About This Course

While many leadership courses explore leadership from a conceptual standpoint, this course focuses on the practical skills that are required to perform as a leader. It introduces the five foundational elements of effective leadership: accountability, authenticity, vision, responsibility, and generosity. Through applied learning exercises, Young Thinkers learn how to leverage each of these core leadership traits to stand out and take their personal and professional relationships to the next level. In each module, students participate in course activities designed to help them identify blind spots, examine breakdowns, define success, and communicate in ways that transform the world around them. This results in a perceptible elevation of one’s abilities to handle any leadership issue, with anyone, at any time, under any circumstance.

This course presents advanced leadership concepts in a rigorous workshop format. This course is not intended to be finished in one sitting; instead, students will benefit most by stepping away from the computer at the end of each module to digest, practice and apply that particular leadership skill before advancing to the next module.

On average, Young Thinkers can expect to spend approximately approximately 4.5 hours completing the coursework. However, this time should be spread over a number of days as Young Thinkers practice implementing what they have learned. As a result, this course should take approximately six weeks to complete all of the recommended exercises. As Prof. Mesquita describes in the course, excelling as a leader requires a lifelong commitment.