Leadership Development Series

Leadership Development Series

The Curriculum

Unless otherwise noted, all sessions are mandatory and held from 3:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m. on Friday afternoons. Some preparation (readings, group work, etc.) may be required outside of formal meeting times. Presenters are Bowdoin College faculty and staff with an expertise in or training on a specific, relevant topic.  Additionally, we will take full advantage of national and international leaders on-campus for public lectures, either through recommended attendance, or smaller conversations on leadership topics with Series participants.   

Session 1 – Fall Break (Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7)
National Outdoor Leadership School – Leadership Navigation Challenge 
NOLS is a nationally recognized leader in wilderness education and will come to campus to teach participants their model of expeditionary leadership, which is designed to enhance the leadership and communication skills of participants.  This intensive, two-day Leadership Navigation Challenge blends interactive classroom sessions and an exciting, Brunswick-based GPS orienteering course. 

Session 2 – Friday, October 19 – 12:30pm
Leadership and Entrepreneurship in a Rapidly Changing World:  A Conversation with Karen Gordon Mills, Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Karen Gordon Mills was sworn in as Administrator of the Small Business Administration in April of 2009 after being appointed by President Barack Obama. As part of the Cabinet, Administrator Mills is a key member of the President’s economic leadership team, reflecting the important role that small businesses and entrepreneurs play in our nation’s long-term economic growth and prosperity.
*This session is co-sponsored with Common Hour and will be moderated by Dani (Daniela) Chediak, ’13, President of Bowdoin Student Government

Session 3 – Friday, October 26
Myers Briggs Indicator – Lesley Levy, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
By learning about one’s own personality type and the types of others, participants will increase their understanding of and appreciation for group members’ leadership, followership and work preferences. The goal of this session is to help leaders more successfully lead diverse groups.

Session 4 – Friday, November 9
Effective Communication and Group Facilitation Techniques – Meadow Davis,  Associate Director of Student Affairs
Campus leaders have many opportunities to lead or be a part of group discussions. This session is designed to provide participants with the skills to facilitate a productive conversation within a group and to work through any conflicts that may arise.

Session 5 – Friday, November 30
Discussing Differences – Ben Farrell, Associate Director of Residential Education
As a leader at Bowdoin and post-graduation, participants will lead and support groups and individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.  The ability to listen carefully and to include dissimilar ideas into the same successful organization is an important tool all leaders should have in their tool belts. 

Session 6 – Friday, December 7
The Impact and Challenges of Technology and Social Media on a Leadership Role – Holly Sherburne, Social Media Director
Participants will learn about the positive and negative impact social media can have on leaders in today’s technology-driven environment. Participants will also discuss how to manage their online reputations, and the effect online activity can have on opportunities after graduation. 

Session 7 – Friday, January 25
Judgment and Decision Making - Michael Woodruff, Director of the Bowdoin Outing Club and the Schwartz Outdoor Leadership Center
How do leaders make good decisions? Experience. Experiencing one’s own mistakes and hearing about others’ allows leaders to learn from poor decision making. Participants will discuss how to weigh options, collect information and make informed decisions, while learning from those around them.

Session 8 – Friday, February 1
Public Speaking – E. Whitney Soule, Director of Admissions
Participants will gain increased confidence to articulately convey their message in front of an audience. 

Session 9 – Friday, February 15
Planning and Organization: Keys to Short –Term and Long – Term Success – Katy Longley, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration & Treasurer
Participants will learn about successful management tools to establish group goals and to ensure the sustainability of leadership efforts.

Session 10 – Friday, March 29
Marketing Your Leadership Experiences – Scheherazade Mason – Associate Director of Career Planning
Leaders must know how to communicate their experiences verbally and in writing.  Participants will work with staff from the Career Planning Center to learn how to successfully articulate Bowdoin leadership experiences on a resume and during interviews.

Session 11 – April 5 
Leadership Panel
This session brings together a small group of successful student leaders at Bowdoin.  How did they select from the many leadership opportunities?  What role did mentorship play in their successes?  What were their greatest accomplishments? Their greatest failures?  Bring your leadership questions for a candid conversation with a group of current and former campus leaders. 

Application to the Program
Applications should be submitted to the Smith Union Information Desk and will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis starting September 10th, 2012.  Space is limited, and applications will be accepted until all spaces are filled.