July 20, 2016

A new Certificate in Leadership Excellence program will be offered at the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business to equip business leaders to effect change in their organizations. Classes for the certificate program are expected to begin Sept. 8.

This program is an opportunity for business leaders to not only enhance their knowledge of leadership principles and strategies, but also to example their personal strengths and areas of improvement as leaders. The three core courses in the program help participants discover their niches as leaders in their organizations and how to efficiently lead teams to best effect change.

“These three courses have a nice story arc around understanding where you’re going, figuring out who you are as a leader and then implementing change in the organization,” said Associate Dean for Executive Development Tim Carroll.

An approach blending classroom instruction with a day of out-of-class applied work for every two days of class adds hands-on experience that sets the Moore School’s program apart from similar leadership certificates.

In addition to three required courses, certificate program participants must take two of four elective courses offered. This allows for a more personalized, diverse experience so leaders can create a curriculum that best suits their needs. The core courses can be taken individually outside the certificate program, but ideally participants will choose to take those three classes together to develop networking relationships with other business leaders in the area.

“People can hear what other organizations are going through, what they’re struggling with and what works for them,” said Angie Brown, director of programs for executive development. “It’s a really good networking opportunity.”

While the courses taught by Moore School faculty include lectures in a traditional classroom setting, the focus is on practical application of leadership principles and skills to allow participants to employ that knowledge in the work place.

“There are a lot of people who are asked to do more with less,” Carroll said. “It’s a challenging position to be in because your supervisors are telling you what the strategy is, but you’re the one making it happen. This is a valuable opportunity to pause to think through problems and learn what really works.”

The certificate program is a flexible and easy way for companies to improve the skill sets of managers or for individuals to increase personal leadership skills. The course content is also relevant to owners of small businesses. participants can complete the program in as little as nine months without having to sacrifice more than two days of work per course. There is a discounted rate available for USC alumni.

By Madeleine Vath