Foundations of Leadership sparked a process of self-reflection, leading me to articulate my values, principles, and very first leadership philosophy. These foundational elements became a guiding force throughout the rest of the program.

The inaugural immersion course at Gonzaga was a transformative experience. It fostered lasting connections with professors and fellow students through an environment of vulnerability and mutual respect. Our introduction to community work sparked ideas I've integrated into employee engagement programs, echoing the program's emphasis on building connections. Inspired by relationship building, my final project—a set of nesting dolls—was designed to be a creative communication tool in mentorship, encouraging reflection, dialogue, and self-understanding.

While we often view forgiveness as something we extend to others, Leadership, Justice & Forgiveness emphasized that seeking forgiveness is equally crucial for fostering transparent and healthy relationships, both personally and professionally. This course highlighted a personal growth opportunity: to become more comfortable with healthy conflict and to apologize more readily. I've been actively working on this by directly addressing issues and openly asking for forgiveness when needed.

Communication & Leadership Ethics highlighted the immense value of dialogue and healthy conflict in fostering ethical and effective communication. True dialogue, characterized by open listening and respectful exploration of diverse perspectives, builds trust, transparency, and collaboration, all essential components of ethical communication. Healthy conflict, when focused on issues rather than personalities and conducted with integrity, can be a catalyst for growth, innovation, and improved decision-making, while upholding ethical principles.

Despite my experience in employee engagement and organizational culture, the Team Building & Leadership course challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone. It served as a powerful reminder that vulnerability, fun, shared values, and the ability to overcome challenges together are essential elements for building strong, meaningful connections within a team.

The immersive Psychology of Leadership course reinforced the importance of vulnerability in effective leadership. It resonated with me personally by highlighting how childhood experiences and attachments can influence our responses to situations. The course illuminated the intricate connection between individual psychology and leadership, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and understanding others' motivations for inspiring and guiding teams towards shared goals.

Strong team dynamics were crucial to our success in Organizational Theory & Behavior. Within the group simulation activity, we not only achieved our collective goal of summiting Mt. Everest, but also a high percentage of individual objectives. Our collaborative final presentation, viewable here, exemplifies the importance of clear communication in understanding roles, responsibilities, and overall project goals.

The Leadership & Storytelling course had a profound impact on me. It challenged me to explore deeper levels of personal narrative, while also fostering meaningful connections with fellow students. I was inspired by the vulnerability and openness demonstrated in their shared stories. My “We” story, which touches on my Mother’s final days, can be viewed here.

The impact of the Leadership & Hardiness program began long before I officially started the course. A friend's positive experience inspired me to pursue this program, and I began training for the Mt. Adams climb in January as part of my commitment to completing 24 hikes in 2024. This journey has reignited my passion for the outdoors and instilled a newfound sense of independence and confidence in tackling challenges. But the most profound impact was how I formed immediate bonds with my team. Each person taught me how to support and show up for others, and I left with such a sense of love and connection. Now that we've experienced the climb, I can see how our entire team embodied the "Do, Be, Love" that our instructor asked us to channel before setting out on the trail.