The Leadership Institute exists to develop people who show up for others–leaders who see what’s needed, turn intention into meaningful impact and inspire those around them to do the same.
Experiences
Our experiences are where leadership comes to life. Grounded in real challenges and meaningful relationships, each opportunity invites students to practice leadership, not just study it. Across programs, participants build the skills, mindset and confidence to show up for others and create real impact.
Leadership Lab
Summer experience for high school students
An immersive summer experience where high school students partner with faculty, industry professionals and community leaders to solve a real challenge facing a local organization. Students research, collaborate and present actionable recommendations directly to decision makers. It is hands-on, high expectation work that builds confidence, voice and real leadership capability.
Servant Leadership Program
CCLE pilot
A small cohort experience where undergraduate students engage directly with members of the Cleveland community through meaningful service. Students explore complex issues like homelessness and mental health while developing empathy, emotional intelligence and reflective leadership practices. The experience centers on one core question: how do I choose to show up for others?
Networking Events
Curated opportunities for students to build meaningful relationships with alumni, executives and community leaders. These are not transactional events, but spaces for authentic conversation, mentorship and connection. Students learn how to engage, listen and build networks that matter.
Annual Leadership Conference
A flagship gathering that brings together students, faculty, industry leaders and changemakers to explore the most pressing leadership challenges of our time. Through panels, workshops and dialogue, participants engage with new ideas and diverse perspectives. The conference positions Cleveland and CWRU as a hub for leadership thinking and practice.
Leadership Sprints
4–8 hour intensive skill sessions
Short, high-impact experiences designed to build specific leadership skills in a focused and practical way. Each sprint centers on a real world challenge and pushes students to think, act and reflect quickly. These sessions are immersive, energizing and immediately applicable.
MGMT 395: Own the Room
Fall 2026 course
A dynamic course focused on presence, communication and influence in high stakes settings. Students learn how to lead conversations, tell compelling stories and show up with clarity and confidence. The course blends theory with practice, giving students repeated opportunities to apply what they learn in real time.
Toolkit
The Toolkit is where students move from insight to practice. These are the spaces, tools and resources that allow leadership to be developed intentionally through doing, reflecting and refining over time. Designed to be hands on and highly personalized, the Toolkit supports students as they build confidence and capability in real leadership moments.
Simulation Center
Developed in collaboration with XLAB, the Simulation Center gives students the opportunity to practice critical leadership moments in a low-risk environment. Students can engage in scenarios like interviewing, networking and courageous conversations, receiving immediate, actionable feedback. It is a space to try, adjust and grow with intention.
The Leadership Lab
The Leadership Lab is a dedicated space designed for collaboration, practice and innovation. It brings together students, faculty, staff and industry leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue and tackle complex challenges. More than a physical space, it is an active environment where leadership is practiced in real time.
Leadership Retreats
Leadership retreats create space to step back, think deeply and move ideas forward. These experiences bring together diverse voices to co-create, ideate and iterate on the Institute’s work and the broader practice of leadership. They are designed to build connection while advancing meaningful progress.
Capstone Projects
Capstone projects serve as the culminating experience of the four year leadership journey. Students take a personalized approach to exploring a real world problem, integrating research, reflection and applied practice. The result is work that is both academically grounded and meaningfully impactful.
Partnerships
Partnerships are at the core of how the Institute works and grows. We are building a connected ecosystem of faculty, students, alumni and community and industry leaders who are committed to advancing leadership in meaningful ways. These relationships ensure that our work stays relevant, grounded and deeply connected to real challenges and opportunities.
Research Projects in Collaboration with Faculty
Students partner with faculty to explore timely and complex leadership questions through rigorous, inquiry driven research. These projects connect students to cutting edge scholarship while allowing them to contribute to the future of leadership thinking. It is an opportunity to learn alongside faculty while developing a strong foundation in research and analysis.
Applied Research Projects
Applied research projects connect students directly to real world challenges brought forward by organizations and partners. Students work to understand the problem, analyze context and develop thoughtful, actionable insights. The focus is on translating ideas into practice and creating work that has immediate relevance and impact.
Community and Organizational Partnerships
The Institute collaborates with corporations, nonprofit organizations, alumni and friends of CWRU to create meaningful, sustained relationships. These partnerships open doors for students to engage with real leaders, real challenges and real opportunities to contribute. They are essential to building a leadership experience that is both grounded in community and connected to the broader world.
Contact
Jen Halliday, M.Ed
jenhalliday@case.edu
440.623.3222
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