Give a round of applause to our Summer 2020 Online Leadership Challenge winner: PAVANKUMAR UMASHANKAR!!! Pavankumar is an incoming first year student majoring in Chemical Engineering.

He has this to say about the challenge: “Reflecting back on the challenge, I have realized that I can engage in meaningful & effective conversations when I dedicate the time & effort. I have also realized that I haven't fully explored some components of one's social identity, like religion & spirituality, and hope to work on them in the future. And most importantly, I have been able to identify my core values, and hope to conduct my life accordingly. By understanding myself better through exploration of my values, goals, responsibilities and abilities, and through exploration of leadership themes, I believe I can make a positive impact at UMBC in the years to come.”

Congratulations again, Pavankumar! We look forward to seeing you and all that you’ll do during your time here at UMBC!

To all of our CHALLENGERS who participated and engaged with us: Thank you for taking on the challenge and contributing to the conversation! We hope that you discovered, or even rediscovered, the leader within you! The personal insights you shared and your inquiring minds were invaluable to the experience. We hope to see y’all at our upcoming leadership programs! Make sure to follow our myUMBC page and Instagram page @umbccampuslife to stay tuned for more leadership development opportunities to come. 

Now that we’re at the end of our challenge, we will go over some suggestions for practice. But first, I want to take a moment to tie the loop and talk about Emotionally Intelligent Leadership (EIL). This leadership development model combines two bodies of literature: emotional intelligence and leadership. At the most basic levels: Emotional intelligence is about recognizing and regulating emotions in ourselves and others. Leadership is about influencing others to engage in a purpose or cause.

EIL consists of focusing on self, others, and context— using these facets helped create the Online Leadership Challenge topics; self-development, feedback, identity, values, followership, partnerships and teams, and creating change. The following suggestions for practice will touch on all the topics we went over together throughout the challenge: 

1. Get to know YOU: Be known as someone who seeks out, and is open to, feedback. Exist in a continuous state of reflection.

2. Seek out challenge and support:Associate with people who challenge and support you. Seek out environments that will help you grow and that help you become your best self.

3. Nurture your relationships: Once you create a connection, you must continue to nurture the relationship so that it strengthens. The best way to do this is by listening and being present.

4. Communication is key: Consider the ways you communicate within a group or team. Do you voice your ideas? Do you build on or add to others? Do you take time to listen? Are you comfortable with silence?

5. Know that we all have a part in the leadership process:Active group members are committed to the organization and its purpose. Not only do they do what is expected of them, but are proactive and willing to fill gaps. 

6. You have the capacity to be an agent of change: It requires embracing creative problem solving, risk taking and courage. Facilitating change requires all that you do, think, feel and believe.

Day 8 Challenge Questions:

• Reflecting back on the challenge, what are three things you learned about yourself or your ability to work with others to make change at UMBC?

Reminder: The deadline to submit all answers is 11:59pm Friday, August 14th! The winner of the challenge will be announced on Monday, August 17th!

Interested in continuing your leadership learning process with Campus Life and being added to our mailing-list to receive leadership development updates and opportunities? Contact Coordinator for Leadership, Beatriz Gutierrez-Malagon at bgutierrez@umbc.edu

To access the Challenge Guidelines click on the "Download Image" button below. To provide your answers using mobile, follow and share your comments on the Challenge Day 8 posted on the Campus Life Instagram (@umbccampuslife). Visit the Online Leadership Challenge page to access all the Challenge Day posts and for more information.