GLI Leadership Development Opportunities

The Russell G. Hamilton Graduate Leadership Institute (GLI) helps students identify their strengths and areas for development, set goals, and create a plan to achieve those goals through 1:1 coaching and leadership skills workshops.

Programs

ELEVATE: Enhancing Leadership through Exploration, Vision, Awareness, Teamwork, & Empowerment

 Leadership Development for Graduate Students

In Spring 2024, the GLI launched a new cohort-based leadership program, ELEVATE: Enhancing Leadership through Exploration, Vision, Awareness, Teamwork, & Empowerment.  Throughout this program, students will gain insights into who they are as leaders and have the opportunity to grow as effective communicators. Upon completion, participants will:

    • Have a greater self-awareness of their habits, strengths, and areas of growth as a leader.
    • Intentionally practice leadership and communication skills and strategies.
    • Have greater confidence in their ability to take on leadership roles.

Applications are available annually for this unique interdisciplinary learning experience for graduate students. 

Strengths®-based Leadership Coaching

GLI provides graduate students with the opportunity to tap into and explore their natural talents using one-on-one strengths-based coaching with the CliftonStrengths® Assessment.

Research shows that when we intentionally apply our talents, we become more confident, happy, energetic, and likely to achieve our goals. The Clifton Strengths Assessment is a tool developed by The Gallup Organization. Understanding our natural talents and how they manifest in our behavior helps us achieve greater self-awareness, a fundamental component of emotional intelligence and a core leadership competency.

Schedule your coaching appointment for a free CliftonStrengths® Assessment code. After completing the assessment, you can meet with a Strengths Certified Coach to explore new ways of applying your strengths. These one-on-one coaching sessions will provide you with a safe and supportive space to ask questions and collaborate.

GLI Leadership Workshop Series

GLI hosts Leadership Workshops every semester that empower graduate students to develop their own definition of leadership and learn about their own leadership style. These workshops broaden students' skill sets and perspectives, providing training that gives them a competitive edge in their post-graduation careers.

The Spring 2024 workshops focus on external funding. Sessions offered and registration links are below.

  • Applying for Grants and Fellowship: February 7

    Learn more about funding sources and timelines for commons fellowships. 

    Facilitated by Whitney Taylor and Elizabeth Lambert from the Career Center.

    February 7 from 12-1 p.m.

    Central Library, 800BB

    Register Here. 

  • Utilizing Library Resources: February 21

    Learn more about library resources and resources on campus to help you apply for external funding opportunities.

    Facilitated by Melissa Mallon and Leslie Foutch from the University Libraries. 

    February 21 from 12-1 p.m.

    Central Library, 800BB

    Register Here.

These workshops are open to all graduate school students (PhD, MA, MFS, MLAS & MS) and postdocs. Spaces are limited, and registration is required.

Looking for Leadership Opportunities on Campus?

There are lots of opportunities on campus for graduate students to develop their skills, including public speaking, critical thinking and leadership opportunities. 

  • Leadership Roles

    Graduate Student Council (GSC)

    The Graduate Student Council (GSC) exists to enhance the overall educational experience at Vanderbilt University by promoting the general welfare and concerns of the Graduate School student body. This is achieved through the creation of new programs and initiatives to provide opportunities for growth and interaction, as well as through communication with the Vanderbilt faculty and administration on behalf of graduate students. The GSC consists of elected representatives, standing committees, and an annually elected executive board.  

    Department Representative 

    Every academic department has a department representative role. In this position, each student has several responsibilities, including working alongside the Graduate Student Council, planning departmental events, etc.   

    Turner Family Center Student Board 

    The Turner Family Center Board is a graduate student-led executive board housed out of the Turner Family Center for Social Ventures (TFC). The TFC is committed to developing socially and environmentally conscious leaders and doers. This group of student leaders guides all the work at the center, including the collection and dissemination of resources and opportunities to leverage and combine the individual strengths of Vanderbilt University graduate students, faculty, and business partners. The board is supported by student committees, TFC staff, and an advisory board. Together, they strategize and execute TFC programs and initiatives throughout the year.  

    Check out AnchorLink for additional student organizations: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organizations https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organizations

  • Public Speaking

    TedX

    Tedx extends the mission of TED to communities around the globe through TEDx events. These events include live speakers and recorded TED talks that encourage the sharing of new ideas and research by passionate individuals seeking to spark conversation in their communities.  

    3MT

    The Three minute Thesis competition, or 3MT, is a competition for doctoral students held annually in more than 200 universities worldwide, including Vanderbilt University. It challenges participants to present their research to a non-specialist audience in just 180 seconds. This experience not only helps participants develop presentation, research, and academic communication skills but also supports the development of research students’ capacity to explain their work in an effective yet engaging way. 

  • Case Competitions for Graduate Students 

    Case competitions are a great opportunity for graduate students to expand their network, apply their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills to real-world problems, and gain critical skills: negotiation, analysis, teamwork, time management, decision-making, and defending and challenging viewpoints. At Vanderbilt, there are several opportunities throughout the year to participate in case competitions with your peers on campus and around the globe. 

    Fall

    Hult Prize

    The Hult Prize is a global competition for graduate students to develop a business solution to a pressing challenge. Hosted by VU Center for Entrepreneurship at the Owen School of Management in the fall, participants commit 1-2 hrs/week to programming and up to 5 additional hours of group work. Time commitment may increase slightly while finalizing the group pitch.

    Spring 

    Map the System

    Map the System is a global competition that teaches students how to address complex social and environmental issues. At Vanderbilt, students are given an 8-week systems thinking course in the spring term. They present their findings at the annual Vanderbilt University competition. By participating, students will gain insight, learn to develop solutions, improve their skills, build relationships, and compete for an opportunity to represent Vanderbilt at the Map the System Global Finals held at the University of Oxford.

    Vanderbilt Global Health Case Competition

    The Vanderbilt Global Health Case Competition engages students in real-world global health challenges by exposing them to diverse factors that impact decision-making. Participants from all departments of the university work in multidisciplinary, multi-school teams to develop innovative solutions to complex problems within proposed budgetary constraints. The winning team receives a cash prize and represents Vanderbilt University at the annual Emory International Global Health Case Competition in Atlanta, GA.