Leading People & Organizations

Leading People and Organizations is a central feature of the Ross Leadership Initiative and the only required leadership course for all Ross MBAs. This course prepares MBA students to lead high-performing, successful groups and organizations. Students learn how to align people and organizational processes in ways that enable their group and organization to thrive in today’s dynamic, competitive, and global marketplace. Key leadership skills learned in this course include: how to negotiate and make effective decisions in uncertain and complex environments, motivate people, manage conflict, and lead effective teams. Students also learn how to build and leverage social networks, drive organizational change, and influence people without relying on formal power and authority. These are the leadership skills that MBAs need in order to excel in contemporary organizations.

Leadership Success for Mid-Level Managers

Leadership Success for Mid-Level Managers provides high potential executives with the skills to lead themselves and their teams more effectively. This 5-day course brings together leading experts in the fields of leadership and team performance to provide a transformative experience and establish the foundation for future growth and development for our client’s most high potential, emerging leaders.

“This course was unlike anything I had expected. It led me to a path of self-discovery and provided me with a set of tools that I can use towards becoming a better leader.” – Zakaria

“Any class that can have this type of effect on a student, any class that can engage the students in such a level of self-reflection, is a rare and valuable occurrence. Courses rarely touch upon my identity and my self-confidence. I’m impressed. I have recommended this course to others.” – Kelly

“Professor DeRue takes a genuine interest in the development of his students. He challenges his students to think critically and honestly, and makes valuable suggestions to provoke further reflection.” – David

“Through my professional experience, it has become clear that leadership ability is the key factor in creating successful organizations and a successful managerial career.  I’m approaching business school as “leadership school”, and your course has been the cornerstone to this experience.” – Ryan

“More than any other course, yours best prepared me for MBA recruiting activities. All interviews touch on one subject: leadership.  Your course armed me with the examples, confidence, and self-awareness necessary to ace the myriad of leadership “fit” questions that every interviewer wants to know about.” – Dan

“I hated this class.  You forced me to think about things that made me feel uncomfortable.  You made me look at myself in a light that I did not want to see.  I was forced to do things that I did not want to do.  It was uncomfortable being outside my comfort zone.  I needed this” class…” - Mark

“You have had a tremendous impact on my life through your approach to teaching this class; you pulled me out of my comfort zone and helped me understand myself as a leader and the roots behind my leadership style.” – Lindsay

“Your course provided me with many influential leadership lessons that will stay with me far beyond the end of the class.” – Benji

“I decided that this has been my favorite course at Michigan. I believe that there is a fine line between true psychological insight and bullshit, and you took us up the right path.” – Jerry