Latest news with #SiegfriedFellows
Technical.ly
19-05-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship Siegfried fellows meet with Vera Leung & Jim Clifton
Recently, the Siegfried Fellows program from the University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship department brought two impressive leaders to campus: Vera Leung, content and creative senior director at the International Rescue Committee, and Jim Clifton, chairman of Gallup. In their unique ways, each of them brought to the campus transformative perspectives on leadership, creativity and decision-making, leaving a lasting impact on students and faculty alike. Siegfried Fellows is a highly selective, cohort-based, 10-month immersive program for student leaders. Programming is designed to expand and deepen understanding of oneself as a leader, promote connections with and learning from regional leaders and inspire initiative for positive impact. Fellows are emerging leaders who seek to develop and apply entrepreneurial mindsets, such as resiliency in the face of setbacks and creative problem solving, while also cultivating character virtues in themselves. Vera Leung: Leading with empathy and storytelling Vera Leung's visit was a masterclass in the power of storytelling as a leadership tool. As a cause-driven creative leader, Leung emphasized the importance of crafting narratives rooted in dignity and humanity. Her work at the International Rescue Committee ensures that every data point reflects a human story, reminding leaders to center empathy in their decision-making. Leung shared how storytelling can empower not only individuals but also entire systems. 'The most compelling stories center on people's humanity,' Leung said . 'Leaders don't just amplify voices; they listen deeply and tell the truth with care.' This insight resonated deeply with attendees, particularly those aspiring to purpose-driven careers. Kayla Barr, a student who had the chance to connect with Leung over lunch, reflected on the experience: 'Hearing her story and achievements was truly inspiring and gave me valuable guidance as I plan to pursue a similar path in the future.' Jim Clifton: The science of leadership decisions Jim Clifton brought a data-driven perspective to leadership, drawing from his decades of experience at Gallup. Known for innovations like the Gallup Path and Gallup World Poll, Clifton underscored the importance of using metrics to guide decisions. He challenged attendees to think critically about how leaders can eliminate uncertainty by asking better questions and trusting data-informed intuition. 'Great leaders don't guess; they measure,' Clifton said. He encouraged students to focus on clarity by understanding what people truly need and using data to illuminate their path forward. This approach is particularly relevant in today's rapidly evolving world, where artificial intelligence and analytics are reshaping industries. Javier Cruz-Mendoza captured the essence of Clifton's message: 'I enjoyed how we spoke about our own goals to further humanity and thinking about the near future and the use of AI to help us in our leadership and entrepreneurial ventures later on in life.' Key leadership takeaways Both engagements highlighted essential qualities for effective leadership: Empathy as a foundation for leadership: Leung's emphasis on storytelling rooted in dignity reminds leaders that behind every strategy or decision is a human impact. Data-driven clarity: Clifton demonstrated that bold decisions must be informed by rigorous measurement and analysis, not guesswork. These visits exemplify the Siegfried Fellows program's mission to connect students with visionary leaders who inspire thoughtful action and meaningful change. By engaging with leaders like Vera Leung and Jim Clifton, students are equipped with tools to navigate complex challenges while staying true to their values.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
University of Delaware lands record $71.5 million donation to business school
University of Delaware just landed the largest philanthropic donation in its 282-year history. And the $71.5 million gift stands to transform its business school. Robert Siegfried Jr. and Kathleen Marie Horgan Siegfried, along with The Siegfried Group, made this gift to Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics official this week. And the couple, both alumni and supporters of the university for decades, will celebrate the gift again later this spring. President Dennis Assanis called the donation a "transformative moment" for UD. It will help create Lerner College's new "Siegfried Hall," according to an announcement from the university, to be fit with modern classrooms, research labs, a student-run café and an auditorium. The "hub of activity" will be designed to energize the academic journey for Lerner students. UD highlighted some key facets: A Student Success and Excellence Center will facilitate personal and professional development with student advising and career services. An immersive, experiential learning space will host instructional computing labs, public computing space, generative AI and more. Interactive student meeting spaces will aim to integrate technology to facilitate team projects, interdisciplinary research, case study competitions, club activities, entrepreneurial programming and remote-job interviewing. The new building will also be designed to foster a sense of community, according to UD, connecting Lerner students, faculty, staff and alumni in the "united pursuit of academic and professional aspirations." The hall will also host the new Siegfried Institute for Leadership and Free Enterprise. That "idea lab" will develop effective leadership, study the critical role "basic principles of limited government," the rule of law and free enterprise play in supporting individual freedom, UD said. The idea is, this combination of Siegfried Hall and the institute will create a powerful environment to think, learn and develop. And, such engagement will create a national profile for the institute. The university said it will commission the design process for Siegfried Hall this spring, with a goal of breaking ground within the next four years. The exact campus location will be announced later. Before this, the Siegfrieds had already committed more than $6 million to Lerner College, Horn Entrepreneurship and the Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship. That philanthropy already created the Siegfried Youth Leadership Initiative, a leadership development program designed for Delaware students in grades 8 through 12, as well as the Siegfried Fellows program, a highly selective 10-month immersive program for undergraduate student leaders. Now, Leaner College has even more fuel to serve nearly 3,300 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. Got an education story? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: UD lands record $71.5 million gift to business school
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
University of Delaware lands record $71.5 million donation to business school
University of Delaware just landed the largest philanthropic donation in its 282-year history. And the $71.5 million gift stands to transform its business school. Robert Siegfried Jr. and Kathleen Marie Horgan Siegfried, along with The Siegfried Group, made this gift to Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics official this week. And the couple, both alumni and supporters of the university for decades, will celebrate the gift again later this spring. President Dennis Assanis called the donation a "transformative moment" for UD. It will help create Lerner College's new "Siegfried Hall," according to an announcement from the university, to be fit with modern classrooms, research labs, a student-run café and an auditorium. The "hub of activity" will be designed to energize the academic journey for Lerner students. UD highlighted some key facets: A Student Success and Excellence Center will facilitate personal and professional development with student advising and career services. An immersive, experiential learning space will host instructional computing labs, public computing space, generative AI and more. Interactive student meeting spaces will aim to integrate technology to facilitate team projects, interdisciplinary research, case study competitions, club activities, entrepreneurial programming and remote-job interviewing. The new building will also be designed to foster a sense of community, according to UD, connecting Lerner students, faculty, staff and alumni in the "united pursuit of academic and professional aspirations." The hall will also host the new Siegfried Institute for Leadership and Free Enterprise. That "idea lab" will develop effective leadership, study the critical role "basic principles of limited government," the rule of law and free enterprise play in supporting individual freedom, UD said. The idea is, this combination of Siegfried Hall and the institute will create a powerful environment to think, learn and develop. And, such engagement will create a national profile for the institute. The university said it will commission the design process for Siegfried Hall this spring, with a goal of breaking ground within the next four years. The exact campus location will be announced later. Before this, the Siegfrieds had already committed more than $6 million to Lerner College, Horn Entrepreneurship and the Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship. That philanthropy already created the Siegfried Youth Leadership Initiative, a leadership development program designed for Delaware students in grades 8 through 12, as well as the Siegfried Fellows program, a highly selective 10-month immersive program for undergraduate student leaders. Now, Leaner College has even more fuel to serve nearly 3,300 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. Got an education story? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: UD lands record $71.5 million gift to business school
