Leadership Development at Wharton MBA: Learning Team Retreat, Executive Feedback & Coaching Program, Leadership Ventures & More

Wharton’s leadership programs are practical, hands-on learning experiences. The curriculum is enhanced by experiential co-curricular activities that help students develop their own leadership style. The first step is to analyze strengths of each student, and build learning experiences that enhance them.

Wharton’s Center for Leadership and Change Management is at the heart of all the leadership development activities at Wharton. It researches and creates innovative leadership experiences to bring out inherent leadership qualities and develop new leadership skills in MBA students. The Center is run by Professor Michael Useem, a top international expert in corporate leadership and change management. The center strives to nurture leaders, who are deeply aware of themselves, and clearly understand their organizations and the community, making positive contributions towards each of them.

Here are the many leadership opportunities available to further student's leadership potential at Wharton.

Learning Team Retreat

Wharton emphasizes on teamwork and team-leading skills fully understanding that success in the Business world depends on it. The stress is on persuasive, instead of the traditional, positional leadership. Starting at Pre-Term, and lasting the entire first 2 quarters of the core program, the retreat forms teams of 5-6 students, forming a diverse group, who must co-operate on various assignments.

The Learning Team Retreat is the beginning of this experience. The team members get to know each other, and together they learn to both be a team player as well as team leader.

Executive Feedback & Coaching Program

The Wharton Executive Feedback and Coaching Program (WECFP), helps MBA students to connect the various facets of their Wharton experience. An online platform enables students to incorporate feedback and conduct self-assessment on various activities like the pre-Wharton work experience, extracurricular leadership, as well as summer internships.

According to each individual's self-assessment, WECFP gives personal executive coaching. It helps students make self-driven, individual leadership development from the feedback that comes throughout the two years spent at Wharton. It helps build a comprehensive plan to enhance strengths, and overcome weaknesses. By the end of the MBA program, students will have discovered their own leadership style.

Leadership Fellows

40 1st-year MBA students are picked every year in January to become Wharton's Leadership Fellows. They are aimed at giving incoming students the opportunity to develop practical tools and real-life strategies that enhance their leadership potential, in every aspect of their lives. The Citigroup Foundation sponsors an extensive training program that gives the Fellows awareness and exposure with regard to emotional intelligence, self-awareness, group facilitation, as well as conflict resolution. Besides the training sessions, the program also offers team-building and social development opportunities for the Leadership Fellows.

Venture Fellows

Venture Fellows build an environment to develop individual and team leadership skills on a Wharton's Leadership Ventures (WLV). They mentor participants, manage logistics and facilitate learning. Venture Fellows are responsible for both the venture and the learning. They are trained by The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), the Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI), as well as the WLV faculty and staff themselves.

Leadership Ventures

Leadership Ventures at Wharton offer a series of experiential, outdoor opportunities for leadership development. Students gain from experiences that explore their inner self and help them master individual and team building skills, both in business and in life. Student teams go on expeditions, supported by leading outfitters, as well as Venture Fellows. These experiences help students to act decisively, think strategically and communicate effectively. Students also become action oriented, learn to take risks and make decisions rapidly.

During 2011-12, 500+ MBA students took part in 13 such leadership ventures. They include Quantico USMC Program, Antarctica Expedition, Quantico Military Simulation, Kilimanjaro Mountaineering, Tall Ships Sailing, Patagonia Trekking and Atacama Desert: High Altitude Multisport.

Leadership Development Workshop Series

This series of workshops gives MBA students action-based leadership lessons. They explore and develop leadership skills with 1 to 3 day workshops that showcase alternative methods of leadership education. Important subjects like critical decision making, leadership presence and intergroup dynamics are also covered.

Current workshops under the Leadership Development Coaching Series include The Art of Woo, The Disability Experience, Your Work, Your Life...Your Way: 7 Keys to Work-Life Balance, Managing Conflict with Power and Presence (Aikido), Leadership Presence (Pig Iron Theatre), Small Group Processes, Leadership Lessons from the U.S. Civil War Gettysburg Battle and Self Awareness and Executive Focus through Meditation.

Non-Profit Board Leadership Program

Wharton launched the Nonprofit Board Leadership Program in 2005. The goal was to provide leadership development opportunities to Wharton students, at the same time support local nonprofits. These experiential learning opportunities help 2nd year MBA students better understand their own leadership skills. The program helps provide long-term support to nonprofits in the Philadelphia area. Students serve as Visiting Board Members, gaining valuable leadership experience, while inculcating in them lifelong commitment to the community at large.

Recommended Reads

1) Wharton’s Center for Leadership and Change Management
2) Wharton MBA Articles