You have the capacity to lead—to make a positive impact on our organizations, communities, and the people around us.
We know that leadership doesn't "just happen." Leadership is a behavioral process, and learning it is a critical part of the preparation we offer to policy professionals.
To lead effectively, you need skills to navigate politics, build strong coalitions, communicate across differences, and envision and make change. In addition to teaching students to conduct sharp policy analysis, the Ford School helps students build skills to help them debate across differences, to speak and write clearly and persuasively, and lead from where they are.
Leadership development further leverages the key analytical skills that Ford School students possess, so they can lead themselves and others to make the change that they want to see in the world.
Leadership doesn’t come by title. You don’t have to be the head of an organization to have an impact."
Morela Hernandez, Ligia Ramirez de Reynolds Collegiate Professor of Public Policy and faculty director of the Leadership Initiative
Growing as a leader requires developing self-awareness. Multiple opportunities at the Ford School allow us to build intentionality and transform the way we lead, learn, serve, communicate and collaborate in teams."
Clary Baudraz (MPP '21)
