Stepping into Leadership

The start of a new semester often brings many back-to-school goals, and for undergraduate business students seeking professional and personal development, applications are now open for the Ted Bauer Leadership Certificate Program (TBLCP). 

TBLCP, generously supported by the C. T. Bauer Foundation, is a year-long leadership development program to help students learn to conceptualize themselves as future business leaders. This is done through the program’s focus on strengths, teamwork, professionalism and self-awareness. This development happens in weekly workshops where students connect with peers and tailor leadership strategies to align with their own strengths. 

“One of the big emphases on the program is completing what we call their individual leadership development plan, or ILDP for short,” Director of Student Success Whitney Johnson said. “This allows students to see where they are currently in their first leadership journey. We start at the very first workshop, and they continue adding to their individual leadership development plan throughout the course of the year.” 

Building connections with peers is another priority of the workshops. The engagement-focused sessions dedicate time to activities and discussions. Additionally, throughout the program, students attend social and professional workshops. 

One of the biggest struggle spots Johnson sees in students as they come into the program is understanding what their individual strengths are. To address that, TBLCP includes CliftonStrengths, giving students the chance to take the assessment and receive leadership coaching.  

“Just naturally, we tend to really have a better idea of what our weaknesses are,” Johnson said. “But to really sit and think about what our strengths are and know who we are is way more important, and has a greater impact, than understanding our weaknesses.” 

Going into the program, TBLCP graduate Angel Zuniga had an idea of what he thought leadership was. Soon after the program started, he realized the amount of professional growth that was possible. For him, that growth came in the form of confidence, presentation skills and communication. 

“I was able to build that confidence to have my voice heard, because previously in many cases I would just prefer to just stay put and go along with what my group or the people around me said,” management senior Zuniga said. 

The program’s structure follows the book “The Student Leadership Challenge” and the book’s five practices of exemplary leaders. Throughout the year, the students dive into each of the practices: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enabling others to act and encouraging the heart. 

The framework of the five principles is incorporated into the individual leadership development plans and then tied into their capstone project at the end of the year. The capstone combines lessons from both semesters of the program, puts students into groups and tasks them to present a topic that changes each year.  

The capstone was the biggest way TBLCP pushed Zuniga to grow beyond his comfort zone, putting the skills they learned in the workshop to the test. Last year, TBLCP groups were tasked with creating a momentum project for the University of Houston’s centennial. Zuniga says this allowed him to learn more about the University and practice professional communications. 

“Because of the project, I had to interact with the Office of the Provost, certain professors from the University and alumni who graduated,” Zuniga said. “I considered it an opportunity to learn more and to basically take into consideration and create value that the University of Houston brings to us.” 

Those leadership skills came in handy this summer, as Zuniga wrapped up his time as a Sherwin-Williams intern. Throughout the internship, Zuniga practiced what he learned about communication through client calls. Then at the end of the summer, the presentation skills were beneficial as he presented his intern project to company executives and peers. 

“That confidence and presentation skills that the program taught me allowed me to just feel comfortable,” he said. “I felt like I was just speaking to myself because I felt confident. When I went up there, I wasn't even nervous. I didn't move around or twitch, it just felt like I was having a conversation. I wouldn't have been able to do that if I didn't join the program.”  

Working with TBLCP is one of Johnson’s favorite parts of her role at Bauer College. Throughout the years, she’s seen students come into the programs at various stages in their leadership journey and leave equipped to lead student organizations and enter managerial positions in the workplace. 

“It's incredibly rewarding to see a student who never saw themselves as a leader go through TBLCP and really learn about themselves,” Johnson said. “They learn to understand their strengths. They learn and understand how they show up on a team and really start to lead themselves, which is most important — because you can’t lead others until you learn to lead yourself.” 

No matter a Bauer student’s major, Zuniga recommends the program as a way to gain and create relationships with people they wouldn’t have met otherwise.  

“If you're looking for a challenge but also looking forward to a good adventure, I would definitely suggest to apply to the program and join it.” 

Applications for the TBLCP are open until Sept. 15.