At the Sanger Leadership Center, we believe that leadership is a skill that everyone can learn. We seek to democratize the leadership development process by providing students, alumni, and external affiliates with the bold ideas, transformative experiences, and inclusive communities needed to accelerate leadership development.
In June, Sanger team members Nick Viviano, Suzy Skrtic, and Michelle Austin facilitated two leadership development-focused sessions during the Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy (SBA), which gave 70 rising high school seniors the opportunity to discover business from the inside out. Over the course of two weeks, participants explored how companies run, learned how leaders solve problems, and experienced what it’s like to be a Michigan Ross student.
In the Sanger-led sessions, Viviano, Skrtic, and Austin created a bespoke experience by taking content that is typically taught to college students and adapting it for those considering their next steps post-high school. This tailored approach not only made the content relevant and engaging, but provided the participants with a unique opportunity to jumpstart their leadership development journeys. In the first session, participants were asked to consider what leadership means to them. They reflected on their past experiences with leadership and explored the type of leader they want to be now and in the future. In the second session, they explored team dynamics by participating in hands-on exercises. They put their teamwork skills to the test and reflected on how they showed up during the activities.
“Students in the academy were deeply committed to learning the skills to be better leaders,” commented Austin. “The students were so excited, and their willingness to reflect and learn was truly inspiring.”
By translating complex leadership concepts into practical, relatable activities, Sanger empowered these young leaders to envision their future roles and equipped them with the tools to navigate their upcoming transitions with confidence and clarity.
