Summer Institute for Emerging Women Leaders

Developing the Competence and Confidence for Effective Leadership

Summer Institue 2008

Developing the Competence and Confidence for Effective Leadership

The launch of GW’s Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) Summer Institute course received rave reviews this past summer. The course aptly took place on GW’s beautiful Mount Vernon campus, with its long history of women engaged in learning, scholarship and personal growth.  The extensive two-weekend course was designed for young women who were emerging leaders in their organizations, on the cusps of their leadership development journeys. Discussion was based on finding a place and thriving in the often ambiguous environment of 21st century organizations. Young women leaders were taught to leverage their capacity and create value, contributing to bottom-line success of their organizations. The course encouraged students to engage in new ways of thinking, grounded in theory and research, to develop skills that will help them increase their effectiveness in their personal and work lives. Topics included developing one’s unique vision, thinking strategically, communicating, making decisions, handling conflict, building collaborative teams, and managing change.

Course modules were taught by WLI faculty experts, including I/O faculty. The program also included presentations by successful women leaders, time to network and share experiences with other practitioners, and practical sessions on work-life issues and mind-body balance. The 18 students (shown above ) gave gushing compliments and positive feedback. Students left with new friendships that will last far beyond the end of the course. Kudos to Dr. Ruth Axelrod, Dr. Liz Davis, and all of those involved in the successful launch of the Summer Institute!

The GWU Summer Institute for Emerging Women Leaders is a collaborative learning community where participants gain the knowledge, develop the skills, and practice the behaviors of effective leadership.  This interactive learning opportunity applies leading edge scholarship, experiential education and the wisdom of successful women leaders to the challenges faced in contemporary organizations.  Session topics include developing one’s unique vision within a strategic global framework; communicating, making decisions and handling conflict; building collaborative teams; and managing change.

 

WLI is an interactive partnership with the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the School of Business, and the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at the George Washington University.