E-Lead is a three-year, curricular innovation leadership development program for undergraduate students across all disciplines at Marquette. Students earn academic credit for their participation in the E-Lead program. 

E-Lead Themes

Innovation leaders are self-aware, committed to their core values, and motivated to develop the mindset, skills and behaviors required to effectively lead with others. 

Innovation leaders inspire, empower, listen to and collaborate with others to solve problems and create value.

Innovation leaders create value because they have a growth mindset, bring talented and diverse perspectives together, and relentlessly pursue new and better ways of solving problems.

E-Lead Experiential Learning

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Innovation Leadership Courses 

E-Lead students develop their leadership values, beliefs, knowledge, skills and behaviors through the classroom and experiential learning opportunities listed below. To accommodate as many class schedules as possible, E-Lead courses are typically held on Friday afternoons. 

Seminar Courses
Foundations of Leadership in Individual Development (2 cr.)
Leading With Others (2 cr.)
Leading Innovation (2 cr.)

Experiential Courses
Professional Leadership Experience (1 cr.)
Explorations in Innovation Leadership Practice (2 cr.)
E-Lead Capstone (3 cr.)

Weeklong, intensive leadership development opportunity

The E-Lead Program hosts the Institute™, a six-day program, in partnership with LeaderShape Inc.

The Institute challenges participants to lead with integrity while working toward a vision grounded in their deepest values. As well as having the opportunity to develop leadership skills, participants praise the Institute as a time of great introspection. 

The program content of the Institute reflects key leadership concepts of vision, partnerships, integrity and results. Students grow in their confidence and identity as leaders and begin to make a tremendous impact on the Marquette and surrounding community as a result of participating in the Institute™. 

Skill-building workshops

Students in the E-Lead program participate in highly interactive, engaging and energizing daylong workshops each year: 

  • Building resilience (Year 1)
  • Having difficult conversations (Year 2)
  • Fostering innovation through leadership (Year 3)

Industry co-op, internship, research, clinical or other professional experience

E-Leaders are required to participate in a professional industry experience (i.e., co-op, internship, research, clinical, etc.). During these experiences, students observe and reflect on their experience through the program's leadership themes. Upon completion of the experience, students enroll in GEEN 3990: Professional Leadership Practice, a one-credit experiential leadership course. The purpose of the course is to provide students with the opportunity to reflect on their professional experience and integrate lessons learned into their future leadership and innovation practice. 

Leader shadow experience

The Leader Shadow experience is an integral component of the E-Lead program. During GEEN 3959: Explorations in Leadership Practice, students shadow two influential leaders in a company. By spending "a day in the life" of two industry leaders, students observe different leadership styles, learn various approaches and practices to leaderhsip and enhance their capacity and efficacy as leaders.