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The #IlliniLeader's Digest
A digital space for ILC stakeholders to learn and voice their perspectives about leadership...

blog posts

  • Innovation and Leadership

    This post talks about innovation and the impacts it has on leadership. Innovation helps start trendsetters and conversation starters for leaders. It is important to recognize the impact innovation has on leaders. 

  • empathy

    Empathy

    This post starts by comparing empathy to shoes, displaying a metaphor for being the listener for someone's story. This post also shares a comparison and a way to think of empathy in a different way. 

  • science and leadership

    Undertaking the Leadership Certificate with a Science PhD

    This post shares the experience of a Ph.D. student who also took on the Leadership Certificate Program, offered at the ILC. He talks about his experience, why he decided to do it, and the benefits that came out of the program for him. 

  • group

    The Importance of Community to Leadership Practice

    This post explains the importance of community in leadership and guides you through different ways to be a leader in a community. 

  • lightbulb

    Sustainability in Leadership

    This post goes into depth on sustainability in leadership and emphasizes the importance of it. 

  • integrity 3

    What does it mean to be an ethical leader?

    This post shares ways to be an ethical leader and practice integrity as a leader in our every day. The author shares some personal stories as well on the topic of integrity.

  • integrity

    The Power of Integrity

    This post talks about power of integrity and what makes it so important in life and leadership. 

  • group

    The Shared "We"

    This post goes into detail on the importance of Common Purpose in Leadership and how practicing this competency will make you a great leader. 

  • leadershape

    How My Experience at The LeaderShape® Institute™ Shaped My Understanding of Social Justice

    The LeaderShape®  Institute™ was a great opportunity to learn more about social justice and hear from different viewpoints. My time at The LeaderShape®  Institute™  was very influential and I wanted to share how it helped my viewpoint of social justice. 

  • 2020 staff photo

    Student Employment Reflections

    Student employees at the Illinois Leadership Center share their experience while working at the ILC as well as some benefits to their positions. Information on student employment for the 2021-2022 school year is also shared. 

  • One Question to Answer Before Deciding Your Career Path

    Remember the saying that we all wanted to believe as kids? You can be anything you want to be when you grow up. One of the best ways to end up in the kind of career that earns you respect, recognition, success, and happiness is to do more of what you're good at.

    Click the title to read this article by Jessica Buono from Gallup with CliftonStrengths, one of the programs presented at the ILC!

  • online teaching

    Reflections: Being a Student Leader in a Pandemic and Lessons Learned

    This post provides reflections from UIUC students on this past Fall semester and how they felt about the changes and transition to online classes. 

  • human dignity

    Human Dignity in Leadership

    This post explains the importance of one of the ILC's competencies, human dignity, and how it is important in leadership. 

  • leadership

    The Role of Relationship Management in Leadership

    This post emphasizes the importance of relationship management in leadership. It goes into detail on ways to practice, understand, and learn from relationship management as a leader. 

  • women in leadership

    Why YOU should consider the Leadership Studies Minor

    This post explains more information on the Leadership Studies Minor and gives student perspectives on the minor itself. 

  • servant leadership

    National Make a Difference Day

    National Make a Difference Day focuses on aspects of service in our community. This post goes into more detail about the day and introduces the topic of servant leadership. 

  • The Importance of Diversity in Leadership

    This post discusses the importance of diversity in concepts of leadership and areas of life. 

  • A Call to Action: Social Change in our Leadership

    This post goes into detail about what the Social Change Model of Leadership is and how we can use it in our every day lives with relation to leadership. 

  • girl with all the colors

    The Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

    Since October is Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month, this post goes into detail on the importance of emotional intelligence and how to effectively use it in leadership. 

  • people

    How Leaders Communicate Effectively

    Communication is something key in leadership as well as our everyday lives. This post goes into more detail on communication and gives some great advice on how to effectively use communication in different areas. 

  • Self-improvement

    The Importance of Self-Improvement for Leaders

    September is self-improvement month. This post goes into detail on what self-improvement is, how it is important for leaders and shares a personal connection to self-improvement. 

  • sunset encouraging picture

    The National Day of Encouragement- What is it?

    This post goes into depth on the National Day of Encouragement, a day that recognizes the importance of encouragement in our everyday lives. It'll go into more detail on the history, facts, and ways to increase the use of encouragement in your lives. 

  • Organizing for Social Change: An Interview with a First-Timer

    I first met Paul Saban at the 2019 session of the Institute by LeaderShape. When Paul informed me that he was organizing a demonstration for Black Lives Matter in his hometown in Monticello, I decided that I would interview him about his experience following the demonstration. This was his first time organizing an event of this kind. The demonstration was held in the main square of Monticello, Illinois on Saturday, June 6.

  • Donaldson Gift to the Illinois Leadership Center Makes History

    The Illinois Leadership® Center (ILC) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has received the largest outright gift in the history of Student Affairs at Illinois with a $1.17 million gift from Jane and William (“Bill”) Donaldson.

  • Jump Start Your Career with Leadership

    This blog post highlights the importance of leadership and how it can positively influence your career readiness. Leadership is about constantly learning and to do this you must seek out experiences that will enhance your life design.

  • The Illinois Model of Leadership

    Through a campus-wide initiative involving faculty, staff, and student participants, the ILC developed The Illinois Model of Leadership Education. Learn more about this framework used to inform and shape the practice of the leadership education at Illinois. 

  • COVID-19 Updates

    As the spread of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) creates uncertainty and concerns both globally and here in our community, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign continues to monitor developments and to take any new actions that are warranted as new information emerges in this rapidly changing situation. Click here for information and updates about the impact of the COVID-19 virus on our university.

  • My Definition of Leadership

    I go into detail on what I believe is the true definition of leadership and how this reflects all the good leaders in our lives. I also give my perspective on the definition of leadership.

  • Why Leadership is Important to Me (And for You!)

    In this post I talk about a personal experience from high school that was a foundational piece of my experience in becoming a leader. I use this as an example of why leadership is important to me by describing how I came to view myself as a leader and the impact I have had on others as a result.

  • Challenges You Need To Encounter As A Leader

    Leaders have the power to control people to do what they want. However, being a leader is not easy. He or she needs to face many challenges to build a strong, healthy working relationship with employees.

  • What Actually Makes a Good Leader, May Not Be What You Think...

    We are always asked the question, "what makes a good leader?" Through all the different studies and approaches learned, I discovered what I believe makes a good leader and it may not be what you think.

  • What is the Hardest Part About Being Good Leader?

    In this article, I discuss what I find to be the hardest part of being a leader. The pressure to please all parties is a challenge that can be burdensome and serve to degrade a leader's confidence in their ability. I discuss this topic from my perspective and experiences.

  • Being a Leader in the Advertising Industry

    This blog sums up the leadership qualities necessary for success when working in an advertising agency. It teaches college students how to prepare for the industry by being mindful of the way they act and work with others.