Hi 2024 UGBA 194 class,

First off I want to welcome each of you to UGBA 194 (Sec. 2) Colloquium on Leadership: Leadership by Persuasion (that’s a mouthful!)  

This note will serve as both an introduction and the syllabus. I know this a long, but please read it all so you have the appropriate expectations for the course. Hopefully, this answers all your questions.  If not, feel free to email me at dougleeds@berkeley.edu. 

The first class will be on 1/17 and will be, like the entire course, in person (though some speakers may well Zoom In).  We will be meeting in Cheit Hall C230. The last class will be on 3/20.

SPEAKER FORMAT:

As most of you know (I hope), the format of the class is a speaker series.  Most classes will have two speakers, each speaking for approximately an hour. We have some really incredible speakers lined up, including the CEOs of Reddit!   

The reason these incredibly busy people are taking the time to come to class is to meet you, so it’s super important that you attend class and are respectful. That doesn’t mean you can’t challenge them or ask them tough questions.  In fact, please do!  Just be respectful!

GRADING:

This is a P/NP class, which is awesome for all of us, because we can enjoy the material and the speakers without worrying about grades.  That said, you do need to "Pass" each of the three components of the course to pass the class: 1) attendance and in-class work; 2) homework; and 3) final exam.  Don't worry--you will pass (if you try).  Let me describe a bit more about each component.

ATTENDANCE:

Haas suggested we use this 2-hour, ½-semester format and it seemed to work well the past four years, so I said: let’s do it again!  I hope you like it (and I’d love your feedback at the end), but it does mean that there is a premium on attendance, because if you miss a class, you’re actually missing 2 classes.  As a result of the ½ semester format, and the fact that it is a speaker series, attendance is mandatory. Being present, physically as well as mentally, is really my biggest ask and your primary responsibility for the course.  My ability to get interesting and high-profile speakers all depends on you showing up and being engaged. As a result, if you come to class and pay attention, it’s going to be very hard to fail this class. If you miss class, it’s going to be hard to pass.  I will be taking attendance each hour, twice per class (more on that below), and missing more than one class (or two speakers) will endanger your "P" grade, which nobody wants at all.  

IN-CLASS WORK:

At the end of each speaker’s talk, and before the end of the next day, you must fill out a very short google form (See Attendance Form section of this site) which will ask you for your name and an acknowledgment or an appreciation for each speaker. This is just a short note, addressed to the speaker, about what you enjoyed or interested you about their talk, or what inspired you, or what frustrated you, or what you agree with or disagree with. (This should be your opinion, not class notes or an outline of their talk.)

I will use these notes for two purposes:

First, I will use them to take attendance. (Please use your official Berkeley name, the one that shows up on my roster, so I can accurately mark you present.)

Second, I will be giving these notes to the speakers in a scrapbook as a way for each of them to remember and enjoy their experience coming to Haas. Accordingly, while I won’t be grading these notes other than using them for attendance, I ask that you write something respectful (even if it’s respectful disagreement), and something you are willing to share with the speaker.  

HOMEWORK:

I will generally assign some light reading for each class to give you some background on the speaker. I don’t anticipate the reading will take more than 20-30 minutes a week (per speaker), but it is very important that you read the material because I want you to be familiar with the speakers and ready to ask questions of them. Your questions are what will make this class great, so I’m counting on you to be prepared.  Along these lines, I may (still deciding) ask that you contribute questions in advance. We’ll play this one by ear. If I do ask for this, I’ll give you fair warning.

In addition, I am assigning you an online lecture series via Coursera called Leadership Through Social Influence.  REALLY IMPORTANT: This course can be accessed for FREE.  I put instructions on how to do so here.  The entire lecture series is about 100 minutes (at normal speed, but I like to speed it up a bit), and you can put it on your phone and listen to it while you take a walk, work out, or make dinner if you'd like--there's really nothing visual going on in the video.  You will then watch some other short videos and analyze them using the structure of the lecture series.   That's really it.  Not bad IMO.

FINAL EXAM:

The final exam for this class will be a take home exam, due date TBD. It will be no more than 2 hours long (and it may well be shorter). 

As for the content of the final exam, importantly, nothing from IN CLASS will be on the final exam. (Wait, what?!) You read that correctly, no content from inside our lecture hall (or zoom) will appear on the final exam.

I'm doing this because I really want you to engage mentally and actively with the speakers (and they want that too, btw). I do not want you to be furiously scribbling down notes, worrying about what you are going to get tested on. Honestly, the real final exam for this course is how you use the ideas you learn about in your life. Some of the things you hear will resonate with you, some won't and you may think to yourself, 'no way that makes sense for me.'  Great! Listen, think, and then apply it to your life. Or store it away for later. Or reject it!  Indeed, what you decide to embrace and try, and what you decide to reject, is the whole point! I think it is really hard to do all of that while you're writing notes to study for an exam--so don't write notes, you don't need to (unless it’s to remember something for your life.)  

So where does the content of the final come from? The light homework assignments and the Coursera online course.  That’s it.  Look, it’s a 1 unit course.  It shouldn’t be taxing.  And it won’t be: come to class, engage with the amazing speakers, do a little homework, be done by the end of March, get a P, tell your friends how awesome Berkeley is. :) 

A really critical consequence of the fact that none of the in-class content will be on the final exam is that there's no need at all for you to take notes on your devices. There's honestly nothing worse for these speakers to come in to speak with you and to look out at your faces and see the tops of your heads as you stare into a screen. That's the "give" for the "get."  You "give" your attention, you "get" really cool speakers talking about amazing experiences. Don't ruin that for everyone by zoning out on your computer or phone.  

OFFICE HOURS:

If you'd like to meet, just book a time by clicking on "Office Hours" in the header, at the top of this page

SPREAD THE WORD:

If all of this sounds good to you, please invite your friends! I increased the size of the class so we have more room and the speakers and I would love it if you talked about what you heard in class with your friends.  I think it’s going to be a fun, engaging, entertaining, and really valuable course for every current and future leader, regardless of your field of interest, so please spread the word if you’re so inclined. 

I look forward to seeing you all in class!

Very best, 

Doug Leeds 

dougleeds@berkeley.edu