“I decided to go back to school and work on obtaining a master’s degree.  While attempting to apply for the MBA at Benedictine, I learned of the MSL program.  I feel this program will benefit my interest and future goals as a woman in corporate America.  My goals are to progress my career to the next level.  I would like to use my knowledge and skills to help others in giving direction and guidance from a leadership position…I still feel that I have more to offer the world.  I have only held a leadership position as an interim manager filling in for someone who was on leave of absence.  I want to be able to delegate from a leadership position and to help give guidance and instruct others.  Obtaining my MSL will help break through the barrier that I feel is preventing me from advancing to the next level of my professional career.”

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“I feel time management is the key when trying to manage work, life and graduate school at an accelerated level.  I am really enjoying this journey.  I look forward to every class session.  I also look forward to my continued learning as I make progress towards my future.”

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“It was an extraordinary experience to be in your (the instructor’s) class.  For these two days, I learned so much from your presentation, activities even the sharing from classmates. I like your presentation, which was well prepared and informative. The attendance of this program opens me to new experience and new life…I am not only learning to know more about myself and how to be an effective leader, but I am also learning to be better in English.” 

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“The textbook and presentation material used by the instructor were great.  I appreciate her passion to teach us more and more and expect us to be better and better. Honestly, I really learned a lot and was so excited to learn new concepts and tendencies of effective leadership. This led me to evaluate what I had done imperfectly during my previous managerial role. It also caused me to think about what I should do in the future and how the concepts I learned can be actualized in the real world.”

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“In these classes, I experienced excitement, anxiety, hard work, frustration, tears and joy. I valued the process and results of knowing myself and other classmates through a series of activities.  The learning experience was unforgettable. The non-traditional classroom setting was just perfect for a lot of interaction and participation from students which provided us the chance of learning by experiencing"

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“Thank you so much for all of this information. I am soooo looking forward to this experience.  I am excited to see where this journey takes me.  I am also excited about the fact that I have recently been invited to attend the FBI National Academy in January 2011… I will be the first female from our department to attend...  I am hoping, that experience combined with the Leadership program will help me become a better leader in my field and allow me to gain the tools I need to branch out and create ways to help others become great leaders.  Your orientation was very inspiring and I hope to one day be as confident as the lion you described.  Thank you for this opportunity, your prayers, your guidance and your optimism.”

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“I cannot even begin to tell you how much it (the MSL program) is changing me as a person.  I have already taken great leaps of faith as a result of the Self-Efficacy class, and I am finding that I am becoming mentally stronger every day.  Another great thing about MSL 542 is that we are actually putting our knowledge to practical application.” 

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“…class was exhausting, exciting, overwhelming, intense, enlightening and powerful all at the same time. Is that even possible? My emotional intelligence was all over the place.  The reading material was an excellent choice for this course…. So, I'm having a great time and busy with completing assignments.”

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“Since taking the courses my staff has commented on the noticeable changes I have made as a manager and they are pleased with the changes.”

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“The MSL will assist me in pursuing professional excellence and personal development.  Lifelong learning is an expectation for my position as a registered nurse and clinical manager.   A master’s degree has become the standard for my current role as nurse manager.  The nurse manager position has developed into more of a coach and mentor role…The days have passed when technical, clinical skills were necessary qualifications for a nurse manager.  A more global view and expanded business and theoretical knowledge are needed to keep pace with increasing responsibilities.  As I reviewed the course descriptions for the MSL, I was impressed by the topics and how relevant the topics are to my current practice.  The MSL will offer the knowledge base that will enable me to become a better manager… I am confident that the MSL is a good fit and that I am a good candidate for admission.”

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“I have learned techniques and concepts that I have used in my professional life since taking this (MSL) class. This new program is a great work in progress. We are all learning.”

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“I must admit the program so far is exciting, intense, rigorous and very overwhelming to say the least.  My head has been spinning ever since our first class.  In the midst of all of that, I find the learning to be stimulating and very interesting.  I love the fact that the material and books are very current and applicable to experiences in the workplace.  I’ve been able to use some of my course learning’s and apply them to work immediately.”

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“The workload in MSL 501 has been a challenge to all of us I think… We all knew what we were getting into… I really see a difference in the way I conduct myself at work and in my personal life.  That is saying a lot knowing we are just starting our journey.”

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 “I've learned to use different leadership styles for different situations. I've learned to develop and handle my emotional intelligence in and outside of the office. The perception that I give to others is important. I have learned how to listen and communicate more effectively. I have also learned out to think and analyze situations better. I've learned to put others needs first and that it is not all about me.”

“I loved the piece on servant leadership and learned a great deal from Daft in the first class. I have learned that active listening is key!! Working on continuing to be a servant leader by placing my team first has just reassured me that I am on the right track. I truly enjoyed that course and its delivery. Being in class with some very intelligent women leaders has also helped, as their stories have been both inspirational and educational.”

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“So much! It's hard to put in words. My attitude matters more than anything else. Listening skills are huge, as well as self-efficacy and servant leadership characteristics. I have noticed an immediate change in the way I lead and in the way others "follow" me.”

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“I have learned how to be a better Servant Leader, deal with conflict, be a better negotiator and have better self awareness as well as emotional intelligence.”

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“I have used the ‘MSL’ skills and concepts in my work life - everyday. If it were not for this program, I would not be growing within my current position. Every class I take something back with me to use or perfect in my dealings with management, co-workers or employees. These same leadership concepts also help at home in dealing with my teenagers and family members.”

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“So far I have been able to apply many aspects of the “MSL’ courses. I have been able to learn more about myself thanks to the self-efficacy course and conflict resolution and negotiation has been a very informative course so far. The discussions are great.”

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“! I use the “MSL” concepts in both my personal and professional life. I have grown so much as a person in just a few short months. It's amazing.”

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“I have been able to use the leadership concepts on daily bases, inside and outside of the workplace.”

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“I will continue to take what I am learning ‘in the MSL program” and to try to utilize the concepts not only in my professional career but also in my personal life. I also would like to take these concepts and use those to mentor those I know.”

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“Since the on-set of the MSL program, I have been able to motivate and influence my team by leading by example. I am able to adapt my leadership style to fit situational needs and demonstrate courage to do what is right despite personal discomfort.”

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“Having my MSL in leadership hopefully will help me to get to the next level in management within my current company. It will also help me to fulfill my long term career goals.”

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“The MSL degree will definitely enhance my leadership skills and help me better deal with the different personalities I encounter each day. My job is full of conflict resolution and negotiating and I feel like I am being well equipped to deal with the many different scenarios I face on a daily basis. I am learning to think outside of the box as well as utilize the lessons I learn about leaders both past and present to make better decisions and help push my organization to its limits and towards success.”

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“I thoroughly enjoy how enriched my life has been by participating in the MSL courses with such motivated, dynamic and successful women. I have been truly blessed to have met and learn from some amazing instructors and guest speakers. Women learning from dynamic women can't be beat. It gives us hope and makes us proud to see and learn from women of the caliber we have had experiences with in this course. We have learned history, we have discussed current situations occurring in our workplaces and in the world that have helped us make better decisions, view things from many angles, put ourselves in others shoes and that have helped us get promotions, gain new experiences, better deal with our families and learn more about our co-workers. Some of the courses and instructors have inspired us to write, start new businesses and have boosted our self-esteem. We have been able to experience a myriad of emotions and have learned how to work through them creatively and successfully, becoming more emotionally intelligent. We have been able to celebrate being women without repercussions and judgments. We are free to discuss, explore and learn from each other and our professors and guests and have never walked away without a lesson or something to apply to our lives. We have learned to lift each other up as we climb and not tear each other down. We have learned to embrace and push one another, because we truly want each other to succeed.”

web: www.ben.edu/womensinstitute
e-mail: womensinstitute@ben.edu