Learning to Lead with Impact: A Process in Self-Growth

11 PM, an hour before I was about to turn 26, I sat on a cozy chair and began reflecting on my journey in 2025. I looked back at my notes from the previous year and realized that I had not only achieved what I wrote down, but I had also observed myself growing bolder and more confident thanks to the experiences I had through the MS in Innovation & Management (MSIM) program. In just four months, the class that had the most significant impact on me and helped me become a better version of myself was Leadership for Impact, taught by Professor Stacy H. Lennon. 

To me, Professor Lennon is a role model who truly helped me reflect on the ways I was a quiet voice in class. Through her lectures, I gradually adapted to working in dynamic teams and gained a clear vision of the leader I am becoming in the future. I sincerely admire the way she professionally balances work and life, connects students to make her lectures more interactive, supports the development of a growth mindset, and demonstrates how to negotiate and handle difficult situations in a convincing manner. 

How do you deal with hard conversations? How do you recover faster after receiving constructive feedback? How do you speak up? The answers to these questions often involve a growth mindset. I realized how essential it is to maintain psychological safety, “go to the balcony” to observe situations objectively, and engage in adaptive learning. 

Leadership for Impact is more than just a course about leadership theory; it became a journey of self-growth for me. 

Before taking this class, I thought leadership mainly came from confidence, knowledge, and the capability to guide and persuade a large group of people. Throughout the semester, I realized that leadership is also about how you handle pressure, how willing you are to change, and how you treat people with patience and empathy. My understanding of leadership evolved through this process of self-growth. 

I became more aware of how I show up in teams and classes. I tended to be a quieter voice, especially when I was not fully confident about the topic, fearful of public speaking, or when I felt others had more expertise. In the past, I hesitated to share my perspectives as I was not confident about myself.  

I am not able to change my past experiences; however, I am able to change my future by growing in the present. 

Leadership for Impact helped me understand that my perspectives are valuable and worth sharing based on my experiences. I was encouraged by Professor Lennon, who helped me see that I add value to discussions. Active listening, observing, asking clarifying questions, and sharing ideas are also meaningful ways to support a team. My confidence in speaking up is being built in my own way. Since then, I have been gradually learning how to create impact in my future teams and communities. 

Moreover, the case studies we discussed in class strengthened my leadership toolkit. One case study that particularly impressed me involved a financial negotiation between two parties over the purchase of a radio station. Professor Lennon represented her party and thoroughly challenged us as buyers not to lower the price or take control of the company without a proper and convincing reason. Her persuasive approach showed me the art of negotiation in action. Through these discussions, I learned how to think from different perspectives and recognize how individual actions can impact an entire team or organization. Over time, I realized that learning truly happens through discussion and reflection. 

Negotiation is about understanding your value and communicating it persuasively. Building on the negotiation case study, the salary negotiation lecture stood out to me the most. Previously, I was not fully prepared for salary conversations. Learning how to research market-based salaries and set a salary floor, target, and aspiration helped me feel more confident and ready for necessary negotiations in my future career. 

Beyond negotiation, I learned that feedback can strengthen trust and team performance when it is delivered with empathy and clarity. In team settings, I practiced being open to feedback and adjusting myself when needed. I learned to recover optimistically and focus on self-growth. As a result, better communication and harmony developed within the team. 

Every lecture in Leadership for Impact provided me with practical tools that I know I will apply to make a positive impact in my life. I changed the way I define leadership, realizing that growth comes from stepping out of my comfort zone and being willing to change to become a better version of myself. I am grateful for all the lectures, discussions, and reflections I gained from Professor Lennon’s Leadership for Impact class.  

To me, leading with impact is a self-growth process, in which I am becoming a more confident, empathetic, and influential leader. 

What does leading with impact mean to you?