Certificate Curriculum

COURSE LECTURES

Leadership and Communication

What skills will students need to become leaders in an increasingly global world? How can students prepare themselves for global leadership opportunities? These lectures will introduce students to the study of effective leadership practices through issues of psychology, sociology, politics, philosophy and entrepreneurship. This course will highlight the supreme importance, artistry and impact of words in leadership. Students will explore the cognitive biases that drive persuasion, political advertising, communication messages and public approval, interest group strategy, and the impact of new communication technologies.

Individual lectures will include the both academic and practical explorations of

  • Effective Negotiation
  • Charisma and Public Speaking
  • Strategic and Creative Thinking
  • Persuasive Presentations
  • Speechwriting
  • Marketing/Branding/Advertising

What is Expertise? Facts That Function

How do global leaders make decisions, and on whom do they rely? In this talk, we will draw on experiences advising policymakers to draw lessons on the nature of expertise, and how to deliver information to stakeholders that they can use to make crucial decisions.

 

Leadership Communications: Lessons From the Theater

How do global leaders communicate their ideas and how are they able to persuade their audience? This workshop, led by a former professional actor, will offer some techniques and practical exercises aimed to reinforce the use of voice in public spaces. Moreover, through an interactive methodology, the workshop will suggest some strategies for preparing an oral presentation or reading a speech, communicating his/her own key ideas, while enforcing the external projections of the most relevant information that audience is expected to grasp.

Learning How To Learn: How to Build Your Knowledge Base Quickly

Leaders are called upon to have a strong, working background in diverse topics, including economics, politics, international affairs, health, sociology, history, geography, agriculture, finance, and the list continues. This requires leaders to assimilate information quickly, efficiently, and critically. Here, we will discuss key strategies toward navigating information, learning quickly, and asking the right questions of experts.

Leadership Development

Leadership requires that we know our limitations. However, it often attracts those with little recognition of their limitations. But humility is developed. In this lecture, we discuss the importance of humility through various vignettes and examples, and discuss ways of developing our humility as we emerge into positions of prominence.

The Foundation of Leadership

Mentors can be some of the most powerful resources you have–they guide you, defend you, nurture you, and advise you through obstacles on the path. Finding a good one isn’t just about luck, but about strategy, patience, perseverance, and a willingness to take risks. Further, keeping and benefitting from mentors requires and understanding of how and when to approach a mentor, and how to filter and process advice. Here we discuss the nuances of mentorship from the perspective of the mentee.

 

SIMULATIONS

 

Simulation—Rock Your Interview

Interviews are one of the most challenging barriers to entry for universities, scholarships, internships, and jobs. The skills to keep poise and presence during an interview are rare–but they can be learned. Here, we will explore what makes a great interview, and how to present one’s self in various interview formats.

Competitive Simulation (Part I)—Parliamentary Simulation

Summit delegates will be responsible for drafting legislation for a newly formed country. Delegates will be divided into opposing teams of ten and will write legislation on selected issues. The opposing teams will debate over the bills and the summit delegates will vote to on the debated legislation.

Competitive Simulation (Part II)—Speechwriting

Summit delegates will be given an issue prompt to write and present a speech that the leader of the country must deliver on the world stage.