Submitted by Michael Richards, Student Leadership & Co-Curricular Learning Officer
On March 26th, over 55 members of the SLC community came together for a “Redefining Leadership” event at the Innovation Hub. Organized by Student Success, this event offered students a unique opportunity to explore the nuances of leadership, differentiating between leading oneself and leading others. To open the talk, Emma Laporte, a Community and Justice Services student, shared her personal journey and how assuming leadership roles had positively impacted her academic and personal growth.
"Leadership is muddy, unclear, and uncomfortable," remarked John Conrad, Director of Innovation and Business Engagement. This sentiment summarized the essence of the conversation, where participants showed their eagerness to address the complexities of leadership within the context of our modern times.
“I can’t imagine the last time I listened without losing focus at all to someone talking continuously for about 45 minutes with no activity in between,” exclaimed Arya Raju, Manager of Student Engagement at the Kingston Student Association. But I did! Yesterday! When John Conrad talked about redefining leadership and how to make an impact as a leader even while being a student.”
Guided by John’s expertise, students explored concepts that redefine traditional leadership myths. Themes such as maintaining openness, cultivating curiosity, and practicing compassion emerged as essential elements of leadership. Emphasis was placed on the importance of establishing trust and fostering collaboration as key success factors for effective leaders.
The event not only provided valuable insights into leadership but also served as a catalyst for further student engagement initiatives at St. Lawrence College. Feedback collected from participants will play a pivotal role in shaping the development of a college-wide leadership development program, underscoring our institution's commitment to preparing future leaders in their fields.
“If you want to be a leader, you can demonstrate that behaviour now without the title,” John reminded us during his final comments. This serves as a great prompt that the qualities of an effective leader are accessible to everyone.
As we continue to provide leadership development opportunities for our students, we invite all members of the St. Lawrence College community to share their thoughts and contribute to the discussion. Do you have a topic or workshop idea that you’d like to see offered? Email URSLC@sl.on.ca with your creative idea and start a conversation.
Faculty and staff are also encouraged to share the survey below with their student network to gain even more insights from our students:
Leadership Development Survey (Complete to earn 50 bonus Surge Rewards points!)
Increasing Opportunities for Student Leadership Development
