The Leadership Institute at Harvard College

LIHC Spring 2010 Application

Due January 31^st at midnight to comp@harvardleadership.org

Dear Applicant,

We are thrilled that you are interested in becoming a member of the Leadership Institute at Harvard College (LIHC). Our team is devoted to fostering leadership skills and values among Harvard undergraduates and other aspiring students who will take the lead in tackling tomorrow’s challenges. By providing skill-building programs, channels for collaboration, and leadership resources, we aim to inspire and empower students to fulfill their leadership potential at Harvard, in their communities, and in their world.

We offer a number of diverse committees that we hope will fit your various interests. They are: (1) The Leadership Development Initiative, (2) The Presidents’ Forum, (3) The Harvard Undergraduate Leadership Magazine, (4) Social Outreach, and (5) External Relations. Below are brief descriptions and position openings for each committee. Our team seeks to attract only the best and most passionate students on campus. While being a part of LIHC requires great commitment and dedication, we believe that this work will be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience for you. Please let us know if you have any questions by e-mailing (comp@harvardleadership.org) or visiting our website at www.harvardleadership.org. Thank you!

v The Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) invites the most prominent and well-respected leaders in business, government, and the non-profit sectors to share their knowledge and lessons to Harvard undergraduates. It carries out the majority of LIHC’s programs geared towards all students at Harvard College. LDI’s mission is to provide Harvard undergraduates with the tools necessary to lead effectively in their lives here on campus and beyond. It offers speaker events, workshops, and long-term initiatives. In the past, the committee has invited leaders such as David Gergen, Special Advisor to four US Presidents, and Bill George, the former CEO of Medtronic. More examples can be found on our LIHC website. As a member, you will work as a part of a highly collaborative and effective team to plan and deliver professional and impactful programs to the Harvard community. Not only will you create real value for others, you will develop valuable skills applicable to your career.

o Positions available: LDI Committee Member

v The Presidents’ Forum (TPF) promotes communication and collaboration among student leaders at Harvard, enabling them to share leadership experiences and best-practices. This empowers TPF’s target audience to take full advantage of the incredible potential that lies within the Harvard student body. TPF coordinates a series of discussion forums related to specific themes, such as sports, science and media, to tailor its resources to the leadership needs of specific groups and organizations. Each discussion is moderated by a leader eminent in the field hosted by the forum. The committee maintains key relations with the Undergraduate Council and the Office of Student Life in order to provide its programming. As a member, you will work with a dynamic and entrepreneurial team to bring student leaders together. You will receive the opportunity to interact with admired student leaders on campus, and thus learn from their experiences and expertise.

o Positions available: TPF Committee Member

v The Harvard Undergraduate Leadership Magazine (HULM) addresses a need for more leadership resources and training among Harvard undergraduates. The magazine seeks to introduce students to various interpretations of leadership and to provide concrete knowledge so individuals can become better leaders for society. In the spirit of our philosophy that the best way to teach leadership is to demonstrate it, the magazine illustrates effective leadership skills, habits, and values while profiling leaders and the rich lessons offered by their experience. We hope our publication will become a fundamental resource at Harvard for students aiming to strengthen their leadership abilities. The magazine distributes over 2,000 copies per edition and all content is designed, written, and managed by students. It is developed with the full support of the Office of Student Life, and has formed partnerships with many graduate schools and other Ivy League universities to expand content and audience. Members of HULM will have the chance to work with senior executives and directors from every field, free access to HBS leadership trainings, and a chance to grow a magazine of great potential.

o Positions available: *Editor-in-Chief, designer, and staff writers

v The Social Outreach committee works to instill in youth the requisite values, skills and confidence to be leaders and accomplish positive change in their schools, communities, and the world. We have partnered with Citizen Schools to develop a leadership program to be taught in middle schools across the country. Currently, we deliver our leadership curriculum to 16 at-risk middle school students each Tuesday from 2-4pm at the Edwards School in Charlestown. Our work is guided by three core objectives: (1) to reinforce in young people’s minds that they have the ability to lead and to help them realize their own potential, (2) to build a powerful pool of leaders among minority groups that will ensure that their communities have effective agents of development, and (3) to increase high school and university graduation rates among students from low-income areas. As a member, you will join a highly motivated and dedicated team of students working to develop effective solutions to improve the world and to train future leaders. In the process, you will gain experience in the public sector, learn effective teaching techniques, and will acquire practical leadership skills.

o Positions available: SO Committee Members

v The External Relations Committee connects the Leadership Institute at Harvard College with the people and resources of the world beyond Harvard. Leading the organization’s strategic development initiatives, the Committee ensures financial sustainability and institutional growth. The responsibilities of External Relations include fundraising, managing the Institute’s finances, building strategic partnerships with alumni, speakers, and other organizations, raising ad revenues for our magazine, and launching a host of new strategic initiatives.  You will receive significant business experience, exposure to leaders in every realm of public life, and incredible leadership opportunities.

o Positions available: ER Committee Members

v Personal Leadership Mentor

o The Leadership Institute is one of the only student organizations that coordinates personal Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School,Harvard Kennedy School, and Harvard Medical School students on leadership skills, personal development and career advice. Each mentor is selected through a rigorous process by the Board of Advisors and Faculty advisors.

v Leadership Training

o LIHC offers exclusive training sessions with distinguished Harvard and MIT Professors, professional leadership consultants and real-world business/medical/law/non-profit leaders.

o The only professional and curriculum-based leadership program within a Harvard student organization.

v Exclusive Access to Events

o Members will have behind-the-scenes access to specific events with dynamic speakers and teachers. These includes private meals and distinguished guests (e.g. Secretary of the Navy, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, world leaders in the non-profit sector)

v Dinners/Outings

o Join in on the social side of leading with LIHC’s social events and special meals to reinforce that leadership is also about forming personal relationships. LIHC is a well-knit community.

v Personal Website/Printed Materials

o Your name and biography will appear on the prominent LIHC website, Harvard’s unofficial homepage for leadership-related information. Our website gets over 10,000 unique visits every month.

v Work and grow with a strong team

o You will have the opportunity to work with passionate students and develop leadership ‘on the job’ as a member of LIHC.

Spring 2010 Application

Please answer the following questions in a Word document.

Name:

Year:

Concentration:

Mailing Address:

Desired Position:

Second Choice: (Optional)

Short Essays: (Limit answers to 250 words)

1. Please elaborate on your interests in the Leadership Institute at Harvard College and what contributions you could bring to the organization. Please be specific in your answer.

2. Pick one or two experiences where you served as a leader and discuss your value to the group, assessing both strengths and weaknesses.

3. *(Only for those applying for Magazine Editor-in-Chief position): Please talk about your experience and interest in publications, and what you intend to do with the magazine?

Please attach a resume to your application.

Due by midnight of Sunday, January 31^st.

Questions and applications should be sent to:

Comp@HarvardLeadership.org