy of a Technical Volume

We'll dive into the nuts and bolts of what makes up a typical technical volume. By the end of this module participants will be able to read an RFP or NOFO and understand what are standard sections versus what are unique requirements.

04

Fundamentals of Proposal Management

In this session participants will learn the foundations of effective proposal management. We'll discuss some critical tools for managing proposal teams, decision-making, and troubleshooting the common pitfalls we see along the way. Participants will also learn how to maximize proposal color reviews to set the team up for success.

05

Outlining

Participants will be immersed in the foundational skill of outlining - why we do it, when we do it, and how to construct general and detailed outlines. We'll also cover how to use the outline as a management tool.

06

Persuasive Writing

In this fun and informative module, participants will learn the secrets of compelling writing and how to rid proposals of fluff.

07

Competitive Analysis for Budget/Cost Proposals

We'll dive into the budget/cost proposal and talk about the big picture. What makes a competitive cost proposal? How can you expect to be evaluated? How do you develop a cost strategy?

08

Anatomy of a Cost Volume

Here we'll go over the pieces that comprise a typical cost volume, with a deep dive in the budget narrative.

Course schedule

4-6 hours per week
  • Tuesdays & Thursdays

    9:00 AM - 10:30 AM EST

    We'll meet live for 90 minutes over Zoom twice a week, from October 5-October 31.

  • Weekly projects

    2 hours per week

    You'll have short homework assignments to complete outside of class. Team up with your peers to reap the full benefits!

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A pattern of wavy dots
Join an upcoming cohort

Mastering Business Development

Cohort 4

$1,800 USD

Dates

Oct 5—31, 2023

Payment Deadline

Oct 3, 2023

Don't miss out! Enrollment closes in 2 days

|

Bulk purchases

Learning is better with cohorts

Learning is better with cohorts

Active learning, not passive watching

This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects

Interactive and project-based

You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams

Learn with a cohort of peers

Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I can’t make a live session?
I work full-time, what is the expected time commitment?
What’s the refund policy?
A pattern of wavy dots
Join an upcoming cohort

Mastering Business Development

Cohort 4

$1,800 USD

Dates

Oct 5—31, 2023

Payment Deadline

Oct 3, 2023

Don't miss out! Enrollment closes in 2 days

|

Bulk purchases

$1,800 USD

9.0

(18)

·

4 Weeks