In the Classroom: Empowering Learning Through Engagement and Reflection

Teaching is more than delivering content—it's about shaping leaders who think critically and act with integrity.


 

What Teaching Means To Me:

Teaching is more than delivering content—it is a dynamic, relational process that empowers students to think critically, engage deeply, and take ownership of their learning. I view teaching as an opportunity to create an environment where students develop not only knowledge but also the skills, habits, and mindsets needed to lead, collaborate, and navigate complexity.

At the core of my teaching is a commitment to active learning. I design my courses to be interactive and experiential, ensuring that students don’t just absorb concepts but apply them in meaningful ways. Whether through team-based simulations, reflective exercises, or real-world case discussions, I encourage students to connect theory to practice and learn through doing.

I believe leadership is not about authority but about enabling others to solve problems and grow together. My approach challenges students to see themselves as contributors in a learning community—engaging in dialogue, asking thoughtful questions, and supporting one another. I hold them accountable to curiosity, presence, and respect, values that not only enrich the classroom but also shape the way they approach leadership beyond it.

Ultimately, I want my students to leave my classroom with a deeper understanding of themselves, their teams, and the systems in which they operate—equipped with the confidence to experiment, adapt, and lead with integrity in their own careers and communities.


What I’ve Learned:

Teaching has been one of my greatest learning experiences. Each class, each discussion, and each challenge has reinforced core lessons about how people learn, engage, and develop as leaders. These are some of the most valuable insights I’ve gained along the way—insights that continue to shape my teaching and my approach to leadership education.

🧠 Learning is Active, Not Passive

  • Students learn best when they engage through action, discussion, and reflection rather than just receiving information.

  • Designing interactive learning experiences—whether through simulations, real-world applications, or group projects—deepens understanding and retention.

💡 Curiosity is the Best Learning Tool

  • Encouraging questions over answers helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

  • I structure my classroom to reward inquiry, not just correctness, helping students embrace the complexity of leadership and teamwork.

👥 Teams Learn Best Together

  • The most effective learning happens in collaborative environments where students build on one another’s ideas.

  • I’ve seen firsthand how psychological safety and trust in teams enhance student engagement and make learning stick.

🛠️ Reflection is a Leadership Skill

  • Leadership development doesn’t just come from experience—it comes from reflecting on that experience.

  • I encourage students to practice structured reflection through journals, discussions, and debriefs, which enhances self-awareness and long-term learning.

 

Explore my courses;

Teaching is one of the most dynamic ways I contribute to leadership development. Whether in the university classroom, online courses, or interactive workshops, I design learning experiences that challenge assumptions, encourage reflection, and create lasting impact. Below, you'll find the courses I currently teach, including opportunities to engage with my work online.

🔹 Leading Teams: Developing as a leader (Coursera)
🎯 Challenge yourself to develop as a leader by exploring self and other awareness, decision-making, and cultivating plans for growth.
👥 Ideal for professionals at all stages and for anyone wishing to grow as a leader (offered as a graduate course, BADM 508)
📺 Learn with Coursera

🔹 Leading Teams: Building Effective Team Cultures (Coursera)
🎯 Cultivate more effective team dynamics with built in practices for fostering psychological safety and navigating change
👥 Ideal for professionals, leaders with formal authority, and anyone wishing to improve team dynamics (offered as a graduate course, BADM 508)
📺 Learn with Coursera

🔹 BUS 201 Business Dynamics (Gies College of Business)
🎯 Use complexity thinking to learn how businesses function and develop skills for building effective and ethical team cultures
👥 Core, sophomore-level, undergraduate, required course

🔹 BUS 311 Leadership and Teams (Gies College of Business)
🎯 Deepen your understanding of leader and team dynamics
👥 Summer, 8-week, online course primarily for business minors

🔹 BADM 199 Exploring Leadership: Insights from Philosophy to Pop Culture (University of Illinois Campus Honors Program)
🎯 Challenge current assumptions about the concept of leadership through a wide-ranging exploration of leadership throughout academic and professional disciplines
👥 General Education Class for the Campus Honors Program students