Extracurricular programming
The Leadership Initiative hosts workshops and partners with units across campus on a variety of programs that take place outside of the classroom. Students gain insights from faculty, alumni, and each other, and have space to practice communicating with clarity and purpose.

Featured workshop
Being Calm & Confident when Communicating Policy Analysis
This spring, the Ford School’s Leadership Initiative tapped into in-house talent to host a series of communication workshops. Former reporter and current MPA student Caroline Sweeney (MPA ‘23) led a workshop series to help her colleagues better communicate about the impact of policy—from better storytelling to working with the media.
» Read more
Explore additional U-M opportunities
MLead
Ross
Sanger Leadership Center
LSA
Barger Leadership Institute
Undergraduate program
Leadership certificate
Graduate program
Professional development DEI certificate
Social justice fellow
Summer youth dialogues on race and ethnicity
Listen
Jessica Liang (MPP/MBA ‘23) shares how she learned how to tell influential stories in M-LEAD’s Break Away Podcast.
I learned that leadership isn't always what it seems; often, there are problems behind the scenes. Nevertheless, no matter what is going on, it's essential to focus on what you can do rather than what cannot be done. It makes a big difference to have just a change in perspective.
