Exploring leadership outside the classroom

What does an expedition through the high mountain terrain of the Canadian Rockies have in common with leading a company? For five days and four nights, Haskayne students find out on the Haskayne Undergraduate Leadership Expedition course.

Running in its second year in a row, the Haskayne Leadership Expedition is a unique and experiential field course that helps student develop the leadership skills and qualities needed in an ever changing business world. Students are taken out of the comfort of their classroom and are challenged as a team to guide their way safely and efficiently through an unfamiliar and unpredictable mountain terrain.

Lianne Delarosbil, a fourth year accounting student, went on the most recent expedition during the fall 2015 Block Week. Although having no experience in backpacking before, her enthusiasm for the outdoors and the opportunity to get hands-on training in leadership drew her to take the course.

“When I was leading previously, I would think a little more of myself than the team as a whole and doing the expedition really gave me a good understanding of how important your team is. I was really surprised to see how important the team dynamic was especially during the situations we were put in,” reflects Lianne when asked about how she leads now after her experience. “It’s not about the leader, but the team.”

Ultimately, the course aims to develop the way students communicate and provide feedback, become more self-aware of their environment, build and maintain effective team culture, tap into their personal authenticity and learn to make key decisions during difficult situations. It is designed for students committed in developing themselves as leaders and although it is intense and challenging, no previous outdoor experience is required.

“Everything that happened is more than I could have imagined. It was a really surreal experience. I would recommend it to anyone,” says Delarosbil. “It was life changing.”

Find out more about the Haskayne Leadership Expedition.