A new initiative to continue creating the leaders Wisconsin has become known for recently has been established within the School of Business. One current and four former Accenture senior executives provided the financial support to endow the Accenture Leadership Center. Four of the five donors are alumni of the School of Business: Bob Christianson, MBA ’71; Chris Kozina, BBA ’92; Glenn Timmerman, BBA ’72, MS ’73; and Jim Wierzba, MBA ’79. John Leffin has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from UW-Oshkosh.
“The Leadership Center will give Accenture an opportunity to be more actively involved on campus while directly contributing to students’ future success,” said Kozina, active Accenture partner. “Employers want to hire students who have not only leadership potential, but demonstrated leadership experience, and the Accenture Leadership Center offers students a path to develop hands-on leadership skills, going beyond traditional student opportunities.”
The Center’s philosophy is that leadership can be taught, and the Center provides students a unique curriculum in a learning laboratory atmosphere where they can practice leadership skills before utilizing them in their careers.
“I know I will be faced with situations that are going to be hard to deal with in my future career," said School of Business senior Jen Zaidel, one of the students who has been active in the Center since it opened its doors. "I want to have an opportunity to practice my leadership skills before I have to put them into action."
Included in the Center curriculum are mentoring opportunities, role playing, workshops and leadership speakers. In addition, the Center provides a generous subsidy so students have an opportunity to participate in the six-day, national Leadershape Institute for almost no cost.
According to retired partner Christianson, “Giving back is a very important leadership quality. Part of our role in the Accenture Leadership Center is to act as leaders and role models the students can emulate.”
The ultimate goal of the Accenture Leadership Center is to produce students who will graduate more inspired, more confident and with leadership skills that will benefit their companies and communities. Employers should also benefit from this one-of-a kind program through the uniquely trained and prepared students they will recruit.
“We want to ensure that Wisconsin’s production of more S&P 500 CEOs than any other university is a trend that continues,” said Glenn Timmerman, “We believe the Accenture Leadership Center is a key tool in ensuring that this happens.”
