Have you ever considered developing your leadership skills through communication, empowering, self-awareness, compassion and community building? Then you will definitely want to look at the Gustie in Ongoing Leadership Development (G.O.L.D.) program. This program has been offered in the past; however, recently it’s been developed into a stronger course. The creators, Assistant Director of Student Activites Andrea Junso and Adam Toppin ‘10, spent a year developing a more engaging and rewarding program for students of all majors.

Senior Management Major Megan Lundgren is currently the intern in charge of launching the new G.O.L.D. program. Lundgren, Junso and Toppin,were able to collaborate to create a College Servant Leadership Model that characterizes lifelong leadership skills. The leadership experience provides exposure to Gustavus’s top five core values: Service, Faith, Community, Justice and Excellence.

“This year’s G.O.L.D. is different. It is much more involved and geared toward not only improving your personal leadership skills but also learning something about yourself and exploring what it means to be a leader,” Lundgren said.

These goals are achieved through seven learning outcomes, which are: crucial thinking to solve problems through the influence of others, the capability to function independently, acknowledging one’s own abilities, comprehensive leadership through philosophy, undertaking one’s achievements, identifying one’s self and acknowledgement of social change. Along with discovering strengths and leadership style within themselves, students can get help with resumes or with building their resumes from what they learned in the courses. Some of the courses being offered in program are “Bronze, Silver and Gold: Strengths Quest,” “The Value of Difference,” “Making a Value Statement—Who are you?”, “Talk the Talk-Effective Communication” and “The Five Practices of Exemplary Leaders.”

“Each level digs a little deeper into the individual and helps them uncover a little more about their own leadership style and philosophy. These courses are taught by faculty and staff here at Gustavus,” Lundgren said.

The G.O.L.D. program is open to all students, and all are highly encouraged to stop by. Students do not need to worry about taking the courses in any order; they are freely allowed to take any class that they are interested in. “We want the course to be something students want to attend and really get something out of,” Lundgren said.

If you would like to join or you are just interested in learning more, the G.O.L.D. kickoffs are Oct. 5, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. and Oct. 8, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Anderson Social Science Center. Students will learn more at the kickoff about how to join the program. Students can expect the courses to be short, involved and geared toward students majors. Students only need to attend one of the two kick-off courses and will be informed of everything they need to know about the G.O.L.D. program.