WST 340: Leadership & Diversity

What skills do 21st century women leaders need? What is leadership and how do leaders lead? What are the challenges unique to women leaders across race, class, ethnicity, ability and age? Effective leaders must understand the unique issues that exist when dealing with a highly diverse global community. This course provides an opportunity to examine leadership, and to explore the relations of leaders and followers across a variety of settings. The essential skills of effective leaders are explored, such as elaborating a vision, facilitating communication, working with diverse groups and teams, overseeing finances, and facilitating change. Students will be encouraged to examine systematically their own leadership potential as they reflect on historical and contemporary examples of effective business and political leaders as well as leaders of causes and social movements. Emphasis will also be placed on providing an opportunity to apply theories in practical applications.