Leadership Experience
Become the Leader You Need To Be
Leadership is the most sought-after job skill for employers and recruiters. That’s why leadership skills are interwoven throughout your MBA experience. Through coursework, experiential learning and workshops, and personalized coaching, the benefits you derive will be transformative — tapping into your personal and professional potential as you increase your effectiveness as an individual, as a team member and as an organizational leader.
You’ll build robust skills in strategic thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, and technology and AI, which you can use to influence and inspire others in your current or future roles. You’ll also explore, build, and practice your networking skills, helping you build relationships that you’ll leverage throughout your career. These strengths will increase your competence — and confidence — in areas critical to your long-term success!
Leadership Coursework
You’ll build a strong base of leadership knowledge through coursework and team-based projects. As part of the core MBA curriculum, you’ll take Leading and Managing where you’ll apply concepts from sociology, psychology and organizational science to real-world leadership scenarios, and Responsible Leadership, where you’ll explore important — and often sensitive — issues related to leadership. Numerous elective courses and summit tracks will allow you to further bolster your knowledge in key topic areas, including negotiations, organization and culture, people management, and decision-making.
Leading with Impact Series
In addition to coursework, Executive MBA students have access to cutting-edge leadership programming that addresses the key skills employers expect from future leaders. This practical, hands-on programming will change the way you approach your work, making you a more valuable candidate for promotion within your current organization or as you switch jobs:
- Half-day workshops prior to Summits
Delivered in partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) or our world-class faculty, these Thursday sessions, conveniently held in-person prior to MBA@UNC Summits, will address important leadership topics. Some examples from past sessions have included leveraging polarities, learning agility, leading change, influence and trust.
- In-person leadership sessions
Held prior to in-person Executive MBA weekend courses (and open to all Executive MBA and Online MBA students), these sessions bridge theory and practice, exposing you to business experts and lessons that expand your leadership toolkit. These sessions may include alumni panel discussions, workshops and interactive experiences and simulations.
- Virtual sessions
Up to four times a year, Executive MBA and Online MBA students can participate in virtual leadership sessions as part of the Leading with Impact series, which address current topics, business challenges and research, and provide practical insights you’ll leverage immediately in your work.
Personalized Career Coaching
One-on-one and small-group sessions with experienced career coaches will help you reflect on the leadership skills and knowledge you’ve gained and how to best leverage them to meet your individual career objectives. These sessions address tactical topics (e.g. maximizing LinkedIn usage, resume reviews or mock interviews) as well as reflection and discussion on your interests, values and goals.
Leadership Academy Certificate
MBA@UNC students can also earn the Leadership Academy Certificate, an additional credential that enhances leadership skills. Designed for those aiming to excel in senior-level roles, the certificate is built on the core MBA curriculum and is rooted in UNC Kenan-Flagler’s core values of impact, innovation, inclusion, and integrity.
Take the Next Step
Learn how an online MBA from Kenan-Flagler can prepare you to advance your career,
as it has for thousands of professionals across the country.