The Emerging Leadership Series (ELS) is a FREE 11-week certificate program designed to help Cal Poly students explore their unique leadership styles and develop the skills to lead with confidence and purpose. Open to all students, regardless of experience, ELS provides a supportive and inclusive learn by doing environment where students can reflect on their strengths, values, and lived experiences while learning how to lead authentically and effectively.
Through weekly workshops and activities, participants will:
- Deepen their self-awareness and understanding of leadership
- Explore leadership theories and models
- Build teamwork and communication skills in group settings
- Reflect on their identities and how these shape their Leadership approach
- Develop their own Personal Leadership Philosophy
Students will also have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, collaborate with peers, and participate in a service-learning experience that brings leadership concepts to life. Past participants have gone on to become Resident Advisors (RAs), WOW and SLO Days Leaders, Inter-Hoursing Council members, leaders in Greek Life, and key contributors to student clubs and organizations.
Whether you're just starting your leadership journey or looking to refine your skills, ELS is the perfect opportunity to grow, connect, and make a lasting impact!
Students in Cal Poly’s Honors Program get leadership credit for participating in the series.
Overview of the 11 weeks:
1. Introduction and the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership
Meet your fellow participants, learn what to expect from ELS, and begin exploring leadership through the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership.
2. True Colors
Use the True Colors framework to explore your strengths, preferences, and communication style. Consider how these tendencies influence the way you lead, collaborate, and respond to others.
3. Leadership Identity
Examine how your identities, experiences, and social context shape the way you understand and practice leadership. Explore what it means to develop an authentic leadership identity.
4. Values and Ethics
Identify the values that guide your choices and consider how they influence your leadership. Practice navigating ethical questions with greater clarity and intention.
5. Emotionally Intelligent Leadership
Explore how awareness of yourself, others, and the surrounding context can strengthen your leadership. Practice responding to people and situations with empathy, adaptability, and purpose.
6. Relational Model of Leadership
Discover how leadership is created through relationships rather than positions or titles. Explore the roles of purpose, inclusion, empowerment, ethics, and process in leading with others.
7. Leadership in Groups: Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development
Learn how groups develop through forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Apply the model to help teams navigate challenges, strengthen collaboration, and work toward shared goals.
8. Creating Change: Social Change Model of Leadership Development
Explore leadership as a collaborative process for creating positive change. Use the Social Change Model to consider how personal values, group relationships, and community action work together.
9. Applied Leadership
Connect ELS concepts to clubs, organizations, group projects, future careers, and everyday life. Practice choosing leadership approaches that fit different people, situations, and goals.
10. Public Leadership
Build confidence communicating your ideas in front of others. Practice presenting, speaking, listening, and adapting your message to engage different audiences.
11. Personal Leadership Philosophies
Bring your ELS learning together by articulating your personal approach to leadership. Share how your strengths, identities, values, experiences, and goals will shape the way you lead moving forward.