Leadership Across Difference

Leadership Across Difference (LAD) is a badge program for graduate students that is designed to enhance the leadership skills when engaging across difference.

You will understand global mindset, diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts and how to apply them in your personal and professional leadership roles.

Upon completion of your requirements, you will receive an electronic badge that certifies your competencies and allows you to showcase your leadership skills and experiences on professional online platforms and your resume. This is a cohort experience for those individuals committed to learning from one another and seeking new and challenging learning opportunities across difference.

Eligible Population: Graduate students only

What skills will you gain?

Leadership Across Difference participants will:

identify and critically reflect upon the various aspects of their identity in a global and diverse community and context
apply one’s self-awareness of their biases to enact strategies to respond to unconscious and conscious biases

evaluate diverse perspectives, and navigate the ambiguity and complexity that comes with multiple perspectives
use empathy to change leadership behavior and build better relationships
demonstrate strategies for allyship to support one another
communicate, contribute, and collaborate effectively and appropriately in a variety of cultural contexts
harness the power of diversity as a source for entrepreneurial leadership, innovation and/or productive collaboration

demonstrate an understanding of global mindset frameworks and theories
understand and be intrinsically motivated to translate global mindset, diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts into leadership roles, decision-making, and daily behaviors.

LAD Badge Program Preview

If you are selected into the LAD Badge Program, you will be enrolled in Canvas course.

Program timeline: October- April

The program consists of modules including reflections, projects, event participation and discussion boards (approximately 10-15 hours of work and mostly self-paced). Commitment to this program while fully engaging in your graduate program is crucial.

Main topics or training:

Global mindset development
Identity Exploration
Practicing Allyship
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Application Process

Once your application submission is completed, the Leadership Across Difference advisor team will select individuals with strong applications committed to sustained participation in the LAD badge program from October through April.

For Academic Year 2024-2025

Application Deadline: Friday, 9/20/2024

Decision Date: Friday, 9/27/2024

Apply Now

LAD participants can apply for mini-grants for projects/experiences that support their leadership development.

Global Learning Fund grants are designed to support graduate students who are interested in exploring international or multicultural endeavors through the Leadership Across Difference (LAD) Badge Program. Thanks to the generous donations of our alumni and friends, Global Learning Fund grants help students pursue experiences that will enhance their critical thinking on global & multicultural issues.