This course is designed to provide students with instruction and experience in leading and contributing to high-performing teams that:

• Set clear goals and objectives.
• Develop, implement and enforce appropriate internal team norms.
• Effectively collaborate, taking maximum advantage of diverse strengths and backgrounds.
• Produce well-reasoned analyses of complex business problems.
• Provide team members with appropriate constructive feedback from which further growth and development can occur.

Nelson Mandela said courage is triumphant over fear. In Courageous Communication, students triumph over fear of tough conversations at work and home. This course helps MBA students and those in other graduate degree programs to learn and practice effective listening, especially to those with different points of view, in a way that builds trust and community at work. They learn techniques and tools for handling difficult and courageous conversations in the workplace and how to use these techniques and tools to stand up and stand out for themselves and others and contribute to a positive work environment.

In any organizational context, a leader’s ability to collaborate with a diverse range of colleagues drives individual influence and collective success. Through a highly interactive and engaging process known as intergroup dialogue, this course provides students with opportunities to:

• Explore how social identities shape professional choices and leadership styles.
• Build capability for meaningful dialogue and effective collaboration across social, cultural and power differences.
• Explore the power of alliances and allies when seeking to create an inclusive team/organizational environment.

What challenges do women face as they transition from students to managers to leaders? What does the latest research offer to organizations that want to benefit from more women leaders?

This course’s examination of women and leadership prepares all students regardless of gender to lead in organizations. Students analyze case studies of women leaders in a range of industries; review empirical evidence about the status of women as leaders; investigate barriers that have made it more difficult for women to reach the top of the business world; and consider ways in which individuals and organizations can overcome the barriers. Students also reflect on what they expect from their careers and consider the pathways they must take to become effective and inclusive leaders in diverse organizations.

The Johnson School is a member of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. Member schools are committed to diversifying the global business landscape. Students who apply and are accepted to the Johnson School MBA program through the Consortium have access to special events, study groups, career support, scholarship opportunities and a vast alumni and partner network.

The Johnson School is a partner of the Forté Foundation, an organization dedicated to changing the balance of power in the workplace. This gives students of all genders access to several professional development opportunities such as the MBA Financial Services Fast Track conference and the annual MBA Women’s Leadership Conference. Undergraduate students also benefit from programming such as Forté MBALaunch and Forté on Campus.

Our partnership with Forté also allows MBA students to earn Forté Fellowships**. This program provides financial support to candidates who exhibit leadership in academics and the community. Forté Fellows benefit from:

• Participation in the Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference.
• Inclusion in the Forté resume book distributed to sponsor companies.
• Invitations for job openings and leadership opportunities.

* *Consideration for a Forté Fellowship is open to candidates of all nationalities and sexes who support Forte’s mission. The MBA admissions committee determines who will receive a Forté Fellowship; no separate application is needed.

Held in Atlanta each year, this national case competition focuses on the intersection between business and racial equity. In addition to the competition itself, the event features discussions, guest speakers and other programming.

Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) provides enterprising young people with a proven playbook for economic mobility and partners with the world’s leading employers to help build inclusive workforces, develop the next generation of talent and create cultures of fairness where all employees can thrive.

• MLT’s 10-month MBA Prep programs help undergraduate students or college graduates strengthen their MBA applications.
• MLT’s 12-month MBA Professional Development Program helps students already accepted into the Johnson School’s two-year program hit the ground running with coaching and early internship opportunities.

Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) aims to educate, inspire and enable LGBTQ+ students and allies as they become leaders in their careers and society. ROMBA offers a range of professional development programming, including an annual conference.

The Johnson School and ROMBA offer two $10,000 fellowships each year; benefits include:

• Mentorship from the ROMBA community and alumni.
• Lifetime Reaching Out membership with access to job boards and networking opportunities.
• An expenses-paid leadership development retreat for each fellowship cohort.

The MBA admissions committee determines who will receive a ROMBA Fellowship; no separate application is needed.

The Robert Toigo Foundation advances the careers and leadership potential of underrepresented talent. Toigo offers Leaders Investing in Financial Excellence (LIFE) a one-year fellowship geared toward MBA students with an interest in finance.