Experiential Learning Experience

E-Lead students develop their leadership values, beliefs, knowledge, skills and behaviors through the classroom and experiential learning opportunities listed below. To accommodate as many class schedules as possible, E-Lead courses are typically held on Friday afternoons.

Seminar Courses

• Foundations of Leadership and Individual Development (2 cr.)
• Leading With Others (2 cr.)
• Leading Innovation (2 cr.)

Experiential Courses

• Professional Leadership Experience (1 cr.)
• Explorations in Innovation Leadership Practice (2 cr.)
• E-Lead Capstone (3 cr.)

Students in the E-Lead program participate in highly interactive, engaging and energizing workshops each year. These workshops, typically delivered to corporate audiences, offer students the chance to develop specific mindsets and skillsets that will help them lead more effectively and stand out to employers.

Year 1: Building resiliency

Interactive workshop focused on tools to become more resilient, innovative, and perform under demanding circumstances

Year 2: Having difficult conversations

Interactive workshop focused on how to be authentic, present, and honest in day-to-day conversations to enrich relationships, increase engagement, and improve performance.

Year 3: Fostering innovation through leadership

Interactive workshop focused on leadership mindsets and design thinking practices that drive innovation.

The power of the E-Lead program comes through the community that is developed, and it starts in the very first week at the Institute™, a four-day immersive leadership retreat offered in partnership with LeaderShape, Inc. The Institute™ challenges participants to lead with integrity while working toward a vision grounded in their deepest values. In addition to having the opportunity to develop leadership skills, participants praise The Institute™ as a time of great introspection.

The program content of The Institute™ reflects key leadership concepts of vision, partnerships, integrity and results. Students grow in their confidence and identity as leaders and begin to make a tremendous impact on the Marquette and surrounding community. Additionally, as a result of participating in The Institute™, students develop meaningful relationships with one another and continue to deepen over the course of the next three years in the E-Lead Program.

The Leader Shadow Experience is an integral component of the E-Lead program. During GEEN 3959: Explorations in Innovation Leadership Practice, students shadow two different influential leaders at two different companies. By spending "a day in the life" with two industry leaders, students observe different leadership styles, learn various approaches and practices to leadership and enhance their capacity and efficacy as leaders. The Leader Shadow Experience aims to help E-Lead students:

• Observe the leadership styles and practices of industry leaders.
• Gain insight into the career paths and leadership journeys of industry leaders
• Learn about the organization’s culture, strategy, values, and structure

Many college students choose to have a professional leadership experience. E-Lead requires it so that in addition to the exposure in the workplace, students can see firsthand the leadership concepts we explore in E-Lead classes. Whether it is an internship, a co-op, a clinical, student teaching, or research, we work with you to connect your opportunities with the curriculum. Upon completion of the experience, students enroll in GEEN 3990: Professional Leadership Practice, a one-credit experiential leadership course. The purpose of the course is to provide students with the opportunity to reflect on their professional experience and integrate lessons learned into their future leadership and innovation practice.