The FAST program allowed for the first time a dedicated program for PhD students to improve their capacity, competence and confidence in a number of speaking and presenting engagements such as tutoring undergraduate students in business, speaking at conferences and pitching their research to academic and non-academic audiences.

Through entrepreneurial leadership, a number of competencies have been shown which include (1) identifying a need for professional development, particularly those who are excluded in various professional development opportunities; (2) seeking grants to support and sustain a professional development initiative; and (3) displaying leadership to design a program that improves capacity, competence and confidence in the participants.