MAOL Program Overview
MAOL Curriculum
Leadership is, before all, a process of coming to discovery through discovery. The MAOL synthesizes real-time case methodology with each candidate’s leadership initiative. The MAOL is a framework for creativity through which to explore and implement new learning strategies.
In applying learning to their leadership initiatives, candidates invariably make meaningful discoveries about their unique leadership capacities. These discoveries are documented and applied in residential sessions to educate the other members of the cohort. Over time and with practice provided by MAOL faculty, candidates develop the skills to transfer distinctions in leadership to others in ways that invite new leaders to emerge in their organizations.
Through reading materials, class time, and the structuring and execution of the independent initiative, MAOL supports candidates in discovery of new leadership skills that are directly applicable to real-world environments.
The first MAOL session consists of five faculty-taught days – stretch of program time unique in that the candidates themselves join faculty in defining the learning in all subsequent sessions. Across the following six sessions candidates work alongside faculty to educate the cohort – they share and discuss what has been learned and seen throughout their direct experience with designing and executing their independent leadership initiatives.
Class Work
In MAOL, discovery is both the journey and the destination. Faculty members with diverse backgrounds that range from change evolution theory to psychology lead MAOL candidates in discussing reading materials, analyzing situations, and deconstructing learning experiences garnered during implementation of the independent initiative.
Class time is, above all, an opportunity to gather the cohort in order to learn from one another’s initiatives, report progress, and document change. Candidates will be offered no answers, but confronted with a form of learning that comes through deep inquiry; it is the learner’s prerogative to uncover effective, inspiring ways to address the queries that shape the MAOL experience.
Independent Initiatives
Each candidate will architect and execute his or her own independent initiative with the intent of creating not simply a result, but a breakthrough. This initiative is not a secret to be unveiled at the end of a long process: it must be declared and claimed by each candidate within his or her workplace before the start of the program. The candidate will require the support and the participation of his or her colleagues to draw forth the initiative from the realm of possibility to reality. This process confers learning on a prospective, real-time case study and leadership initiative.
MAOL faculty from all three disciplines – business, consultancy and development – will work with candidates on their projects and provide coaching and guidance. After the first session, the bulk of residential class time is devoted to deconstructing, analyzing and advancing the momentum of the independent project in consultation with the cohort.
Over the course of the program’s 18 months, candidates produce measurable results, both qualitative and quantitative, the value of which far exceeds the cost of participation. The outcomes that we have seen are inspiring and often astounding.
Course Resources:
Course Description (pdf)
Suggested Reading (pdf)