News Releases

Business students learn valuable skills in 2010 Leadership Challenge

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

BY AUSTIN FALLEY

Twenty-seven School of Business students participated in the 2010 Leadership Challenge, an annual leadership seminar hosted by the Schools of Business and Engineering. The seminar helps students develop their leadership potential through interactive workshops and exercises. It was held Jan. 12 and 13 at the Kansas Union.

"The leadership challenge is a great way for business students to learn about communication, professional and leadership skills while networking with employers," Jolene Phillips, assistant director of the KU Business Career Services Center, said.

More than 140 Business students applied for the seminar. Twenty-five Engineering majors also attended the leadership event.

"It inspired me to follow my dreams," Olivia Etkind, junior accounting major, said. "The seminar gave me tools like public speaking and how to act to prepare myself for life in the business world. Networking with future employers allowed me to meet a few recruiters from accounting firms that I had not met before."

Denny Faurote, president of the Faurote Group, led the two-day seminar with interactive exercises in leadership building. Faurote has a strong business background, with more than 14 years at accounting firm Deloitte. His exercises highlighted a number of leadership topics, including oral communication, time management, self-leadership, personal visioning, goal establishment and executive presence. He has facilitated the seminar for nine years.

"Denny uses a lot of different mediums to get his message across," Phillips said. "He uses lectures, walks around and even has a few exercises involving Legos and tent poles."

Employers experience the seminar along side the students, giving each student multiple networking opportunities. The students were encouraged to meet many different employers during the lunches and dinners hosted at the event.

"I learned about the importance of emotional IQ and public speaking," Etkind said. "Denny reminded me to get rid of my Ôumms' and Ôuhs' in every day speech in order to convey my ideas more coherently to others."

Employers participating included platinum sponsors Aldi, Altria Sales & Distribution, Deloitte, KPMG, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Ernst & Young, Target, Perceptive Software, Burns & McDonnell, Koch Industries and Huhtamaki; gold sponsors Cerner, Sprint/Nextel, Spirit AeroSystems and Frito-Lay; and silver sponsors Waddell & Reed, Bank of Kansas City and Payless ShoeSource.

"We'd especially like to thank Altria Sales & Distribution for its generous educational grant, making this event possible," Phillips said.

Students interested in applying for the 2011 Leadership Challenge can find more information on the School of Business Web site. Applications will be available in September 2010.