Oakland University’s Leadership Development Institute graduates its first cohort, setting the stage for regional impact

In a milestone for Oakland University, the Leadership Development Institute (LDI) has officially graduated its founding cohort. This marks the successful completion of a prototype phase that brought together a diverse group of students to develop the leadership skills that employers seek in today's graduates. The awards ceremony, held on April 7, 2026, closed out a semester of workshops, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a high-stakes business case competition, setting the stage for LDI's full launch in Fall 2026.

"The rationale behind LDI is grounded in data" said Chuck Pierce, Ph.D., dean of the School of Business Administration (SBA)."Research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers identifies leadership as one of the key differentiators that employers use when choosing between equally qualified candidates. Yet, a 30-point gap exists between how employers view candidates' leadership skills and how candidates view their own leadership proficiency."

Born as a collaboration between SBA and the School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS), LDI is built around a single governing principle: leadership is not something that happens later in life. It starts now.

The winter 2026 prototype phase with a founding cohort of 21 students from both schools included the CARVE Lecture Series - five interactive sessions, each co-taught by faculty from both schools and dedicated to one leadership competency: Collaborative, Adaptable, Reflective, Visionary, and Ethical (CARVE). Students then put those competencies to the test in the Leadership Case Study Competition, where interdisciplinary teams tackled the task of creating a five-year plan for LDI.

"We didn't just talk about leadership - we actively practiced it," said Jaslyn Pham, LDI graduate and accounting major. "This experience pushed me to think faster, collaborate more effectively and lead with intention."

The semester culminated in an awards ceremony that brought together accomplished industry leaders who served as panelists and engaged directly with the cohort. Greg Smith, founder of G.R.A.C.E. Inspired Communications and leadership consultant with over 40 years of leadership at Farm Bureau of Michigan, shared his reaction: "It was an honor to be at LDI. The questions from the future leaders were insightful and left me feeling great about the future."

Ashwini Balasubramanian, vice president of Research and Development for the Transportation and Energy Business Unit at 3M, concurred with this sentiment: "I was very thankful to be part of the inaugural cohort's awards ceremony. I was impressed with the questions coming from the cohort, showing understanding of leadership and its challenges."

First place in the Leadership Case Study Competition was awarded to the team of Andrew Dikho (SECS), Rand Hakeem (SBA), Noah Nieman (SECS) and Jaslynn Pham (SBA), each earning $1,250 toward their education from LDI sponsor, The Leader Foundry. Other graduates also received various monetary awards. This moment of genuine celebration honoring student work signaled what LDI is becoming.

"This was my first experience in any kind of formal leadership program, and this ended up being one of the more valuable things I've done at OU," said Dikho, an electrical and computer engineering student, who, along with Pham, placed first in the case study competition. "Everyone came in with a different background and brought a different way of thinking, and figuring out how to work together instead of just dividing tasks, was its own lesson."

Eli D'Souza, who also majors in electrical and computer engineering, agreed: "I gained valuable insights into leadership, especially through learning the CARVE model, which challenged me to think more intentionally about how I lead and work with others."

The intent behind the prototype phase was deliberate: validate the program model, test the interdisciplinary teaching format, collect student feedback on each CARVE competency, and produce case study presentations demonstrating applied leadership thinking. With the prototype validated, LDI is now preparing for its full launch in Fall 2026 with a refined model and a five-year scaling plan. In the next five years, LDI aspires to become a structured environment where Oakland University students and regional industry professionals develop as leaders together.

Timothy Herrick, LDI director and founder of The Leader Foundry, described the idea of a blended cohort that places industry and academia in the same developmental experience: "Sponsoring companies play an active role in the LDI experience - their representatives engage with the cohort throughout the CARVE Workshop Series and Leadership Lab simulations, bring a real-world organizational challenge to life through the case study, and participate in the evaluation of student teams at the Case Study Presentations. In return, sponsors gain meaningful visibility into OU's emerging and highly talented student pipeline."

For an even more completive edge, LDI works on introducing a digital badge, a verified electronic credential certifying a specific set of leadership competencies, which LDI graduates will receive in addition to monetary awards toward their OU education. The new Ambassadors Program, comprised of the founding cohort graduates, will assist with program operations, new cohort selection, and peer mentoring.

"By building leaders who can navigate the intersection of technical expertise and business judgment, LDI directly advances OU's mission to deliver an education that is both academically excellent and economically transformative for the region it serves," said Louay Chamra, Ph.D., dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science.

"By its very concept, LDI answers Southeast Michigan's call for leaders capable of thriving amid tech disruptions and economic shifts," added Arina Bokas, SECS and LDI marketing director. "This is applied leadership education - and it starts at Oakland University."

The Year 1 (2026-2027) LDI timeline includes website launch in July 2026, applications portal opening in October 2026, interviews and participant selection in November and December 2026, the Lecture Series and Leadership Lab workshops in January and February 2027, the case study in March 2027, and the Summit and Awards Ceremony in April 2027.

Follow LDI on LinkedIn for the most up-to-date information on the program, applications, and events. For questions, contact the Leadership Development Institute at LDI@ oakland.edu.