Leadership development is a primary focus at top business schools all over the world, with professors, core courses, initiatives and centers all devoted to shaping MBA students into the leaders of tomorrow. The Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is taking things to a new level with the launch of its Leadership App, a digital tool designed to deliver the school’s signature leadership development content directly to students on their iPads.
Kenan-Flagler launched its leadership initiative in 2005 to give its MBA students a competitive advantage in the job market, according to Mindy Storrie, director of leadership development at UNC Kenan-Flagler. In the ten years since, the school has customized the leadership content for all of its degree programs.
“The Leadership App captures our complete story for the first time—the full range of programs and opportunities—and makes it even easier for students to gain the highest return on their investment in their educations,” Storrie said in a statement.
That Kenan-Flagler would develop an app for its innovative leadership curriculum does not come as a surprise. The school prides itself on being at the forefront of technology, and its online MBA program, MBA@UNC, is widely recognized as one of the best in the world. The Leadership App is also not Kenan-Flagler’s first foray into mobile apps. Three others preceded it: The MBA App, designed for prospective MBA students; UNC Business, the digital school and alumni magazine; and O.I., the research magazine of UNC Kenan-Flagler.
“Leadership development is a hallmark of a UNC Kenan-Flagler education, and digital marketing and the mobile web are critical to our strategy to attract the best and brightest.” Michael Schinelli, UNC Kenan-Flagler chief marketing officer, said at a New York launch event on July 29th. “The Leadership App captures our rich and comprehensive program to guide students through their leadership journey using the very latest interactive technology.”
As part of its leadership development initiative, all Kenan-Flagler MBAs take part in the school’s Leadership Immersion Capstone course, a mini-semester of content devoted exclusively to leadership development taught by Kenan-Flagler faculty and executive coaches. The new Leadership App will enhance this one-of-a-kind course as well. “The program will take students out of a classroom setting, literally, and the Leadership App will be their portal to the coursework and keep them connected with their classmates, faculty and coaches,” Storrie said.
In addition to features designed to extend the capstone course out of the classroom, the Leadership App also includes a leadership library stocked with relevant articles, blogs, video and other content produced by Kenan-Flagler and curated from other sources.
According to the school’s press release, the latest app is part of a broader mobile strategy intended to engage different groups across Kenan-Flagler. Currently available only for iPad, an iPhone version is also planned, the school reports.
The Leadership App is available for free download in the Apple Store.
