Leadership Development Series
Leadership Development Series
The Curriculum
Unless otherwise noted, all sessions are held from 1:30-4:30 pm on Friday afternoons.
Space in the Leadership Development Series is limited to ensure effective learning in small groups.
Program participants must attend the Opening Dinner and at least four of the six sessions, including Session I, in order to earn certification of completion.
Opening Dinner
Participants will learn more about the program, begin to explore leadership development, and get to know each other through team-building exercises.
Note: This is the opening session for the Leadership Development Series and is required for all program participants.
Date: Wednesday, January 30, from 5:00-7:00 pm.
Location: Cram Barn, Cram Alumni House
Session I: Leadership Explorations
What kind of leader are you? How do your actions and beliefs influence the experiences of other people? In this session, through Personal Leadership Inventories and Team-Building Exercises, you will explore the qualities that make you a leader and the characteristics that impact your interactions with others. Bring out your inner leader!
Note: This session is an introduction to the Leadership Development Series and is required for all program participants.
Date: February 1
Location: Main Lounge, Moulton Union
Presenters: Kate Bathras, Program Advisor/Student Activities Advisor; Members of the Planning Committee; and Mitch Davis, Chief Information Officer
Session II: The Art of Networking and Building Relationships
First impressions make a difference! Being able to approach others in a professional manner and form meaningful connections will enrich your experiences while at Bowdoin and in the future, whether you are hoping to co-sponsor an event or looking for a job. In this session, learn how to maximize the potential of your encounters with those around you and build lasting relationships with those you meet. You may need to revisit those relationships, no matter how brief or inconsequential they may initially seem. Learn the art of networking and open yourself to limitless amounts of knowledge, connections and unexpected friendships.
Date: February 8
Location: Main Lounge, Moulton Union
Presenter: Karen Gordon Mills, Founder and Managing Director, Solera Capital
Session III: Meeting Facilitation -- "Great Meetings, Great Results!"
Productive meetings are essential to having an organization with strong, engaged membership. Having clear goals and efficient meetings will make group members feel that their time has been well spent. This session teaches the skills needed for effectively writing agendas and minutes, running well-structured meetings, dividing labor, and ensuring that all group members have a rewarding and productive meeting experience. Learn to minimize wasted time and unnecessary stress!
Note: This session will be facilitated by Dee Kelsey of Great Meetings, Inc. and is supplemented by a book, Great Meetings, Great Results!, by Dee Kelsey and Pam Plumb. All participants will be provided with the book in advance.
Date: February 15
Location: TBD
Presenter: Dee Kelsey, Owner, Great Meetings, Inc.
Session IV: Time Management and Personal Organization
Does your list of things to do keep growing? Do you ever feel like there are not enough hours in the day? This session covers the basics of managing your time and to-dos. Effective leaders must know how to manage their busy lives so that they can be counted on, but prioritizing is't always easy. Learn some techniques for keeping track of your commitments while maintaining your sanity!
Date: February 29
Location: Main Lounge, Moulton Union
Presenter: Tim Foster, Dean of Student Affairs
Session V: Effective Communication
Communicating effectively with others is essential to building a strong team and accomplishing goals. In this session, which consists of a panel discussion and workshop, participants will acquire the skills necessary to communicate clearly, listen actively, develop common goals within a group, and resolve conflict in peaceful and meaningful ways.
Date: April 4
Location: Daggett Lounge, Thorne Dining Hall
Presenters: MaryBeth Mathews, Assistant Dean of First-year Students and Women's Rugby Coach; Cheryl Bascomb, Director of Marketing, Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker; and J. Duke Albanese '71, Co-Executive Director for the Great Schools Partnership at the Senator George J. Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute, and former Commissioner of Education for the State of Maine
Session VI: Public Speaking
Whether facilitating a meeting of five or delivering a speech to five hundred, public speaking skills are essential to your success as a leader in both your personal and professional communities. This session, through intensive interactive exercises, will provide you with the skills necessary to speak comfortably and confidently in front of any group of people, no matter how large or small.
Date: April 25
Location: Daggett Lounge, Thorne Dining Hall
Presenter: Elmer Moore, Associate Dean of Admissions