Leaders Lock In

Over one hundred C. T. Bauer College of Business students kicked off their leadership journey as the Ted Bauer Leadership Certificate Program (TBLCP) welcomed its newest cohort.

Throughout the year, students in the program meet weekly to build leadership fundamentals and expand upon their strengths. In the first workshop students created their individual leadership development plan and focused on emotional intelligence.

Management senior Seher Rahim said she applied for the program to refine herself as a leader and to get more involved in her final year at Bauer College. After graduation, Rahim hopes to use the skills she gained in a career as a human resources professional.

“I would currently describe my leadership styles as outgoing and someone who's willing to help other people. I’m making sure I have all my timelines ready to go and making sure I'm submitting items on time,” Rahim said. “I hope to be more confident in myself, polish up my leadership skills and be a better student and version of me.”

Accounting junior José Imperial said his current strengths are in teamwork and elevating others. He hopes to improve his communication and presentation skills by the end of the program.

Imperial is studying to become a certified public accountant after graduation. He’s hoping the skills he’ll gain from TBLCP could help him rise in the ranks in an accountancy career.

“I feel like in the CPA position, once I grow, I'll be leading teams, and I'll become a manager,” Imperial said. “Eventually, I could become a partner. Leading a team is something that is going to be essential in my career.”

While TBLCP helps students fill in gaps in leadership areas they may be lacking, it also places an emphasis on strengths. TBLCP participants take the CliftonStrengths assessment and receive coaching afterward to learn more about the ways they excel.

Accounting and finance senior Stephanie Salazar completed the TBLCP program last year and said the strengths test was a highlight of the experience. Salazar now serves as a Bauer Ambassador and helped at the TBLCP Kick-Off Event.

“TBLCP encouraged me to continue giving back to the college because it was such a great program,” Salazar said. “It’s a full circle moment to now help out with the event. It's really rewarding being able to give back to a program that gave a lot to me.”

TBLCP is operational thanks to the generous support of the C. T. Bauer Foundation.